http://www.jerseymenus.com/news.php?article_id=46
Editor’s note: Ruthie Mae’s is closed
Restaurant News: Ruthie Mae’s Authentic Bar-B-Qued Soul Kitchen at Sangria and Club 201
By Ruthie Mae’s Authentic Bar-B-Qued Soul Kitchen
Ruthie Mae’s Authentic Bar-B-Qued Soul Kitchen (90 West Palisade Avenue, Englewood, New Jersey) is proud to announce its opening, providing the Northern New Jersey region with a new experience in home-style, southern and BBQ dining.
Executive Chef Carl Redding is not at Amy Ruth’s Restaurant (Harlem, NY), but he’s back on the culinary scene and has teamed with real estate/business great and restauranteur Michel Bittan (of Club 201 and Solaia Restaurants of Englewood, NJ) to bring his mastery of southern cuisine to Ruthie Mae’s. Redding has successfully changed the face of southern cooking in New York at his former restaurant, Amy Ruth’s in Harlem, NY.
Redding served in the US Marine Corps in the Food Service Dept. and honed his skills as an apprentice at Wilson’s Restaurant in Harlem. At Wilson’s, Redding did everything from cooking, washing dishes, baking and decorating cakes. After Redding’s educational career, he had the opportunity to work at a few restaurants and bakeries in the tri-state area. Redding also spent nearly a decade working as Chief of Staff for Rev. Al. Sharpton’s National Action Network and as his personal assistant. In his new restaurant, Redding approaches traditional southern dishes with superior ingredients and quality products. The menu will include Redding’s signature fried chicken and fluffy waffles, salmon patties, succulent short ribs of beef, spicy sautéed shrimp, slow hickory-smoked spareribs, smothered pork chops, string beans, potato salad, black-eyed peas, 3 green stew, sweet potato pie, pineapple-coconut cake, strawberry peach cobbler, and of course to wash it all down, watermelon iced tea.Redding’s new establishment is located in Englewood, New Jersey’s upscale downtown area, and will immediately seat 100 persons. The restaurant occupies 10,000 square-feet and includes a bar, event space that can accommodate 300 persons and an outdoor café that seats more than 200 people (to be opened in Spring 2008).
The décor features a warm southern setting with southern quilts and oversized photos taken by Redding, a self-proclaimed shutterbug. Photos include shots of celebrities who attended the opening of Oprah Winfrey’s Girls Academy in South Africa among others.Redding, former owner of Amy Ruth’s restaurant in Harlem, believes his new venture will appeal to everyone who enjoys soul food and BBQ in the northern New Jersey area.
In his new restaurant, Redding approaches traditional southern dishes with superior ingredients and quality products. The menu will include Redding’s signature fried chicken and fluffy waffles, salmon patties, succulent short ribs of beef, spicy sautéed shrimp, slow hickory-smoked spareribs, smothered pork chops, string beans, potato salad, black-eyed peas, 3 green stew, sweet potato pie, pineapple-coconut cake, strawberry peach cobbler, and of course to wash it all down, watermelon iced tea.
Redding’s new establishment is located in Englewood, New Jersey’s upscale downtown area, and will immediately seat 100 persons. The restaurant occupies 10,000 square-feet and includes a bar, event space that can accommodate 300 persons and an outdoor café that seats more than 200 people (to be opened in Spring 2008).
The décor features a warm southern setting with southern quilts and oversized photos taken by Redding, a self-proclaimed shutterbug. Photos include shots of celebrities who attended the opening of Oprah Winfrey’s Girls Academy in South Africa among others.
Redding, former owner of Amy Ruth’s restaurant in Harlem, believes his new venture will appeal to everyone who enjoys soul food and BBQ in the northern New Jersey area.
Contact:
Carl Redding @ 917.359.0917
Michel Bittan @ 201.541.0101
http://www.ruthiemaes.com
D. Bell
September 8, 2008
I am just looking at this thread of comments (we had a different editor at the time) and notice that the posters did not carefully read the post nor the comments. The congratulations came from another reader, not Uptown Flavor. I will also reiterate that U.F. is a blog, not the New York Times and our disclaimer is posted in the FAQ section. If you find that something doesn’t seem right, please take the time read it again — carefully — before getting into debates in the comments section. You are also more than welcome to contact us at uptownflavor@gmail.com to clarify anything that needs to be cleared up.
Thanks for your continued support.
Tanisha
May 2, 2008
I just visited Sangria because Ruthie Mae’s is no longer in business. Now I have been searching for a Soul Food Restaurant, but I MUST keep searching. They now have a very limited menu that only includes 4 sides Mashed Potatoes, Candied Sweets (AKA too much orange not enough Sugar), String Beans (pan cooked with onions), or French Fries. Dishes are only Waffles and Chicken, Fried/Smothered Pork Chops, Fried/Smothered Chicken, Fried Whiting, and another entree which I cannot remember.
I must say this dinner ruined by pallet.
As a person who has always HEARD about Ruthie Mae’s this was an extreme dissapointment. Per the waitress they closed about 3 weeks ago and now entirely operate as Sangria…which turns into a club at 10pm.
Very sad to have had to endure this unplesant dining experience.
truth be told
March 25, 2008
i just visited ruthie mae’s in englewood, nj and i must say that the food was disgusting. i really have to be honest all the meat was seasoned too much, the candied yams looked like a bowl of grease, potato salad was old. the only meat that was good was the whitie fish. i would not recommend this place to a homeless person to eat. it was really disgusing and the chef had the nerve to come out of the kitchen as if he was waiting for a standing ovation. in addition the bathroom is right by the kitchen, so if someone decides to take a dunk, where will the fumes go? IN THE KITCHEN (YUK!!) on a positive note, the staff is very friendly and the dining area is pleasant with soft contemporary music in the background. Word of advice, change chefs or change profession, sorry had to be honest.
Keeping it real
December 30, 2007
Carl wasn’t forced out of Harlem. He by his own free will chose to sell the restaurant. For your knowledge, he sold the restaurant to a African-American investment group, headed by Lawrence Jordan.
Sista Foodie
December 9, 2007
Amy Ruth’s is now owned by an African-American Investment Group if I am not mistaken.
The reason why I informed UPTOWNFLAVOR of the change in ownership was to shed light on the fact that Carl is no longer affiliated with Amy Ruth’s as the articles and reviews listed on the website stated and maybe to also shed light on the reasons behind his departure. We all know it wasn’t his first, second, third, nor fourth choice – he still lives in Harlem.
If you would like answers I would suggest contacting the Harlem Community Development Corporation and/or the new owners. I am sure they would be able to fill you in on Amy Ruth’s ownership change as well as a few other empty locations in Harlem that used to be occupied by African-American owned businesses. http://www.harlemcdc.org/
I do understand your point but also understand my reasons for trying to set the record straight – no more no less.
Anonymous
December 9, 2007
so who owns amy ruth’s now? is it black owned?
AroundHarlem.com
December 8, 2007
“If we’re going to “keep it real” and “keep it Uptown”, responsible insightful journalism and board discussion would explore how and why is it that a restaurant professional like a Carl Redding was forced to make an exodus of Harlem.”
“I look at Carl’s story as Harlem based Black businessman of significance, well known by many, forced to make an exodus of Harlem. That’s the bottom line. This is not to be celebrated, applauded, or heralded. This is to be examined to see how we can perhaps prevent this from happening to others.”
Great Points !!!
Does anyone know the details about the change in ownership?
Anonymous
December 7, 2007
Sista Foodie, you don’t get it. First of all this is Uptown Flavor, as in HARLEM. This is not UptownNewJersey.
UptownFlavor elected to speak of Carl and congratulate him on this New Jersey gig. If we’re going to “keep it real” and “keep it Uptown”, responsible insightful journalism and board discussion would explore how and why is it that a restaurant professional like a Carl Redding was forced to make an exodus of Harlem.
Harlem is less well off when a Carl Redding no longer has a presence here. I am sure there are other Black restaurant professionals that would love to make at go at it in Harlem, but have to have caution when they see what a Carl Redding has had to go through.
When a Black business owner like a Carl Redding flees Harlem, it’s not to be celebrated and applauded and those of you in this thread doing this strike with me as uninformed, uneducated, and foolish.
There is a big picture here worth placing under the lens of scrutiny in a vital time and period as Harlem transitions. When long times business on 125th’s St. (like Bobby’s House of Music, etc.) are out of business in Harlem, the issues centered around that situation have been examined in the greater context with no problem.
I look at Carl’s story as Harlem based Black businessman of significance, well known by many, forced to make an exodus of Harlem. That’s the bottom line. This is not to be celebrated, applauded, or heralded. This is to be examined to see how we can perhaps prevent this from happening to others.
If you’re going to mythically claim perhaps Carl left on his own on his own terms, then tell me why a Black business man would flee Harlem when he’s routinely got a line outside his door. I thought Harlem was a place to come to, not flee from. Does Carl feel the grass is greener for his interest in New Jersey, rather than Harlem? And what does this say about Harlem?
Look, instead of putting a happy face on this topic, living in denial, ignoring the greater issues, this discussion should be centered around keeping the Carl Redding’s in Harlem.
Seems to me the real issues around this matter, no one genuinely wants to speak to, because they’re not pretty, however they are real, why deny it? This blog is focused on Harlem, is it not?
Moni
December 7, 2007
And I know EXACTLY where this restaurant will be located.
I go over to shop there often (small boutiques and Shop Rite supermarket, great jewlery stores). It’s not great as far as parking is concerned, but it’s a great location. they just built new apartments/condominiums near location (which imo is an eyesore).
In any event I agree w/ Sista Foodie, lets congratulate the brother for seeing another way to stay an entrepreneur.
I have a new place to visit this spring!
Sista Foodie
December 7, 2007
thanks loveisdope for posting the info, i wasnt sure if you would. not many people realized that carl is no longer affiliated with amy ruth’s (no matter how it happened – god is good!)
ive been the ruthie mae’s a few times and have yet to find a dish i didn’t like.
as for carl’s weight – he’s on the right track, but that is his decision not anyone elses. also his food is made very healthy. turkey instead of pork, he stopped using transfat prior to it becoming a health topic or a requirement in ny. plus his menu has a variety of choices: fried, grilled, blackened, and baked.
its up to you.
cant we all just get along – carl is a black man trying to do right. lets not give into the crabs in a barrel mentality.
Anonymous
December 6, 2007
>Praise God ! This is such great news to hear that Carl Redding has expanded his Culinary skills.
_
Amy Ruth’s was a wash in severe financial problems & Carl was forced to sell his restaurant. This is common knowledge in Harlem circles, UF certainly is aware of this. Saying he’s “expanded” suggest he still has a presence here in Harlem and now has added to that, not the case. Carl no longer has a restaurant presence in Harlem.
He’s not “expanded”, he’s “left” Harlem for a better situation.
>Anyone whom is familiar with what Carl Redding can do in a kitchen it just has to be good.
_
I know him very well. I pray he loses weight as he’s on course to have a very short life. He’s candidate #1 for a heart attack and his menu is half the problem. Yes I’ve spoken with him about this too.
Everything in moderation, including all that fried food and gravy!
Jeannine
December 6, 2007
Praise God ! This is such great news to hear that Carl Redding has expanded his Culinary skills. Congratulations Carl my staff and I cannot wait to sample your signature chicken & waffles. At your new location in Englewood, NJ of course you are surely missed in Harlem, NY. However it’s not a problem to load up our cars and venture over the bridge. It will be worth the trip to see what Ruthie Mae’s is all about. I personally am not a big fan of watermelon at all. And only because of the way Tonya Simpson and Lenny Green host of 98.7 KISS FM. Promoted that watermelon iced tea they real made it a must taste.
Anyone whom is familiar with what Carl Redding can do in a kitchen it just has to be good. Carl we look forward to seeing you this weekend with quite a few empty tummies for you to fill. Again I encourage everyone to show your love and support to these two wise businessmen. This sounds like a winner to me God bless you all.
Regards,
A satisfied past and present customer!
Jeannine