Kevin Kelley Brings Black-Owned Kitchen + Kocktails to Times Square NYC

Litigation attorney and entrepreneur Kevin Kelley is expanding his Southern comfort food restaurant chain, Kitchen + Kocktails, to New York City with a new location at 7 Times Square scheduled to open on Saturday, October 3. The establishment marks the founder’s eighth restaurant in the United States and introduces a fully Black-owned dining option to the major commercial hub.

Expansion to Times Square

Kelley opened the first Kitchen + Kocktails location in downtown Dallas in August 2020 during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Over the following six years, the Paul Quinn College graduate expanded the brand independently without major corporate investors, opening six additional locations in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Miami. The new New York City venue at 7 Times Square continues that growth strategy into prime real estate.

The entrepreneur emphasizes securing prime locations to give customers dining options that are Black-owned, feature culturally familiar menus, and occupy high-visibility commercial spaces.

Kitchen + Kocktails Serves Elevated Southern Comfort Food

The menu at Kitchen + Kocktails centers on elevated Southern comfort food staples, including fried chicken, shrimp and grits, macaroni and cheese, fried green tomatoes, lamb chops, crab cakes, and desserts such as peach cobbler and banana pudding. The restaurant also offers a vegan bowl featuring modern takes on candied yams, collard greens, and dirty rice. Kelley states that he personally approves every menu item before it is served to guests.

The interior design matches the aesthetic of the brand’s other properties, featuring matte black furniture contrasted against vibrant red roses. Music selections include R&B tunes played at moderate volume, complemented by craft cocktails such as the blackberry margarita and the lemon drop.

Opening Details

The Times Square restaurant operates under a two-drink minimum policy. Diners entering the establishment are greeted with a standard welcome phrase used across the company’s venues.

Famous figures including Bishop T.D. Jakes, Angel Reese, 50 Cent, Megan Thee Stallion, and Phylicia Rashad have previously dined at Kitchen + Kocktails locations.

The grand opening on October 3 brings the concept’s signature combination of Southern cuisine, hospitality, and interior design directly to Midtown Manhattan for both local residents and tourists.

Family Roots

Kelley attributes much of his success to his upbringing and his deceased maternal grandmother, Mrs. Gussie. My grandmother gave me $1,000 when I started my law firm, and I never forgot that, Kelley recalls. Family means a lot. Grandmothers mean a lot.