Blues-y dinner

[Conleywd3]

A group of my friends is going to see one of my favorite New Orleans blues singers at Terra Blues in the Village on Wednesday. We need a great place to go have a cocktail and dinner beforehand that will not take too long but will be delicious. We would love to get some good soul food to warm up for our night, but are open to other suggestions. Also, we're recently out of college, so budgets are an issue!!!
Thanks in advance for the help!

[CharlotteNYC]

If you want to enjoy real good soul food, visit that place:

http://www.thepinkteacup.com/index.html

great martinis and wine @ The Dove on Thompson St. (btw Bleeker& 3rd)

[JungMann]

The Pink Teacup is the perfect place for soul food in that neighborhood, both for price and quality.

The Dove is nice, but it's not as cheap as most people make it out to be.

[Blumie]

It's hard to find good Louisiana cuisine outside of New Orleans, but I like going to Mara's Homemade, on East 6th Street, to get me in the mood before seeing a New Orleans band.

[thursdaynext]

I'd vote for Great Jones Cafe, right off the Bowery.

[Conleywd3]

This menu looks great, I think we will check it out! Thanks to all for the suggestions!

[telaforbin]

I had Mara's Homemade yesterday. I have no idea why anyone thinks this place is good. Granted I have only had the pulled pork sandwich, the worst pulled pork I have ever had. All the meat on my sandwich was burnt ends. The bbq sauce was basically ketchup. I have only had Mara's once and don't think I will ever have it again. 4 of us went there, no one will ever go back.

[LeahBaila]

Agreed. I was very unimpressed with the food.

[LeahBaila]

Hill Country BBQ, Chat N Chew