Category Archives: Restaurant Reviews

NECTAR “Saturday Spin” HARLEM

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By HarlemHouse                                                                                                                           This Saturday stop by Nectar as they continue to celebrate their Outdoor Cafe with Saturday Spin.   They will have $3 Drink Specials all night long and you can chill and enjoy music by DJ Sharee. (see the flyer below)

As a longtime HarlemCondoLife favorite, see review NECTAR, we are happy to see these great changes and new events scheduled just in time for summer.

See you there!

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Saturday, June 11

 7PM – 1AM   

The celebration for our 3 year anniversary continues this Saturday

as we celebrate the Grand Opening of our Outdoor Cafe with

$3 Drink Special all night long and music by DJ Sharee.

Sip, Mix and Mingle under the Stars!    

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ALSO NOT TO BE MISSED…

events

Cocktails with Belle  

June 15th   8PM – 10 PM

 

Book Signing at Hueman Bookstore from 6 – 8 PM

immediately followed by Cocktail & Conversation @ Nectar 

with Essence Magazine relationship editor, Demetria L. Lucas

To RSVP email: BellesinHarlem@gmail.com

 A Belle in Brooklyn celebrates the joys of singlehood, encourages personal development, and offers tools to help woman increase their odds of finding a suitable mate when they are ready for one.


Crepes on Columbus (Review)

CREPES ON COLUMBUS

By HarlemHouse
This is becoming one of my favorite new breakfast and lunch spots near to lower Harlem.  Though just on the outer skirts of what is considered the official Harlem line, they do deliver to lower Fredrick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. area.   Actually I just confirmed with the informative and likable Manager/Owner Steve that they do in fact deliver from Lennox Ave to Riverside up to around 120th/ 121st street.  Keep in mind they get very busy (especially on weekends) so depending on the day it may take longer for your order to arrive.

The food is very good, fresh and a nice alterntive to the greasy spoon diner.  Though nothing against the greasy food diner experience.  The one I frequently go to for the basic breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast is “Tom’s Restaurant” located on 112th St. and Broadway.  But you can’t have that everyday.   Crepes on Columbus has a tantalizing diversity of choices for your taste buds.  Everything tastes good!

Starting with my favorite which lately I have been ordering for breakfast quite frequently is the “Oeuf Columbus” Poached eggs on a goat cheese potato cake with ratatouille and a baquette on the side.  Delicious!

“Oeuf Columbus”

I usually add their homemade apple turnover or a chocolate or almond croissant to my order.  Ok it’s not the discount $6.50 dollar breakfast at the diner joint.  But for what you are getting and the quality and preparation of the food it is fairly reasonable.  The Ouef Columbus is priced at $9.75  with a baguette on the side.  The croissants are priced at $2.oo and the turnovers are $2.25.

Also very good are the sandwiches.  I have ordered the Cubana (slightly altered from the Cubano which is traditionally a cuban sandwich) and the Prosciutto & fresh mozzarella sandwich.  Both very good.  All sandwiches are served with organic mesclun salad on the side.

But don’t forget about the Crepes!  After all it is in the title so you already know they are going to be good.  Too many choices to choose from or you can create one on your own.  From breakfast crepes, sandwich crepes to dessert crepes they are all freshly prepared and incredible.  But check out the menu for yourself and see what looks good to you at www.crepesoncolumbus.com.

*Heads up they are very busy on weekends if you decide to order for delivery allow to wait a little longer for your order than usual.

Happy eating.   By HarlemHouse

Enjoy and Bon Appetit!

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CREPES ON COLUMBUS

(212) 222-0259

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Harlem's 125th Street featured in Gothamist's Lunch Quadrant

By HarlemGal
Have you ever heard of the Lunch Quadrant by Gothamist? Harlem’s 125th Street is featured this week! For the Lunch Quadrant, they checked out the lunch options at Island Salad, Fishers of Men at 121 West 125th Street, Mobay at 17 West 125th Street, and Red Rooster. Apparently, they go out in the city and find four lunch options (two standing, two sitting) by a given subway stop every week! Pretty cool…huh?

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Atomic Wings Reopens On Harlem's Gold Coast

By HarlemGuy

Atomic Wings, previously covered in our various postings, on Harlem’s Gold Coast,  reopens on Friday the 13th, according to the new owners, who were handing out samples this (Thu.) evening.

The shrimp Caesar salad was A – MAZ – ING.

Give it a try!  And tell them HarlemCondoLife sent you.

Atomic Wings Reopens On Harlem’s Gold Coast

By HarlemGuy

Atomic Wings, previously covered in our various postings, on Harlem’s Gold Coast,  reopens on Friday the 13th, according to the new owners, who were handing out samples this (Thu.) evening.

The shrimp Caesar salad was A – MAZ – ING.

Give it a try!  And tell them HarlemCondoLife sent you.

A little bit of harlem on the upper east side

By HarlemGuy

I’ve been spending all of my time in the last few weeks at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital on the Upper East Side. During that time I was fortunate to find comfort in a little bit of Harlem on 71st and York in the form of a food truck for the Jamaican restaurant Yvonne Yvonne located at 301 West 135th street. I made a point of grabbing a bite to eat every day during the last two weeks, as long as I could get there between 11:00am an 3:30, their hours of operation. I sampled many dishes but my favorite remains the large size curried chicken all dark meat with rice and beans, collard greens, mashed potatoes, plantains, lemonade and hot sauce, for $11.00. MMM. MMM. GOOD!

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Aloha Spirit in Harlem

Makana Restaurant

By Icare4Harlem

Some folks might wonder what’s a Hawaiian/Japanese restaurant doing in East Harlem?  As Harlem becomes more diversified, why not?  I had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners of Makana Hawaiian & Japanese BBQ, Dave Chan.  He certainly exuded the Aloha Spirit that I enjoyed when I lived in Hawaii.

Dave Chan, Co-Owner

My expectations were a little guarded as I attempted to imagine just how this modest eatery would introduce island food to the locals.  Well, I think Dave, hit the spot.  Realizing that you have to bridge the gap, his menu reflects a variety of Sushi and Sashimi items, Bento Boxes, Lunch Plates, Noodle Soups, and appetizers such as Ahi Poke and Spam Musubi.  Yes, I said, Spam.  Anyone who has traveled to Hawaii knows that Spam is everywhere.

I decided to try one of my favorite dishes, BBQ Beef Short Ribs.  It came with “1 scoop rice,” salad, the ribs, and macaroni salad.

BBQ Beef Short Ribs

The ribs were a slightly different take from the ones in Hawaii but equally as flavorful.  I was eager to see how the mac salad was going to be served as it’s traditionally a little macaroni with tons of mayonnaise.  Would this heart attack inducing ingredient appear on my plate?  I was pleased to see that they used discretion and reduced the amount of whipped oil.  As I glanced over to another table, a party of 5 appeared to have enjoyed their meal since the Chicken Katsu and Island Curry Chicken Bento Boxes were left empty.

The restaurant has been opened for about 6 months and the majority of Makana’s sales are takeout or delivery but there are a few tables and a small counter for eating in.  Located just off of 116th St. and 1st Avenue, Dave sees his restaurant as serving the established population and new residents.  His close proximity to the East River Plaza which houses Costco, Target, Old Navy, and many more stores, has already increased his delivery service.

Island Scenes

With an eye on expanding to other locations in Harlem, this restaurant is a great introduction to Hawaiian food.  Bring on the Furikake Chicken, Haupia Chocolate Pie, and Malasadas!

Makana Hawaiian & Japanese BBQ

2245 1st Ave. (Bet. 115 & 116 St.)

New York, NY 10029

212-966-3534 or 212-966-3609

Zagat surveyors grant Lenox Lounge in Harlem high marks

By HarlemGal
According to NY1,  Zagat surveyors, the experts on rating everything, have bestowed our historic and charming Lenox Lounge in Harlem with strong ratings, not necessarily for drinks and music, but for food, i.e. dining out. Sharron Cannon, general manager of Lenox Lounge, said their entire menu has been revamped where they now offer homemade made items.

In the NY1 video, the Lenox Lounge food dishes look divine and they must be because Zagat issued Lenox Lounge high marks. Located at 125th Street and Lenox Avenue, Lenox received a 23 for appeal, nineteen for decor, twenty-one for service and an E for expensive. What can one expect from a place where legends like Billie Holiday, BB King and Miles Davis use to hang.

Lenox Lounge
288 Lenox Avenue
212-427-0253
www.lenoxlounge.com

Harlem's Les Ambassades featured in The Wall Street Journal

By HarlemGal
According to today’s article in The Wall Street Journal, one’s palate can go global in Harlem at Les Ambassades, located at 2200 Frederick Douglass Blvd. Or should the article state going glocal, not global? For those of us who have lived in Harlem for several years, or longer, know that Les Ambassades is an international hangout that offers fabulous breads, pastries and authentic West African dishes. Our favorites are the Steak au Poivre, Salad Nicoise, and their homemade single-size Creme Brulee. We’ve also gone in for a cup of coffee to go and the java of the day is much better than that other place right across the street.

Frizzante in Harlem closed for couple of days

By HarlemGal
Over the weekend a reader asked HarlemCondoLife “what’s up with Frizzante in Harlem? The doors have been shut for a few days?” I wondered the same thing!
I made a few calls and here’s the latest! Frizzante, located at 2168 Frederick Blvd., is NOT closed for good. They are fixing a few repairs according to a source from Meridiana, an Italian restaurant on the Upper Westside and the same owners of Frizzante. They hope to reopen in a couple of days!
Whew! Glad to gear it! I love the food at Frizzante and their Happy Hour is good as well! Hope to go back soon once they reopen!

bier international (review)

By HarlemHouse

This place is a goldmine! Owners Chris Pollok and Oujmane Keita have delivered to our Harlem neighborhood a new watering hole that since day one has hit the ground running.  You may have been following our updates

on bier international 6 months prior to it’s opening (thanks to HCL’s HarlemGal) and how we have been highly anticipating this place.  We are excited that it is now open and already a new hot spot in the neighborhood.  Very diverse clientele from the after work suit and tie crowd to casual shorts and flip flops  just stopping by for a cold beer.  During the day  you get families with kids along with a solid Saturday & Sunday brunch crowd.  The brunch menu  has Crab Cakes Benedict for $12, Buttermilk Pancakes with assorted berries for $7, and a Norwegian Smoked Salmon Omelet for $10 just to name a few.  Many evenings it is already overcrowded with its front wall of open windows allowing people to spill into the sidewalk.  Very inviting and welcoming atmosphere.  I walk by it every night on my way home and have yet to see it uncrowded.  Not only can you get a large assortment of imported beers on tap (or by bottle) but they also provide a minimal selection of nice wines for the non beer drinkers in the house.

When they first opened, 5 weeks ago, the food started off with a minimal selection.  It has now expanded to a full menu of small entrees and a healthy variety of appetizers thanks to Chef Adriano.  The food is very reasonably priced between $7 to $12.  Each plate has a beer suggestion to pair it with.  Very smart move as I noticed looking around at all the tables and the bar that almost everyone was eating something.   They have a nice cheese platter that you can tailor to a selection of cheeses you like.  The also have an excellent Quacamole and Chips appetizer.  I highly recommend the sliced Brauts with Sauerkraut served without bread.  Goes nicely along with a couple of cold ones.  Also very good is their Wild Mushroom Quesadilla.  It’s priced very reasonably but the group I was with all agreed they should offer two sizes.  A small size for one or two to share, and a larger size that several people could share.  This was the tables favorite with the group I was with.  The Steak Burgers are also great.  Very hearty and come with french fries.  They also have Shaved Parmesan and Truffle hand-cut Fries which are quite tasty.  Also noteworthy the Catfish Tacos and the Fig & Pig (porchetta) Salad.  The Fig & Pig Salad is only available during Oktobierfest.  See full dinner menu.  The Bier Steak Burger along with a couple other new items have been added to the menu.

This place has a great vibe and is already thriving.  Everytime I’ve gone so far both of the owners have been present, very involved and mingling with the customers.  This is a sure recipe to a successful establishment.  The staff are equally as welcoming and friendly.

Bier International is the new kid on the block and as far as popularity goes, just pop in and see for yourself.

Enjoy Oktoberfest from September 18 – October 3.  Bier International

2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (at 113th St.)

New York, NY 10026

5 & Diamond / Harlem (Review)

By HarlemHouseTHE FIVE & DIAMOND


By HarlemHouse

The Five and Diamond Restaurant on Frederick Douglass and 112th street has recently gone through a couple of changes.  Chef Ryan Skeen has turned over his expertise to Chef David Santos.   I won’t get into the story of why the Restaurant changed chefs or any other previous incidents on staff etc.   This has already been written about.  I am here only to review the restaurant as it stands now and to let you know what you can expect and experience while dining there.  For those of you wanting to read about previous issues here is an article that I came across.

Now back to my review.  Recently I ate at 5 & Diamond with a friend specifically to review it.  I have been excited to try the food here since it opened.  At this Mediterranean, American cuisine restaurant I spoke with brothers Carlos Santos (General Manager) and David Santos (Executive Chef) extensively about the food and their goal for 5 & Diamond.  First off the food was delicious. The Portuguese flavors and styles add an excitement to the dishes.  For starters we had the Seared Scallops with Apricot Gazpacho and the Prawns with Crispy Pork Belly.

Both were very good.  I was skeptical of the prawns and pork belly (together) combo appetizer but this turned out to be my favorite of the two.  They also offered an Heirloom Tomato Salad which they had run out of the night I was there.  The small plates/appetizers will run you between $12-$15.  For the entrees we had the Chatham Cod with Manilla Clams, Celery, Tomato Coriander Sauce and the Iowa Farms Pork Loin with Sweet Corn, Seasonal Mushrooms, Gooseberry Puree.  The Cod was cooked perfectly crisp on the outside but tender and rich and flavorful like butter on the inside.  This dish was perfection.  Chef David mentioned that he will change the menu from time to time but I hope this entree will remain on the menu as I want to go back and have it again soon.  The Pork was tender and seasoned well.  The gooseberry puree added a random yet interesting twist to the dish.

Also very popular is the  Philly Cheese Steak Entree with Clothbound Cheddar, Crispy Shallots and Red Pepper Foam.  The customer at the table next to me had this and I decided this will be what I have next time.  The Grande Plates/Main courses will run you between $24 – $30.  This may seem expensive but considering the quality and care that goes into the dishes and how satisfied your taste buds will be after eating here, I think you will find it well worth the dinero.

Last but not least the desert.  They have a nice selection of choices ranging from Chocolate Spongecake with Peanut Butter Cup, Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato to a Homemade Cookie Plate.  All deserts are baked fresh on the premises and considering Chef David’s reputation and experience in this field he wouldn’t have it any other way.  But there is one desert that has me craving to go back for more and I have been obsessing over ever since I ate there, the Brioche Doughnuts. I know what your thinking, donuts after dinner?  That’s what I thought so I ordered the cookies.  My friend ordered the donuts, but I took them over.   Even with Chef David sitting at our table talking with us we were both diving into those donuts without any control.  Basically what you get is a bowl of small round hot doughy sugar donuts with a dish of warm icing on the side to dip them in. It’s “ridiculous good!”  I am hungry again just writing about it.

They offer several different specials throughout the week, and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday Portuguese Brunch, for $20 (Unlimited Sangria for $10 extra) looks particularly inviting to me.Also recently my fellow blogger Austin2Harlem, posted about 5 & Diamond’s Happy Hour with their $5 Menu.  A great deal and an intimate bar setting.  The Curry Lamb Belly Sliders are awesome!  I have not tried the pig ears yet. My first thought after dining here was what a great place this will be to bring friends and family to.  It’s impressive without feeling stuffy.  I think the family touch (the Santos brothers) definitely adds to this and gives a pleasant vibe to the place.  Being a dog lover I got a kick out of the fact they had a bowl of water in front of the restaurant for peoples’ pets to quench their thirst on those hot summer days.  I also liked the music selection which was loaded with a lot of Stevie Wonder classics along with other great soul and R&B.

Overall I would say 5 & Diamond definitely stands alone and offers a unique addition to all the other great restaurants in the area.  There is a need for a place like this in Harlem.  The space is the right size and the location is perfect.  I think they will do well here as the foodies which frequent Melbas, Frizzante, Mojos, etc., stumble upon it.

A Friday Night at Londel’s Supper Club in Harlem

By NativeNewYorker

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 Davis, Owner

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)

New Hours, New Menu for Café in Harlem

By Icare4Harlem

The Atrium Cafe

Earlier this year I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the opening of The Atrium Café in Harlem.  As part of the museum experience, the café is right next door to the Studio Museum and is in partnership with Great Performances, an event planning and leading catering company.  Stop by for a quick bite and enjoy their new hours and new menu!

Hours:

Thursday 12 – 7:30pm
Friday 12 – 7:30pm

Atrium Cafe Menu

Fresh Salads  $6.00
Turkey Waldorf Salad
Chinese Noodles, Cucumber Scallions, Red Peppers, and a Spicy Peanut Dressing

Soup $3.50

Artisanal Sandwiches  $7.00
Porchetta with Caramelized Sauerkraut, Deli Mustard & Thunder Pickles on Pumpernickel Baguette
Herb Grilled Chicken Wrap with Sun Dried Tomato Pesto in a Tomato Wrap
Roast Beef with Tomato Chutney and Basil on Lavash
Vegetable Frittata, Cheddar Cheese

Snacks
Thunder Pickle  $1.00
Mixed Nuts and Dried Fruits  $2.00
Newtons, Brownie, Chocolate Chip Cookie  $2.00
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar  $2.50
Sweet Potato Pie & Chocolate Caramel Pie  $3.00
M&Ms, Skittles, Chocolate Coffee Beans  $2.00
Miss Vickie’s Potato Chips, Sea Salt or BBQ  $2.00
Tonnie’s Mini’s Cupcakes  $1.00

Beverages 1.75
Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, Orange Juice, Apple Juice, Sweet Tea, Saratoga Water Bottle

All prices include tax

The Atrium Café at the Studio Museum

144 West 125th Street
New York, New York 10027
212-864-4500, x247

HARLEM / DELIVERY & TAKE-OUT

by HarlemHouse

HARLEM / DELIVERY & TAKE-OUT

When I first relocated to the lower West part of Harlem pre “condo rush” days many years ago, one of the things I noticed was that very few restaurants delivered to my area. Working late hours and not being much of a cook this was a problem and I would often bring home food from my work location on the train.

One of the few restaurants that would deliver was Famiglia and I lived off that menu for months. There is only so much Pizza and Lasagna that you can eat. As the year went on a couple more places started to deliver to my building like Flor De Mayo, Kitchenette, Ollie’s just to name a few. I can remember literally negotiating with the manager of many restaurants pleading for delivery to FDB area. I was amazed the other day when I noticed the amount of menus in my kitchen drawer had grown into an impressive healthy stack!  A major improvement from my old reliable first delivery menu “Famiglia Pizzeria” to well over fifty menus. Not only are there many choices now but so many different varieties. Like good Thai (Thai Market), Indian (Indus Valley), Italian (V&T & Piatto d’Oro & Frizzante), Seafood (Questan’s), Greek, (Symposium.. NOTE: they only deliver to lower FDB & only if they are not busy), American/Comfort Food (Kitchenette), Soul food (Sylvia’s, Miss Mamie’s Spoonbread Too, Amy Ruth’s, & Melba’s for take-out), Ethiopian (Zoma), Spanish (Lolita’s, Tropical Sensation, El Aguila, Blockheads & more), African/French (Les Ambassades Boulangerie-Patisserie-Cafe), Chinese (Empire Corner, Ollie’s & too many other’s to list) Jamaican (Under D Tree), Vegetarian/Vegan (Strictly Roots Inc), Deli’s (Park West, European, & Tom’s just to name a few) and Pizza (Famiglia’s, Pizzeria 123, Papa Johns, & Giovanni’s)

With more and more Restaurants opening up monthly here in Harlem our choices and varieties will only continue to grow. Though I prefer to go out to dinner, and whenever time prevails I do, it’s also great for us non-cooks to have a variety of options for “in home dining”

NOTE: Sylvia’s now also Delivers.

What would be great next would be a 24 hour Deli with basic good food. Any entrepreneurs out there reading this?

Bon appetit!

*Please visit HarlemCondoLife’s “RESTAURANT SECTION” to see detailed information for many of these Restaurant’s.