{"id":25436,"date":"2013-11-04T18:03:04","date_gmt":"2013-11-04T23:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/?p=25436"},"modified":"2013-11-04T18:03:04","modified_gmt":"2013-11-04T23:03:04","slug":"restaurant-review-harlem-mintons-opening-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/?p=25436","title":{"rendered":"Harlem’s Opening Night at Minton’s (Review)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"IMG_2667\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Minton's<\/a><\/p>\n

Minton\u2019s Harlem is the rebirth of legendary jazz club Minton’s Playhouse, frequented by the likes of\u00a0Thelonious Monk, Charlie Christian and Dizzy Gillespie, in the 1940s and \u201950s. \u00a0Owner\u00a0Richard Parsons (former chairman of Citigroup and the former chairman and CEO of Time Warner)\u00a0has teamed up with\u00a0<\/span>Executive Chef Alexander Smalls and Chef de Cuisine Banks White<\/a>\u00a0to create a destination offering an exceptional experience that bridges Harlem’s past, present and future. \u00a0Mr. Parsons is also the owner of The Cecil, which is adjacent to Minton’s, and which we previously reviewed (click here for the review)<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"IMG_2590\"<\/a>
Richard Parsons dining on opening night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As we approached the restaurant on one of Harlem’s restaurant rows, the first thing we noticed was the glowing plaque indicating that Minton’s is in The\u00a0National Register of\u00a0Historic Places. \u00a0That set the tone for the experience that followed.<\/p>\n

Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted warmly by the Director of Operations \u00a0Beatrice Stein, just as she had when she greeted us at The Cecil, where she holds the same title.<\/p>\n

The restaurant is a \u00a0wide and long though not cavernous rectangle with spacious ceilings. \u00a0It is well lit and beautifully designed with rich warm colors everywhere. \u00a0There is a nice bar to the right, and a banquet of tables lining a cloth paneled wall to your left. \u00a0You walk through this lounge-like space into the main dining room. \u00a0There you find tables lining the walls to your left and right. \u00a0Some of the walls are mirrored. \u00a0Pictures of Jazz Legends including Dizzie and\u00a0Billie line the walls. \u00a0Off in the distance is a stage with a wonderful mural. \u00a0The stage features a beautiful black grand piano. \u00a0The tables are a combination of two and four tops draped in crisp white linens. \u00a0The chairs are comfortable and the tables nicely sized. \u00a0The staff is omni-present, attentive and knowledgeable.<\/p>\n

We were seated at the first table to your right as you enter the main dining area. \u00a0From there you can take in everything while enjoying some privacy.<\/p>\n

There are two dining options, both prix-fixe, one two course, the other a four course. \u00a0We opted for the five course.<\/p>\n

We started off with cocktails which were generously poured. \u00a0The Lady Bird was exceptional. \u00a0We also enjoyed a variety of red and white wines throughout the evening, which are available by the glass or the bottle.<\/p>\n

While we waited for our meal the musicians assembled and started their first of several sets. \u00a0 These are\u00a0top-notch Jazz musicians<\/a>\u00a0with years of experience. \u00a0They did not disappoint – their performances were the highlight of (and throughout) the evening.<\/p>\n

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The first course<\/span> was an appetizer sampler called the Low Country Experience. \u00a0We each received a plate containing nine sections, each with a different appetizer. \u00a0The variety was fabulous. \u00a0It felt as though the chef’s had traveled the world and selected their best fare for our tasting. Our table could have ordered several bowls of the Fried Okra wrapped in Surryano Country Ham. \u00a0Other favorites included Deviled Egg Toast with Smoked Trout and Pickled Shallot, Creminis stuffed with creamed collard greens, and Beau Soleil Oysters, Champagne Mignonette Ossetra Caviar.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0881\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The second course<\/span> consisted of Sherry She Crab Soup with Crisp Yam and Skillet Bread, Winter Apple Salad with Candied Black Walnuts, Butter Lettuce and Smoked Crabapple Vinaigrette, and Roasted Parsnip and Kabocha Squash Soup with Benne Seed Crunch and Brown Butter Creme Fraiche.<\/p>\n

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\"IMG_0734\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The third course<\/span> consisted of Smothered Lobster & Shrimp Caserole with Creole Crawfish Gravy an Nora Mills Pimento Cheese Grits, Wagyu Ribeye with Bone Marrow Butter, Chanterella Mushrooms, Sweet Potato Pave and Blacktruffle Glace Deviande, and Pan Seared Venison with Carmelized russel Sprouts, Dumpling Squash and Huckleberry Gastrique.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2614\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"IMG_0739\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The fourth course<\/span> included Minton’s rendition of Banana Cream Pie with Sable Breton, Sour Cremem Mousse and Banana Sorghum Ice Cream. \u00a0And blackberry Cobbler with Brown Sugar Bisquit and Cornbread Ice Cream (and I asked for the requisite cool glass of milk). \u00a0We ended the evening with a round of smooth and soothing Cognac.<\/p>\n

During and after our meal Beatrice Stein, Alexander Smalls and Banks White were kind enough to stop by. \u00a0We of course let them know how much we enjoyed our time, and assured them that we would be back.<\/p>\n

MINTON\u2019S HARLEM Jazz Supper Club<\/b><\/p>\n

\"IMG_2589\"<\/a><\/p>\n

206 W 118th Street (St. Nicholas & Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd)
\nNew York, NY 10026
\nReservations: (212)243-2222
\nMonday \u2013 Thursday: 5-11PM
\nFriday \u2013 Saturday \u2013 5-Midnight
\nwww.MintonsHarlem.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Minton\u2019s Harlem is the rebirth of legendary jazz club Minton’s Playhouse, frequented by the likes…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":832535,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[179,21402,2020179,103804,9989,384,586,124718155,678,39464011,124715274,18,34961255,10704,124715594,124715973],"tags":[77809719,28740392,124716091,935129,124716093,124716089,124718158,47860682,44368477,124715961,124715962,93470272,173973,21992,124716015,124715974,124718213,124716092,124716090],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25436"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25436"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25478,"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25436\/revisions\/25478"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/832535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/harlemcondolife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}