Wall of Fame

We finally have a good diner on Lenox in Harlem.  This afternoon we attended the soft opening at Harlem Shake and enjoyed exactly what you would expect, shakes and burgers.  Very pleasantly pleased by the retro fifties decor (by Dennis Decker) right down to the order-and-pick-up diner style format.  The official opening will be held in 2 days on Thursday, May 16th.  They are waiting on their license for outdoor seating as well which will expand the diner for the summer months.

Her eyes follow you

The shakes are delicious!  We recommend the Red Velvet Shake.  Our favorite burger of the three that we sampled was the “Hot Mess” spicy, messy and everything good.  The fries were good.  Nice and piping hot, skin on the potato and just the right amount of salt.

We predict many future busy nights here as they are set in the perfect location on the South/West corner of 124th street and Lenox Avenue.

They have added some very cool touches such as the Wall of Fame (above) which consists of a large collage of celebrities from Bill Clinton to Cassandra Wilson who have autographed their head shots on the wall.  We predict this will soon become a Harlem Hot Spot for local Harlemites as well as tour busses and the Sunday brunch crowd passing through and taking pictures of Harlem Shake.  While we were there, already a group of kids came in and asked if they could take a picture inside the place.  With it’s retro vibe, even though it is brand new we had the feeling that it had been there for years.  Also they serve wine and beer for those that want drinks with their fries.  The music playing was a little hip hop, a touch of rap and some R&B and great soul classics.  Perfect.

Thank you Jelena, for your hospitality today.  Congratulations to the whole crew and welcome to the neighborhood!

Fantastic design by Dennis Decker.   Well done.

*They will be open from 11am to 11pm weekdays and weekends they will be open until 2am.

MENU

Vintage jet magazine covers drape the bathroom walls. Fantastic!

Harlem Shake
harlemshakenyc.com
follow on twitter @HarlemShakeNYC

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The highly anticipated Vinateria was well worth the wait.  We enjoyed dinner there on a very crowded Saturday night a week ago.  We sat at the bar for a quick 15 minutes and visited with Antoinette (the lovely bartender mentioned in our previous post) until our table was ready.  A lot of familiar faces in Harlem were there curious to check out Vinateria’s first Saturday night.  We did not notice many people eating dinner at first, only having drinks.  But we arrived around 9:30 pm and our delightful server Ashley explained more people were having dinner earlier and that we arrived more towards the second shift.  After we sat down a large table of 10 sat next to us who all ordered dinner as well as many others.  I definitely recommend that you try their food along with their wine selection.  I wasn’t disappointed at all.  Actually I was thrilled!  As we wrote about Vinateria back in December the owner (Yvette) teamed up with Gabriela and Gustavo Lopez who have worked at many downtown hotspots (see our previous post) in the past.  Gustavo developed the menu and Gabriela developed their wine and beverage program.

The menu (above) is a great compilment to the wine and beverages.  We enjoyed the simplicity of it though it was a little limited with dinner options.  That being said, what we had we loved.  They have divided the menu up by small, medium and large along with a cheese & charcuterie section and desserts.  It is very resonably priced.  Espeically the Large section entrees which are not huge portions but priced accordingly.  A perfectly cooked NY strip steak (below) at $20 that my friends enjoyed.

I was very pleased with their sauteed striped bass at $18 (above) with sides of mustard greens and mashed potatoes.  The bass was beautifully cooked with a nice crisp skin.  Very flavorful and well executed.  The hand-cut beef tartare (below) with cornichon, capers and fried quail egg… wow!  I was fighting my friends off with my fork, unsuccessfully.  It was perfect.  I highly recommend it.  They have a homemade spaghetti with fava beans in a tomato sauce that looked very good and a nice vegetarian option.  We also started with a selection of various cheeses which set the dinner off to nice start especially with the wines recomended by Gabriela.  We tried the Ostatu (a rose) and the Lurra and a Carmenere.  Wine lovers and connoisseurs will be happy here.  You are in good hands.  Whether you choose to sit in the wine bar area of Vinateria or the restaurant side, after being there twice I can say both sections are comfortable and enjoyable.  Please see part one of our review Harlem Welcomes Vinateria On Their Opening Night from last week with more wine recommendations and additional information.  I think for the wine, food, atmosphere, customer service, location and  how well run this place is by the owner (Yvette), along with the unbeatable team of Gabriella and Gustavo that Vinateria will leave customers wanting to come back for more.  A very welcome addition to Harlem.

(above) Freshly grown Herbs in a window planter at Vinateria to help Gustavo flavor the food prepared in the kitchen.

Vinateria
2211 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (corner of 119th St)
New York, NY 10026
(212)662-8462

They will have a website and twitter account soon but you can follow them now on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/vinaterianyc

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MAISON HARLEM

I had the pleasure of dining at Maison Harlem this weekend.  It’s easily a top 5 local favorite.  The crowd is hip. The food is delicious, plentiful and well priced. The staff is nice, attentive and knowledgeable.  I loved the fact that I was able to speak to the staff and the the owner in both French or English as the mood dictated.  This was my third visit to Maison and each time Samuel Thiam (one of the owners and the evening’s host) has greeted us graciously. We were accompanied by a large group including visiting friends from out of town.  We enjoyed a variety of appetizers, dinner and desert.  See their full menu here MAISON.  I recommend the seasonal oysters, steak tartare, french onion soup or the fried calamari for starters.  For entrees the wild mushroom risotto with grilled seafood is very good.  My friend ordered it and said that this is what she came back for.  The grilled new york shell steak is delicious with either red wine or peppercorn sauce.  Other popular dishes that stood out were the grilled salmon, the duck leg confit and the daurade sauce vierge (royal dorade fish with sauce vierge, grilled asparagus & new potatoes).  Ask for their specials and deserts.  We loved the creme brûlée and lava cake.

MAISON HARLEM Wild Mushroom Risotto

MAISON HARLEM Daurade Sauce Vierge

MAISON HARLEM

I’m told from friends that the burgers are excellent but I’ve not been their for brunch or lunch yet.  I was happy to see that on the lunch menu they offer croque monsieur which is a childhood favorite of mine.

Maison takes reservations (recommended) for parties of four and higher.  Each time I have been there the bar has been crowded – whether it be middle of the week or on the weekend.  This is impressive and shows that by word of mouth and reputation Maison Harlem is a success.

MAISON HARLEM les toilettes

MAISON HARLEM
341 St. Nicholas Ave
New York, NY 10027
(212) 222-9224

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Roast Chicken with Apricot Sauce

When my friend asked me to meet him at the 5 and Diamond Restaurant on Frederick Douglass Blvd. in Harlem, I just assumed it would be a chance to catch up over a nice meal.  As I entered the restaurant, I suddenly realized that there was a special event occurring but I was completely unaware of the contents.  In one of those “Now what am I going to do?” moments, it became apparent that leaving would be awkward but staying might mean enduring a lecture type evening after a long day of work.  To my surprise and delight, the subject matter happened to be of great interest to me.

Lyn-Genet Recitas, Executive Director of Nutrition, of The Lyn-Genet Plan, presented an interesting and informative approach to weight loss, health, and reversing the aging process. There were numerous concepts and examples given during the presentation but what stood out in my mind was the idea that food often promoted as being “healthy” among the general population could, in fact, be a “reactive food” thus inducing an inflammatory response in others.  This reaction has an overall effect on your health.

Mixed Salad Greens

Ms. Recitas’ approach was not an all-encompassing diet plan marketed for the masses but rather an individualized assessment to identify acceptable food and eliminate reactive food specific to each person’s needs.  Her ideas may be of interest to those people who have attempted to address health issues solely through radical diets and/or medication—each having its own side effects.

Vegetable Timbale

The bonus in the evening was a lovely three-course meal consisting of a Carrot Soup Shooter, Mixed Salad Greens, Vegetable Timbale, Roast Chicken, Lamb Shepherd’s Pie, or Red Snapper, and a Berries, Chocolate, and Whipped Cream dessert.  All items were prepared by the 5 and Diamond Restaurant utilizing a variety of herbs and spices and minimizing the use of sodium. Owners of the 5 and Diamond Restaurant plan to open The Harlem Pearl, located on 112^th St. and Frederick Douglass Blvd. Followers of the Lyn-Genet Plan will be able to purchase her 4-Day Detox meals on a “to go” basis.

I have not had a personal experience with Ms. Recitas’ Plan but feel that her program warrants further investigation.  For a more in-depth explanation, go to http://lyngenet.com/the-plan/, to assist in formulating your own opinion.

The Plan

153 Main St.

Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

www.lygenet.com

Email: theplan@lyngenet.com

twitter@lyngenet 646.330.4769

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Today is the relaunch of The Nook at Red Rooster.  Located in a pocket of the restaurant at its entry, The Nook sells specialty savory items and sweets created by Red Rooster Harlem’s pastry chef, Deborah Racicot, whose impressive resume includes Gramercy Tavern, Côte Basque, Aquavit, Picholine and, most recently, Gotham Bar and Grill, where she was pastry chef.

With The Nook, Deborah and Marcus want to offer locals quick, healthy and affordable bites to eat.  The Nook’s menu will be an extension of Red Rooster Harlem’s global comfort food, with both savory and sweet selections.

Sandwiches will include the Chickety Split, fried chicken thigh served on a biscuit with sweet chili mayo and Haitian pikliz ($6.95); Hoagie Svenska, a soft pretzel bun piled with Helga’s meatballs, quick pickles and lingonberry mayo ($6.95); and Atta Boy, a freshly baked roti wrap filled with fried plantain, yucca and curried lentils ($7.95).  The sweet offerings will include cakes, cookies and pastries such as Lingon Bullar, brioche dough rolled in cinnamon sugar and lingonberry jam ($1.95); Yamma Jamma Coffee Cake, sweet potato cake layered with mission fig jam, topped with cinnamon streusel (2.95); and “A” Train Special, a curry-spiced oatmeal blueberry cookie with a light cream cheese filling ($1.50).  A variety of drinks will also be available including hot and cold Ambessa tea, from the line of four teas Marcus recently launched with Harney & Sons.

The Nook will be open seven days a week, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and from 10:00 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays; with breakfast service coming shortly.

Click here to see their full menu.

The Nook at Red Rooster 310 Lenox Avenue (btw 125th & 126th St) in Harlem, NYC.

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67 Orange Street is offering their prix fixe menu until October 15, 2012.  We have only four more nights to enjoy their spectacular (and dubbed as Harlem’s finest) signature cocktails along with an appetizer and entree at a discount price of $30.12.  They are offering their prix fix menu between the hours of 6:00 to 10:00PM.  See the list below  for details on the cocktails, appetizers and Entrees offered on the prix fixe.

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www.67orangestreet.com

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Jado Sushi Harlem

Since our first couple visits and reviews of Jado Sushi, we recently went back and were pleased to see that they now offer an impressive assortment of choices on their full menu.  Almost too many choices to decide between.  In addition to everything that was on the sampler pre-grand opening menu they now offer a large selection of classic dishes as well as many interesting new ones.

We spoke with the owner Nobu, and he said the middle of August had slowed down a little bit with business but they are now busy again and seem to be getting positive reviews.  We went on a Tuesday night and it was a good size crowd and the sushi bar in the back was full.  Jado is a great place for the “singles crowd” here in Harlem, who want to swing by for a solo dinner on their way home from work.  A friend to our blog says that he enjoys sitting at the Sushi bar after work located in the back once a week.  Quick, easy, satisfying, healthy and you might even meet someone!

Please see our review of Jado Sushi In Harlem.

Favorite selections from those of us here at HarlemCondoLife:  The glazed short ribs, fried oysters and the jado chicken Small Plate starters.  The sushi medley or the  jado sushi and sashimi ensemble, a great introduction to their sushi.  The miso marinated black cod, bok choi.  One of the best black cod dishes in the city.  Their Fiji green tea to cleanse the palate.  If you have any room left for desert the tempura ice cream.  A must try.

Jado Sushi Harlem

To see Jado Sushi’s full MENU.

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A reader of HarlemCondoLife informed us about a new 100,000 square-foot development that will be opening at 301-303 125th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.  The four story building will include a DSW discount shoe store, Joe’s Crab Shack restaurant and Blink Fitness expected to be finished in 2013.  With a Red Lobster opening up next to the Apollo Theater we will soon have two new seafood restaurants on 125th Street.

We recently wrote about the plans for a Whole Foods to be one of many new businesses coming into the development to be built in the vacant lot on 125th Street and Lenox Avenue.  With the landmark Apollo Theater and all of the traffic  that it brings from all over the city I imagine this will only increase this busy 125th Street area.  WIth the heavily trafficked restaurants on Lenox Avenue, Red Rooster, Sylvia’s, Corner Social and the newly opened Les Ambassades there are plenty of great restaurants to eat at after an afternoon of shopping.  Also Cedric Bistro and Billie’s Black on 119th Street and too many restaurants to list on Frederick Douglass Boulevard which is now referred to as Harlem’s Restaurant Row.

Harlem’s 125th Street is a dynamic retail neighborhood with a wide variety of restaurants and a tremendous amount of foot traffic surrounding the area.  With subway lines on both Lenox Avenue and Frederick Douglass Boulevard, the amount of retail space, community residents and colleges in the surrounding area it is not surprising that Harlem is starting to attract more chain retailers.

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Delicious Pizza at Bad Horse with fresh ingredients and a variety of salads.  The pizza pictured here – Hot Italian Sausage and Garlic with fresh Basil.  Yum!

Bad Horse 212-749-1258
2222 Frederick Douglass Boulevard @120th
Check out their online menu…
www.badhorsepizza.com

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We have just received the promotional flyer and official news for the GRAN RE-OPENING of Les Ambassades Bar & Grill.  The celebration will be held on Friday, August 24th, 2012 at 7PM – 10PM.  This is an opportunity for other businesses, restaurants, bar/lounges and residents to welcome them to the neighborhood.

Over the past few weeks they have had Saturday night gatherings with DJ Breeze reintroducing the newly renovated Les Ambassades to the community.  The two events that we blogged about of Ambassades have been well attended with an enthusiastic crowd and great vibe.

The customers of the already successful Patisserie des Amassades on Frederick Douglass Boulevard’s restaurant row will certainly want to try out Ambassades new location on Lenox.   It will cater more to the bar & restaurant crowd which frequent Red Rooster, Corner Social, Chez Lucienne and other hotspots in this area of Harlem.

Please see our previous write up on Les Ambassades Bar & Restaurant Now Open  and make sure to check out their Grand Opening.

Hope to see you there!

Les Ambassades Bar & Restaurant
341 Lenox Avenue (at 127th Street)
tel.(212) 866-9700

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