Charles Southern Style Kitchen

Headed for Yankee Stadium? You can walk from the buffet to "The Bat" in less than 20 minutes.

True, Charles Southern Style Kitchen is in another borough altogether, but this major-league chowdown is closer to the Stadium than you think. Fill your plate once at Charles's small but soulful all-you-can-eat buffet (dinner and weekends, $11.99; weekday lunch somewhat less), and you can feast on fried chicken, smothered oxtail, pork ribs, yams, collard greens, and okra with tomatoes and corn. Fill a fresh plate, say, with a smothered turkey leg, mac 'n' cheese, and rice, and you'll be glad that the complimentary glass of sweet tea is refilled as often as you like. Fill a third plate, theoretically, with beef ribs, more yams, and another, just-fried piece of chicken, and you may scarcely be able to manage the complimentary slice of frosted carrot cake for dessert. (Like any manager, you'll juggle this lineup, depending on what's freshest from the kitchen as you step up with your plate.)

By this time, you'll be glad for the opportunity to stretch your legs. Walk up to 157th St. or over to Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., and the Stadium will be already in sight; cross the gritty but pedestrian-friendly Macombs Dam Bridge in the company of a few pinstriped fans (mind the gong, though I've never heard it myself); and, most time-consuming of all, circle the ballpark till you find your gate. Once inside, you just might need something to wet your whistle, but ballpark franks will be far from your mind.

Charles Southern Style Kitchen
2837 Frederick Douglas Blvd. (151st-152nd Sts.)
212-926-4313
Also at 308 Lenox Ave. (near 125th St.)
212-722-7727

Comments

[Beth]

I went there with the BF a few weeks ago. Tremendous ribs and fried chicken! A return trip is certain.