Hometown hero Nas will be expanding his chicken and waffles empire to Long Island City on April 9 when Sweet Chick opens at 46-42 Vernon Blvd.
The rapper, who grew up in the Queensbridge Houses, and restaurateur John Seymour will open their fifth Sweet Chick location. The chicken and waffles joint was founded by Manhattan native Seymour in 2013 and Nas became an investor and co-founder shortly after.
The new restaurant will pay homage to Nas’ father Olu Dara, an accomplished jazz musician. It will feature a private back room inspired by Harlem jazz clubs where the chicken and waffles dish has its roots, according to a spokesperson. People will also be able to throw exclusive parties and events at the back room.
In addition to a variety of chicken and waffles dishes, the restaurant, headed by Executive Chef Lawrence Duda, serves up offerings such as duck and short rib meatloaf, bavette steak, shrimp and grits and cornmeal-crusted catfish. Brunch dishes include eggs Benedict, pancakes, steak and eggs, housemade granola and smoked pork hash.
Beverage Director Wilmer Reyes will concoct cocktails such as Queen of New York with Cognac, fresh strawberries, lemon, sparkling rose and the Christopher Wallace, named after rapper Notorious B.I.G., with five-year aged rum, blended scotch, maple syrup and whiskey barrel aged bitters.
For dessert, the restaurant serves sweets like pineapple coconut cheesecake, bourbon apple cobbler, chocolate latte cake and a donut ice cream sandwich.
Sweet Chick is also serving up its goodies at Citi Field as a new round of eateries have been chosen to sell their items at the ballpark.
“As a native New Yorker — and [rapper] Nas is my business partner, he’s a Queens native and a big supporter of the Mets — it’s really kind of unreal [to be at Citi Field]. We’re really excited,” Seymour told QNS.
The Long Island City restaurant will be open on Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight, on Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight.
