-
$ | Harlem |
This family-friendly burger joint on the bustling, brownstone-lined corner of 124th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard has a retro malt-shop interior adorned with headshots of Black entertainers and vintage Jet magazine covers. The eatery's name is a clever take on the world-famous Harlem Shake dance made popular by Harlem resident Al B, and also gives a nod to its rich organic milkshakes—such as the decadent Red Velvet, locally made with real cake and Blue Marble ice cream. Creative burgers include the award-winning Hot Mess, which is topped with pickled cherry pepper and bacon relish, American cheese, and smoky chipotle mayo. Tasty nonbeef alternatives, like the house-made veggie burger, the Hot Honey Chick sandwich (dark meat fried chicken drizzled with Mike's Hot Honey), or the simple, yet satisfying cheese fries are staples of the reasonably priced menu. There's happy hour on beer and wine during the weekdays 4--8 pm or go booze-free with a myriad of old-fashioned soda options, like the cherry-flavored Cheerwine or Earp's Sarsaparilla. Find even more seating out on the covered patio and during the summer months expect live jazz on Sunday, adding to the energetic vibe.
100 W. 124th St., New York, New York, 10027, USA
Known For
- Tasty fries including jerk or chili-cheese
- Organic milk shakes and yummy burgers
- Annual Miss and Mr. Harlem Shake contest
-
$$ | Harlem |
When Harlem resident Susannah Koteen opened Lido in 2011, she became one of the pioneers of Restaurant Row, which blossomed along Frederick Douglass Boulevard. A laid-back, yet classy restaurant with boundless appeal, this authentic Italian eatery is a neighborhood go-to for a casual dinner and the perfect date spot. The restaurant prides itself on its locally sourced ingredients and has become one of the most popular brunch spots in Harlem. Try the tuscan crostini with burrata and poached pears drizzled with honey and topped with sage as a starter and wash it down with a truly spectacular cocktail known as the Kiwi Breeze, made with coconut rum, kiwi puree, brown cane sugar, and white grapefruit juice. For brunch, don’t skip the braised short rib hash or spaghetti with veal meatballs. And to top it off, add bottomless mimosas for $20.
2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd., New York, New York, 10026, USA
Known For
- Bottomless mimosas for brunch
- Friendly service and excellent daily specials
- Patio seating
-
$$$ | Harlem |
Marcus Samuelsson, who earned his celebrity chefdom at Aquavit in Midtown for his take on Ethiopian-accented Scandinavian cuisine (fusing the food of his birthplace with that of where he grew up), moved to Harlem in 2010, creating a culinary hot spot in this casual, jazzy-looking space with wall murals, wooden tables, and bistro chairs. The comfort-food menu reflects the ethnic diversity of modern-day New York City, from spicy jerk salmon to the shrimp and grits with tomato-okra stew. It’s very crowded during weekend brunch hours, so expect a wait for Sunday brunch, with its gospel music, boozy cocktails, and modern takes on dishes like chicken and waffles.
310 Lenox Ave. (Malcolm X Blvd.), New York, New York, 10027, USA
Known For
- Lines for Sunday brunch with gospel music
- Chicken (with maple hot sauce) and waffles
- Lively scene
-
$$ | Harlem |
Famous for their southern-style comfort food, Amy Ruth’s is all about “cooking with love” with shareable plates and heaping portions. The original owner (Carl S. Redding) learned to cook at his grandmother’s side during the summer months in Alabama, and he opened the Harlem restaurant on Mother’s Day in 1998. Chef Jannette Robinson has been serving up their famous chicken and waffles, cheesy grits, and fried fish ever since, keeping with the tradition of Amy Ruth Moore Bass.
113 W. 116th St., New York, New York, 10026, USA
Known For
- Chicken and waffles
- Comfort food
- Jerk chicken
-
$$ | Harlem |
Popular with the hip brunch crowd on weekends, this bustling, family-run restaurant and bar puts a modern spin on classic American dishes with Ecuadorian, Puerto Rican, and Bangladeshi influences. Try the roasted carrots with tamarind chutney or the bold chicken vindaloo arepas (stuffed cornmeal cakes) topped with cotija (an aged cow's milk Mexican cheese) and fresh cucumber raita (Indian yogurt sauce). Each multicultural dish is packed with flavor and spice, and the fancy cocktails (like their amaretto sour made with cardamom-infused gin) are also standout.
187 Lenox Ave. (Malcolm X Blvd.), New York, New York, 10026, USA
Known For
- South Asian fusion
- Bottomless mimosas
- Trendy brunch scene
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Wed., Reservations essential
-
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
-
$$$ | Harlem |
Chef Carlos Swepson puts a contemporary spin on classic American soul food, with down-home dishes like biscuits and sausage gravy, jumbo shrimp and grits, turkey meat loaf, seven-cheese macaroni, and fried-chicken sliders. Owned and operated by Swepson and his wife, Markisha, the casual yet smart eatery serves brunch all day, every day in a comfy space directly above the entrance to the B and C trains at 116th street. There's also a DJ spinning R&B, techno, and soul on the weekends during brunch and dinner.
2149 Frederick Douglass Blvd., New York, New York, 10027, USA
Known For
- Busy brunch scene
- Friendly and attentive waitstaff
- Homemade buttermilk biscuits served fresh all day
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Outdoor seating in summer; DJ plays on weekends
-
$ | Harlem |
If you want to kick back in a comfortable environment with lots of natural light, try this laid-back neighborhood hangout. Its beans are sourced from the Brooklyn Roasting Company (one of the city's finest coffee emporiums), and, in addition to quality java, its menu features paninis, savory crepes, and other casual fare, as well as several wines by the glass and beers in the bottle.
2104 Frederick Douglass Blvd., New York, New York, 10026, USA
Known For
- Brewing locally roasted coffee
- Space for coworking
- Sweet and savory crepes
-
$$ | Harlem |
Big appetites will be happy with the huge platters of St. Louis–style ribs, Memphis-style ribs, and pulled pork and brisket here, as well as the fried chicken, corn bread, slaw, and barbecue baked beans. Smaller appetites can opt for burgers, sliders, sandwiches, and salads, plus some gluten-free selections. Nearly everything is smoked or homemade at this sprawling, two-story location tucked under the West Side Highway viaduct. There’s a smaller outpost in Brooklyn.
700 W. 125th St., New York, New York, 10027, USA
Known For
- Homemade fare in a location under a viaduct
- Large restaurant with vintage style and wooden booths
- Reservations recommended, especially for groups
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations required for groups of 6 or more
-
$ | Harlem |
The mantra here is "rice is culture." Chef JJ Johnson founded this rice bowl shop in 2019 with a focus on heirloom grains and the countries and places from which they're harvested. Top bowls include crispy chicken with barbecue sauce over Carolina gold rice, sticky rice with shrimp in a green curry sauce, and an Indian-inspired veggie bowl with basmati rice. The crab pockets (Johnson's version of a crab rangoon with garlic herbed cream cheese) are a delicious snack or side. Wash it all down with a dragonfruit lemonade.
109 Malcolm X Blvd. (Lenox Ave.), New York, New York, 10026, USA
Known For
- Rice bowls
- Sustainable ingredients
- Global flavors
-
$ | Harlem |
After doing some shopping at NiLu next door, stop into this spacious, rustic café with exposed brick that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Specializing in Italian-American cuisine with popular options like penne alla vodka, there are also Asian-inspired dishes (like the Korean BBQ lettuce wrap made with marinated beef rib eye and maple syrup) and Mexican-inspired cuisine (think: huevos rancheros for brunch). You might have a hard time deciding between the plentiful salad or panini options, but the friendly staff will help you pick. When the weather’s nice, there’s outdoor seating in the front or you can just grab a quick latte to-go before heading off to explore the area.
189 Malcolm X Blvd. #1, New York, New York, 10026, USA
Known For
- Affordable lunch options
- Brunch
- Frosé (boozy slushies)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
-
-
$$$ | Harlem |
"Born, bred and buttered in Harlem" is how founder Melba Wilson describes herself. After working at New York City mainstays like Rosa Mexicano and the legendary Sylvia's, she decided to venture out on her own, opening Melba's in 2005. Here, she doesn't serve appetizers, but rather "comfortizers," like spring rolls stuffed with rice, black eyed peas, collard greens, and cheddar cheese. The portions tend to be large enough to almost spill over the edge of the plate, so feel free to go straight for entrées like barbecue turkey meat loaf, country-fried catfish, or the food-coma-inducing fried chicken and eggnog waffles with strawberry butter and maple syrup.
300 W. 114th St., New York, New York, 10026, USA
Known For
- Southern-style comfort food
- Chicken and waffles
- Jamaican oxtails
-
$$ | Harlem |
From uptown church ladies to former president Bill Clinton, Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too attracts a diverse clientele with a common goal—to enjoy a hearty helping of comforting soul food. The uncluttered interior is mostly beige, with family portraits hanging on the walls, and former model and best-selling cookbook author Norma Jean Darden uses passed-down recipes to create mouthwatering dishes like fried or smothered chicken, fried or baked catfish, barbecue ribs, collard greens, and baked macaroni and cheese. Save room for dessert, too.
366 W. 110th St., New York, New York, 10025, USA
Known For
- Longtime neighborhood favorite
- Tempting desserts from sweet potato pie to peach cobbler
- Miss Mamie's sampler platter (for those who can't decide)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
-
$ | Harlem |
Plowshares has come a long way (albeit just a short distance) from its days as an emerging coffee wholesaler in Hillburn, New York, roughly 30 miles from Harlem. In 2014, it ventured onto the Upper West Side's coffeehouse scene with a small flagship café; in 2019, it opened this bright, state-of-the-art, 3,000-square-foot roasting facility and coffee shop, with plenty of seating for sipping lattes, e-mailing co-workers, or watching the team roast coffee on the fire engine–red, 1940s Probat roaster.
1351 Amsterdam Ave., New York, New York, 10027, USA
Known For
- Superb coffee
- Beans roasted on-site
- Spacious café
-
$$$ | Harlem |
At Ponty Bistro, Franco-Senegalese cuisine reigns supreme. The sophisticated flavors and cooking traditions of Senegal and West Africa are combined with French and Mediterranean dishes. They are served alongside house cocktails in a warm, dark-wood bistro in this oft-neglected reach of Central Harlem. With the motto “good food, good friends,” guests often return because of the entire experience, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Cisse’s Pancakes, named for the chef and owner, are a crowd favorite.
2375 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., New York, New York, 10030, USA
Known For
- Lobster BLT
- Weekend brunch
- Excellent service
-
$ | Harlem |
From tacos and wraps, to salads and smoothies, Presto Fresh is a modern Mexican restaurant full of healthy food made with the highest quality ingredients. With a daily lunch special for less than $10 and good proportions, you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck. If you’re really hungry, try the grilled chicken burrito. Or grab flautas on the go.
429 W. 125th St., New York, New York, 10027, USA
Known For
- Healthy menu options for the health-conscious
- Hefty burritos
- Fresh smoothies
-
-
$$$ | Harlem |
Renaissance Harlem, the third restaurant venture for chefs Cisse Elhadji and Cheikh Ali, brings upscale American cuisine to the historic neighborhood. Named as a nod to the Harlem Renaissance, the restaurant’s feel is “just right,” with music varying from nostalgic ‘90s to Afrobeats at a volume that still allows for intimate conversation. The menu fuses traditional French, African, and American spices to capture the combination of cultures and foods found in Harlem, while blending fresh local ingredients and traditional French cooking methods. The contemporary rustic interior, attentive wait staff, and friendly bartenders make for a perfect mix of casual elegance. Expect healthy portions and even better presentation.
2245 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd., New York, New York, 10030, USA
Known For
- Bottomless brunch on weekends
- Grilled octopus
- Dinner specials
-
$$ | Harlem |
At this vegan and raw eatery just a few blocks north of Central Park, you won't be tempted to ask "Where's the beef?" Mother-and-son team Brenda and Aaron Beener take tasty comfort food staples and "veganize" them. For example, the raw lasagna consists of raw zucchini, spinach, cashew cheese, and marinara sauce; the barbecue riblets are a blend of lotus root and fermented soy; and the po'boy sandwich is made with fried yam or burdock root protein that mimics shrimp or crawfish, respectively.
55 St. Nicholas Ave., New York, New York, 10026, USA
Known For
- Global vegan flavors
- Weekend late-night menu after 10 pm
- Colorful artwork-adorned walls
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch weekdays
-
$ | Harlem |
Painted portraits of neighborhood locals adorn the arched walls of this husband-and-wife-owned, small-batch scoop shop. The selection of about 10 ice-cream flavors rotates seasonally; if possible, though, order the blueberry cheesecake ice cream known as the Chairperson of the Board. In winter, try the vegan hot chocolate; for a special occasion, order a custom-made ice-cream cake. There are also two other locations in Harlem: one farther uptown on Broadway and another on Lexington Avenue on the east side.
184 Malcolm X Blvd. (Lenox Ave.), New York, New York, 10026, USA
Known For
- Handmade ice cream
- Vegan ice cream and hot chocolate
- Rotating seasonal flavors
-
$$ | Harlem |
A Harlem mainstay, Sylvia's has been serving soul-food favorites like smothered chicken, barbecue ribs, collard greens, and mashed potatoes to a dedicated crowd of locals, tourists, and college students since 1962. Owner Sylvia Woods may have passed on in 2012, but her restaurant and signature sauces, jarred and sold online and in the restaurant, are more popular than ever. Some say it's overly touristy—as the busloads attest—but it's still worth a visit. For the ultimate experience, come for Sunday gospel brunch; singing and eating were never a more delicious combination.
328 Lenox Ave. (Malcolm X Blvd.), New York, New York, 10027, USA
Known For
- Sunday gospel brunch
- Famous smothered chicken
- Cornmeal-dusted catfish
-
$$ | Harlem |
The Edge Harlem is housed in what was once a meeting place for key figures of the Harlem Renaissance like Zora Neal Hurston and Langston Hughes. Known for its cozy rustic decor and creative food, this quaint but upbeat eatery is brought to you by a family unit, including two sisters Juliet and Justine. With their British and Jamaican heritage driving the menu items, the shrimp and Parmesan grits are a standout, along with the jerk salmon. And the rum punch is a cocktail favorite.
101 Edgecombe Ave., New York, New York, 10030, USA
Known For
- Lively, warm atmosphere
- Traditional Jamaican sorrel and ginger beer
- Weekday and weekend brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Sidewalk seating available
