New York’s Black Restaurant Week features 10 Queens eateries

Black Restaurant Week shines a spotlight on Black-owned businesses like The Nourish Spot, founded by Dawn Kelly and Jade Duncan.  Photo by Eurila Cave

By Rachel Vick

Ten Queens eateries are featured in the first New York Tri-State Black Restaurant Week, which began Nov. 13.

More than 100 Black-owned restaurants in and around New York City are participating. They will offer special menus and an event-wide bingo game to highlight African-American, African and Caribbean cuisine. 

The Queens locations include Bash Eats, A Live Kitchen in Laurelton, Breezes Island Grill in Rosedale, Cafe Moca in Ridgewood and Eat Exquisite. 

Four restaurants focused on providing their neighborhoods with healthy options are also participating. Pick up a smoothie or healthy meal at The Nourish Spot in Jamaica, Misfits Nutrition in Forest Hills, Bar Got Juice in St. Albans and Be in Good Health in Laurelton.

Black Restaurant Week runs until Nov. 22.

“We wanted to create a platform for the black culinary industry,” event co-founder Falayn Ferrel told PIX11. “We saw an opportunity to shed some light on the businesses in our community to create economic stability and sustainability for small businesses and communities.”

The event takes a more inclusive approach than traditional restaurant weeks, which focus on multiple course offerings, to include casual culinary businesses like food trucks or take-out restaurants.