Earl's
Photo: Cititour.com
Contact Info:
Address: 560 3rd Ave at 37th St.
City: New York, NY
map: View the Map
Phone: 212-949-5400
Website: http://www.earlsnyc.com/
Food Info:
Menu: View the Menu
Cuisine:
Southern
Payment:
Amex Visa Mastercard
Cititour Review:
The northwest corner of Third Avenue and 37th Street has proven to be a waterloo for many a restaurant, but there's a good chance that the just-opened Earl's will win the battle. For one thing, it's "brother" restaurant Duke's (get it, Duke's, Earl's), which serves the almost identical menu of southern food, has been a Union Square fixture for over a decade. For another, this is a large cheerful space, decorated with just the right amount of kitsch, and boasting a half-dozen television screens (including one in the wall of one booth) that provide suitable entertainment while you wait for your food. There is also an extremely pleasant enclosed sidewalk space that should pack the crowds in this summer. And best of all, prices are quite reasonable and portions a big, allowing a couple to escapefor under $50. If you come to Earl's, prepare to have your cholesterol raised -- the menu is heavy on fried food, from fried chicken to chicken-fried steak. But what's bad for you can be might good, like a starter of crab fritters – yep, they're fried but remarkably greaseless -- full of plenty of well-spiced crustacean. The accompanying remoulade sauce is pretty tasty too. We managed to be a tad healthier when it came to our mains, choosing to have our catfish 'po boy blackened instead of fried. (If we wanted to be really virtuous, we would've had it grilled!). The generous sandwich, served on a fresh baguette, is delicious, as were the accompanying shoestring fries (hey, not our fault) and cole slaw. Our half-order of St. Louis-style ribs more than lived up to its billing as "fall-off-the-bone tender." Entrees come with two sides, and you're going to want make one of them the creamy, crusty macaroni and cheese (which is also available as a main course.) The dessert menu is a chocoholic's dream, from Mississippi mud pie to Pensacola Coca Cola chocolate cake to a brownie sundae. But don't overlook the "country pie of the day" – on our visit a lovely slice of apple, warm from the oven, and served with a dollop of whipped cream. With nice touches like that, Earl's may just call Murray Hill home for a long spell
Review By: Brian Scott Lipton
Location: