The Pink Teacup, located in New York's historic Greenwich Village neighborhood at 42 Grove Street, between Bleeker Street and Bedford Street, is not an afternoon tea place, but a Southern soul food restaurant. It has been serving tasty cornbread, chitterlings, mac-n-cheese and fried chicken to hungry New Yorkers for over 50 years!
The history of the Pink Teacup from it's website:"The Pink Tea Cup was opened in 1954 by Mary Raye, a native of Florida. Mary had always dreamed of owning her own business. Cooking was her great love, and after working as a cook in many hotels and private homes, she dared to venture out on her own.
Mary retired in 1979 and her husband, Charles, continued the tradition. In 1982, he moved the restaurant to its current location where the increased seating enable more people to savor the down home cooking. Charles added a few items to the menu and his special touch of Georgia love.
In 1989, Charles turned the business over to his niece, Seretta Ford with only one request, "continue with the recipes that we have used for the last thirty-five years." Lisa, Seretta's daughter, joined her shortly thereafter, and the rest is history."
Mary retired in 1979 and her husband, Charles, continued the tradition. In 1982, he moved the restaurant to its current location where the increased seating enable more people to savor the down home cooking. Charles added a few items to the menu and his special touch of Georgia love.
In 1989, Charles turned the business over to his niece, Seretta Ford with only one request, "continue with the recipes that we have used for the last thirty-five years." Lisa, Seretta's daughter, joined her shortly thereafter, and the rest is history."
The cozy, no reservations and "cash only" restaurant has soft rose-colored walls and crowded rows of petite wooden tables. It serves hearty portions of grits, fried chicken, biscuits, collard greens, pork chops, and biscuits, among other entrees and sides, and all dinners are served with two vegetables, soup, salad, hot bread, Jello or bread pudding. It's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers a menu within a modest price range.
The Pink Teacup is a popular place for locals, and their "Wall of Fame" is full of signed photos of celebrities who have eaten there also, including Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey.
Photo sources
To see more Pink Saturday blog posts be sure to visit our dedicated host, Beverly, at the blog How Sweet The Sound to see a link list of all the blogs participating in Pink Saturday.
To see more Pink Saturday blog posts be sure to visit our dedicated host, Beverly, at the blog How Sweet The Sound to see a link list of all the blogs participating in Pink Saturday.
Enjoy the color pink today!
Edited on 6/22/11 to add:
Sadly, after 56 years at the same location, the original Pink Teacup Restaurant closed and a new version of the restaurant opened on 88 7th Ave S., just north of Bleecker St in Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan. I have not had a chance to visit this location as yet, but as soon as I do I will blog about it! Meanwhile check out it's new website.
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37 comments:
This is my kind of place!!!! Nothing beats a bowl of cheese grits on a bad day. And who can turn down fried chicken, greens and cornbread. Though born and raised in the south, I am not a southern cook but I do appreciate the food.
What a wonderful Pink Saturday Pat, and I wish I could just pop over there for tea. have a great weekend Pat :D
Hi Pat!
What a fabulous place! Homemade fried chicken is so wonderful. Wes makes the best in his mom's old iron skillet, I love it. And I make sweet cornbread in it. MMM MMM good!
What a fun place that would be to go to and enjoy. It's so nice to patronize a family business!
Big hugs, Sherry
My daughter lives in DC and went up to NY for a few days last year. This is where they ate lunch. Looked like a cool place.
I want to go there!!!!!!
Sounds like my kind of place:)
In my younger days, I haunted places like this on the weekends. After devouring reviews in the Times and NY Magazine, I'd hurry off to taste-test on my own. I can taste the fried chicken and mac n' cheese. Great review!
I would love to eat there. Thanks so much for giving us glimpses of your hometown - I enjoy seeing those things so much. It's like getting a little travelog each time! PAM
Pat
OK, I know where I am going when I get into the city to visit my FIT kid! He loves the village...have you ever eaten at the Grey Dog??
What a fun place! Is the mac cheese yummy?
This is going on my list of places to visit in the city. I'm hoping to get there more often once the weather warms up a little. Love your pink post being a little outside of the box.
♥, Susan
Hi Pat,
That's a place I wouldn't mind visiting. I need to email this post to Jonathan!
Happy pink Sat. to you!
Ya-hoo! Another restaurant to add to my list when I go to New York! It looks like a darling place...and I love comforting, yummy soul food.
I am working on getting my hubby to take me up to NYC in late March. I am having Broadway Show withdrawls :-)
Hi Pat,
I think if I lived in N.Y. this would be one of my favorite haunts. The food all sounds so delicious!
Happy pinkness!
xo Cori
I am feeling hungry now, This place looks delightful and sounds wonderful. A must for our next visit to NYC :), Happy Saturday Pat, hugs, Kathy.
That looks like a wonderful, "downhome" type of place to visit and your description certainly made me hunger!
My husband and I are going to see the the Harvester's Can Exhibit in a bit at our Union Station. I think there are 15 groups of architects, engineers and contractors wiill compete in creating structures from cans. A certain number will move on to the next level of competition. I have thought of the photos you shared on a post--when I saw it here locally, I told my husband that we were going to see it!
Happy Pink Sat!
Hope you're having a good weekend. Dana
Hi Pat, I would love to go to The Pink Teacup. what a fun place and the food sounds yummy. It must be good if it has been in business all those years. I loved reading the history.
Thank you for your kind words for my knee surgery. I appreciate it so much. I am sure I will do fine.
Hugs...Jeanne
My grandmother made the best homemade fried chicken. It was always cooked to perfection. In fact all of her food was good. She made an Orange Chiffon cake that hasn't been replicated by any of us yet. I don't guess she had a recipe. We didn't find it. I did learn to make Chicken and Dumplings and Collard greens from her. Again there was no recipe. I learned by watching and asking questions. I made dumplings by request on one of my son's birthdays. My mother and daddy were there. It was the 1st time my daddy had had my dumplings and the first thing he asked was "Is this mother's recipe?" I was thrilled for him to think they were that good.
How yummy! I believe good home-cooking transcends all borders. I'm glad to hear of their success.
Happy Pink Saturday! Lana
Pat, I feel just terrible that you were not on my post. I have added you now. I did go back and recheck all of my e-mails, and I don't have one. It must have gone into that e-mail void we all have experienced.
I have read of The Pink Teacup, and I was so glad to read your post about it. Does this mean that you have been there?
Happy Pink Saturday, and again I apologize.
Looks like a great place...not sure about that southern food though! :)
Very cool post. ;-) I haven't been to the Pink Teacup in years. My friend and I would treat ourselves to a meal at the Pink Teacup after a grueling session at school.
Paz
Pat, how come I didn't see this post on Beverly's??? That is so strange. Plus, you're on my favorites roll. Hmmmm...
This looks like a great place. I love garlic cheese grits about as much as anything. I like them baked and fluffy. :-)
My father made me "try" chitterlings aka chillins when I was young, and I came as close to being sick as I've ever been at any point my life. They smelled and tated dreadful to me. LOL! But he insisted on us trying everything once. That was his rule of thumb. He rued the day when I was small and he made me try lobster which I decided I was in love with lobster and wanted morning, noon, and night. Maybe that's why I love Maine so much! LOL!
I would love to try this restaurnt. I bet with Deep South Southerners who live in the City get homesick, they head over there for some comfort food. Give me some cornbread and blackeyed peas, and I'm a happy girl. I'm not much on fried food with the exception of catfish.
XO,
Sheila :-)
My post is riddled with typos. Sigh. I think I need to turn in soon.
Love to you. All I want is a plate of one of your Italian dishes, and I would go to bed a happy woman! :-)
XO,
Sheila
Oh, I'd be so disappointed once I discovered that it had nothing to do with tea and crumpets that I'd probably have to leave. Nope, I'd definitely have to leave if it is cash only. Sounds like a very popular spot, though, and I do love fried chicken. ;>
Oh my, I would be in trouble if I lived close to this incredible eatery. I must say I would have to by pass the chitterlings (I have tried them) :( But everything else is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing this very special place.
lisa
Sounds like a neat place. It must be to have stayed in business all these years! Happy Pink Saturday! ~ Robyn
What a cute and enchanting place. I could sit there all day and be the happiest woman in the world! :)
Hi Pat! Soul food looks yummy, and anyhow there is always something interesting at Bleeker St...
Loved to see your tuiles; would you mind posting some? ;))
Long time no see you at Blogtrotter! New Delhi waits your comments… ;)
Have a great week!
Hi Pat...another New York gem to check out if we are ever back in NYC...I couldn't help but notice baby Leo's cutie pie pictures on your sidebar...I know you must miss him...he's such a happy little guy! ;-) Bo
Oh, I LOVE these pictures. It looks like the exact place I would love to visit. thanks for tht littel virtual travel.
You are so good at finding the neatest places to feature...and pink, at that!
This sounds great, love southern cookin! I'll be in New York City next weekend--hope the weather will be good.
Rhonda
Hi Pat!
What a charming place. I'm with Jojo on the grits...just luv um!
Deanna :)
Sounds like a really fun place to go. As a Southerner, this is my kind of food!
What a cute name for a restauranbt. Thanks for finding it for us.
Nice to meet you!
What a lovely welcoming place. It's good that it stayed in the family.
LOVE this! I featured the PInk Tea Cup on my birthday post last year! I look forward to going there (For real!) on our next trip to NYC, which I hope is sooner rather than later! : )
Love,
Sue
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