By Ann Cooper:
The exterior wall that borders West 41st street is a picturesque mural with images of the menu and the words “Big City Energy Meets Southern Cuisine” inscribed above.
The entrance, a turn unto the corner of Seventh Avenue is a row of glass panels covered by a riot of red roses. Engraved are the words “Welcome Home”, the greeting that speaks to the Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley’s hospitality concept. The flamboyant rooster logo an insert.
Here at # 7, Times Square, a block south of where the iconic ball drops on New Year’s Eve, is where Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelly has announced its presence in a remarkable and unprecedented style.
I immediately thought “audacious” on hearing that an African American-owned, upscale Southern comfort food restaurant was about to open in Times Square. Acquiring this coveted and elusive spot in the epicenter of the most visited and iconic hub in the USA, would be akin to winning the jackpot for a space in New York City’s most spectacular landmark.
Kevin Kelly, restauranteur and owner of the Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley brand confirmed that indeed, it did take three long years of patience to land this spot. But Kelley has never been one to succumb to challenges. He prides himself as unapologetically ambitious
His venture into hospitality began with the debut of the first Kitchen+ Kocktails by Kevin Kelley in Dallas during the 2020 pandemic, as the sole owner and without any outside investors or a franchise model.
It achieved meteoric success and was the inspiration for Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelly restaurants launched in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Philadelphia and Miami all within six short years. The Time Square location is his largest and latest and will be followed by another in Boston, and one in New Orleans in late 2026-an expansion of Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley national footprint.
“Opening Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley in New York is an incredible milestone for us,” said Kelley. “Times Square gives us the opportunity to introduce our brand on one of the world’s biggest stages, but we’re building this restaurant for New York. Whether you’re coming from Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan or visiting from across the country or around the world, we want you to walk through our doors and feel like this is your restaurant. That’s what ‘Welcome Home’ means to us.”
Born in Arkansas and raised in Texas, Kelley’s interest in cooking began at age seven and was nurtured by his grandmother. While engaging in a conversation with Mr. Kelley it became clear as to why he was destined for success. He is personable and exudes an admirable confidence.
A litigation attorney for 23years he still owns a prestigious law firm, a role he has reduced to just five percent, having evolved into the world of hospitality. Kelley’s conviction when discussing his philosophy as a Black restauranteur is compelling. He emphasizes his 100 percent ownership of all Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley restaurants and speaks passionately about the lack of total ownership by Black-owned restauranteurs and is displeased by how it handicaps their financial growth. “I’m tired of the narrative being promoted that this is a Black-owned restaurant when the Black ownership is just 15 percent. It’s too much of a rare thing,” he stated. As a progressive visionary he cares about the underdog and believes that ownership can play the important role of creating jobs for the Black community.
When asked about the skills he honed as a lawyer that spills over into his approach to hospitality, he lists marketing and discipline as critical. His restaurants are promoted on the major social media platforms and supported by 1,400 influencers across all markets. All are five-star rated and can boast of 100,000-plus positive reviews. They have been featured in regional newspapers and magazines, television and radio. The websites are a foodie’s happy place. He is uncompromising on quality, his focus and determination for success is unwavering. “I have two standards. Excellence and everything matter,” he says.
On entering Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley in Time Square, you are instantly aware that this is not just a restaurant. It’s an experience.
Occupying two floors, the esthetic is maximalist and captivating. The lower level is monochromatic black-the walls, marbled-top tables and plush chairs are arranged along the anterior wall. Your eyes are captured by the centrally located bar, bordered by two columns of red roses, over which hovers a digital billboard-like display- maybe a nod to Times Square’s mesmerizing billboards-with rotating images of the menu and dining scenes.
The view to the left is no less dramatic. Here the ubiquitous rooster logo, a resplendent burst of vibrant plumage dominates the center of the black wall. The words “Love Always, Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelly,” are scripted in white across the colorful bird. Below, the acronym, is a glossy K&K. The wall at the right displays a colorful mural-an artist’s stunning rendition of the Statue of Liberty superimposed over the multi-hued rooster. Throughout, art décor pendant light fixtures illuminates.
The ascent to the upper main level, preferred for private and VIP dining, is along a spiral staircase enveloped like a seductive cocoon by walls of the signature red roses. On landing you are greeted by another floral wall, this time in pastels, and lured inwards by a canopy of drooping lemons amidst green foliage that covers the rear half of the ceiling.
Here, the color palette is mostly white-the walls, marbled table-tops and comfy chairs. To the left, the bar shares the spotlight with hi-def photos of Jay-Z and Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Frank Sinatra, no doubt a nod to artistes whose iconic songs serenade New York. When asked about the signature floral walls with its feminine vibe, Kelly let it be known that 70 percent of his clientele is female. “Where the ladies are, the men will follow,” he says with a knowing smile. If it holds true that love is in the details, Kitchen + Kocktailsby Kevin Kelley at Time Square is 10,000 square feet of passion.
Invited to the pre-launch brunch-the official opening was on September 3, 2026-I was eager to savor the menu that is fundamental to the Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley experience. Asked about the decision for the menu, Kelley shared that he insists on having the final say, and that every dish and cocktail had to undergo a six-month tasting period and must have his personal approval. “I have to give the customer something that I believe in. My name is on the door because I believe in everything that’s on the menu. I wouldn’t serve anything to anyone that I would not give my mother or grandmother. I stand by everything that’s on the menu,” he stated.
Dream Eggs with Blackened Shrimp and the Collard Green Dip were my chosen appetizers. The Deviled eggs stuffed with seasoned yolk and crowned with a juicy spiced-kissed shrimp plated along the middle of a platter is described as “a southern classic taken to another level”. The Collard Green dip is a warm blend of melted cheeses, slow cooked with collard greens, smoked turkey and served with chip- sized-buttered-toasted bread. Both are palette pleasers, a contrast of textures and deep flavors that harmonizes perfectly.
The entrée, Stuffed Salmon is a signature Southern soul food entrée is a burst of delicious flavors. A golden seared salmon fillet, it’s stuffed with creamy collard greens and cheese dip served over a bed of savory dirty rice and smothered in Cajun white wine cream sauce with lump crab meat. The Chicken & Waffles consist of hand breaded, golden, crispy fried chicken; white or dark meat are options. The crispy goodness and just-right texture had me rethinking my decision to become a vegetarian. The light and fluffy Belgian-style waffles drizzled with maple syrup are delightful.
My dessert, chocolate cake, arrived as a towering layer of decadent chocolate goodness that is luxurious and heavenly. Paired with a vibrant assortment of fresh raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries it’s finished with a velvety milk chocolate drizzle, creating the perfect balance of deep cocoa notes and bright seasonal fruit.
The kocktails are described as crafted and theatrical. I had my share of blissful drama with a Strawberry Frosé-non-alcoholic, refreshingly pleasant, it’s described as a strawberry glow with rosé-like softness. Bright, sweet and built for the moment.
Of course, there are the soul-satisfying cornbread, fried and blackened catfish, and smothered meats. The entire menu can be explored at kitchenkocktailsusa.com/newyork.
I believe that dining should be a sensuous experience. A meal should be visually appealing, with an inviting aroma, taste delicious and create a feeling of well-being that satiates the body and soul. The Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelly ambience, the polite and attentive wait-staff enhanced this experience and is an endorsement of its “elevated comfort food” status. I congratulated Mr. Kelly for checking all the boxes.
“From the thriving fields of Africa to the vibrant streets of New Orleans, and from the innovative kitchens of Monticello to activism-fueled gatherings of the Civil Rights Movement, African American cuisine has profoundly influenced the culinary landscape of America” is an excerpt from the Atlanta Center History Centennial entitled Nourishing Our Nation: A Brief History of African American Cuisine.
Soul food is woven into America’s culinary history. Times Square, known as the “crossroads of the world” enjoys one of the highest numbers of international visitors, estimated at tens of millions, which makes it the ideal place for a taste of this history. Kitchen+ Koctails by Kevin Kelley’s presence in Time Square is long overdue.
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