Trying to keep up in the city that never sleeps can often feel like taking two steps forward and one step back. If you find yourself doing the latter, there’s no better place to step back into than The Soda Shop – where old-fashioned dining and décor meet modern tastes. Boasting an authentic soda fountain, this shop serves more than the fizzy stuff. There’s no reason to stop at the malts, milkshakes, egg creams, and cherry lime rickeys. You become a kid in a candy store when you find yourself facing a wall of sweet treats like Smarties, Candy Necklaces, Razzles, Fun Dip Lik-m-Aids, Nik-L-Nips, Doscher’s French Chew Taffy, and Wonka Bars. You can also stop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner – choosing from classics like the Tuna Melt and the Mac & Cheese, or neighborhood tributes like the Lower East Side Liverwurst or the Stuyvesant High Grilled Cheese. Offering a blend of cosmopolitan comfort, this Tribeca treasure is more than deserving of a visit – and you’re deserving of such a pure delight.

125 Chambers Street, 10007

www.sodashopnewyork.com

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In New York City, the stomach rules. Day or night, you can find culinary delights from every corner of the world and in every price range. Thankfully, the NYC Food Guy can help you savor every bite. Lawrence is a native New Yorker whose goal is to let people know where to find delicious and affordable food throughout the city. His Code Words column does just that with reviews, tips and tricks that will keep you sated.

Rack and Soul: Great Fried Chicken & Ribs at Affordable Prices

Rack and Soul is a great place to get your authentic soul food fix without traveling to Harlem. If that’s not reason enough, fried chicken luminary Charles Gabriel is a consulting partner at this diner-style restaurant. Mr. Gabriel’s serves his food buffet style at Charles’ Southern Style Kitchen on 151st Street, but those less adventurous can find crispy and moist fried chicken, sitcky, sweet, smoky and tender baby back ribs, sugary candied yams, and crisp shoestring french fries without straying too far from the 1 train. And yes, they also serve waffles.

$15.95 at lunchtime ($19.95 at dinner), for your choice of 2 entrees and two sides.

You can choose from:

• Quarter Rack of Baby Back Ribs
• Pulled Pork
• 3 BBQ Chicken Wings
• 2 Pieces of Fried Chicken of your choice

and for sides:

• Broccoli
• Asparagus
• Collard Greens
• String Beans
• Black Eyed Peas
• Lima Beans
• Baked Beans
• Cole Slaw
• Stewed Okra
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Candied Yams
• White Rice
• Mashed Potatoes
• French Fries
• Potato Salad
• Belgian Waffle

For help deciding, I’ll point you in the right direction. I went with the Ribs, a thigh, a drumstick, candied yams, and fries.

Here’s the NYC Food Guy rib review:

The overall flavor was sweet and smoky but the flavor of the pork really shone through. If you like to taste the meat of the ribs, don’t add extra sauce, but if you want to unite the outer flavor with the pork, add some extra sauce. They were tender and moist but didn’t fall right off the bone. The outer skin was a little tighter and crisper than I like. The Fried Chicken was good overall but while I admit my expectations were high, it was not a transcendent experience. The outer coating was crispy and light without being overly greasy. The coating, however, was nothing out of the ordinary. It didn’t seem to be a product of extra care or a unique process. The meat inside was moist, tender, and flavorful.

Here’s the rest of the meal:

Sweet Candied Yams - very sweet, soft, and delicious

Macaroni & Cheese – It really was this orange and it was pretty soggy and boring. Always an enticing option, it fell flat.

Waffle with Syrup – my first Waffle and chicken experience was boring at best. The waffle and syrup were generic and ordinary.

French Fries – Shoestring, crispy, and hot. I added some salt and pepper and found myself reaching onto King of Ketchup’s plate for more after I finished mine. Great fries.

Honey Biscuits – These are complementary and served upon arrival. They were warm and tasty. We asked for butter and dipped it in the sweet barbecue sauce. Good move.

Overall, I had a great meal at Rack and Soul. It was fresh, affordable, and big portioned. The service was attentive and I will definitely return to try the pulled pork.

Rack & Soul
2818 Broadway
www.rackandsoul.com
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