I had dinner at Londel’s last Friday to celebrate my cousin’s birthday. I hadn’t been there in quite a while and I am sorry I waited so long. In his most recent expansion, Londel added a very attractive bar and a sidewalk cafe. I arrived a little late but my cousin had run into a couple of friends at the bar and was already enjoying herself. We waited there until her two goddaughters arrived and then we chose an inside table.
The food is still terrific and our waiter was warm, friendly, and knowledgeable. Londel’s serves a mix of “continental, cajun and southern cuisine” and, since everything is prepared to order by Chef Kenny Heatley, they can accommodate individual preferences and health conscious choices. I had the smothered pork chops with yellow rice (okay, not the most health conscious choice but it was a special occasion); my cousin had the barbecued ribs with Londel’s famous macaroni & cheese, after the crab cake appetizer. One goddaughter had the fried pork chops and the other ordered the seafood special, both with the mac & cheese, of course. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the first set of the Brandon Sanders Quartet, who played an interesting mix of jazz and classic rhythm & blues.
Londel’s has come a long way since its owner, Londel Davis, (who grew up in Harlem) converted a portion of his neighborhood barber shop into a restaurant in the early 1990’s. His clientele includes celebs and political notables, as well as many faithful Harlemites and other New Yorkers. Check out their photo gallery to see who has been there recently. Londel’s is on the 8th Avenue (now known as Frederick Douglass Boulevard) end of Striver’s Row, one of Harlem’s historic blocks. It is a great place to have a drink or a meal and it is a favorite for Sunday brunch.
Londel’s Supper Club
2620 Frederick Douglass Boulevard (between 139th & 140th Streets)
Phone: 212 234-6114 email: londeld@aol.com
Open Tues-Sat 11:30am-11:00pm
Sunday Brunch: 11:30am-5pm
Closed Mondays
Jazz / R&B on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm & 10 pm (Performance cover charge)
Yum ! This looks really good.