Faith Hope Consolo, Douglas EllimanDining in Harlem is reaching new heights, as the neighborhood’s rebirth attracts creative chefs from around the world. All that excitement is fueling a residential revival, with new neighbors being fêted with a full renovation of big box stores hitting Harlem’s main artery, 125th St.
Starting on Harlem’s Restaurant Row, Frederick Douglass Blvd. is being talked about around the country for the exciting mix of dining that is coming to Harlem. New, straight from Paris, is Le Caméléon, which will be arriving soon at 2220 FDB, just north of 119th St. Led by a Jeanne Mélanie Delcourt, a former chef at Camelia, the two Michelin star restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental in Paris, Delcourt was most recently chef at Palais de Tokyo, the Museum of Modern Art, near the Trocadero. Le Caméléon plans to offer a casual French menu, including fresh pastries in the morning and French-themed cocktails in the evening, and will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Next door, at 2224 FDB, Hop House is being lauded all over Yelp for attentive service, great pizza (try the sausage!) and a full beer list that is gearing up for Oktoberfest. At 2190 FDB Kfir Ben-Ari, the owner of Cafeine Urban Espresso at 2124 FDB, is taking up the space left vacant by 5 and Diamond, with a modern bistro he plans to call RDV, short for Rendezvous.
In South Harlem, Café Dandy, at 1890 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., by West 115th St. has now opened. The cafe features pastries from Café les Ambassades, around the corner at 2200 FDB, along with fine burgers but is getting kudos for its spicy Senegalese fish dish with eggplant sauce, cassava, and a conical mound of deeply flavorful rice. B2 Harlem, new at 271 W 119th St., is already getting rave reviews for exquisite seafood, with some already adding the venue to The Best of Harlem. Tequila Bar, at 185 St. Nicholas Ave., in the old Cedric’s, is coming soon.
Central Harlem is getting tasty, too. At 227 Lenox Ave., Sottocasa Pizzeria, from Brooklyn, has opened a wood fired pizza oven that has lovers of the Italian pie swooning. Archer & Goat, at 187 Lenox, is bringing a sophisticated hipster vibe to a classic brownstone building in the Mount Morris Park historic district, with a romantic dining room area and a cozy backyard space. Feeding on that energy, Revolution Books, at 347 Lenox Ave., and National Jazz Museum, at 58 West 129th St., between Lenox and Fifth Aves., have also opened in walking distance.
In Hamilton Heights, at 1618 Amsterdam, Hollywood, in the form of “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek’s son, Matthew, has come to town with what he calls Mexican street-food, in a new restaurant named Oso. The “raw” vibe, covered in exposed brick, concrete floors and a graffiti mural, features a menu of small plates - tacos, gorditas, tamales, with some “daily doubles,” too, including the whole market fish for two. The bar, open until 2 a.m., includes 20 different tequilas and 14 mezcals. Fumo, at 1600 Amsterdam, is a romantic Italian joint that’s fast becoming a go-to spot for lovers. R.O.K.C. Ramen, at 3452 Broadway, stands for Ramen, Oysters, Kitchen, and Cocktails, and, after an extended soft-opening, is now serving ramen and raw-bar standards. At 3569 Broadway, Mama Sushi, is a true Mexican-Japanese fusionserving cross-pollinated ideas, such as beef and chorizo sushi. Uptown Bourbon opened at 3631 Broadway by 150th St., serving up classic drinks at a grownup saloon, also getting recognition for yummy bar snacks that are out of the ordinary. Outside of food and drink, at 3556 Broadway, CityMD is moving in to a large corner space, bringing its urgent care model uptown.
Striver’s Row is coming alive with a great mix of new venues opening in the neighborhood for the first time. ACP Coffee, at 2286 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., the sister of the original Nolita Mart & Espresso Bar, focuses on great coffee with a high level of service, with a bright décor that makes the place pop. Alibi Lounge, 2376 ACPB, is open and Belle Harlem, at 2363 ACPB, coming soon. A surprise hit is Harlem Cycle, at 2350 ACPB, is a focused, one-room exercising and cycling workout space, with a small reception area out front. Despite its small size, reviewers rave about the excellent facility and great instructors. As the new campus for Columbia University quickly comes together in Manhattanville, the area is gaining from three interesting additions. Gavin Brown Gallery, at 439 West 127th St., a former brewery, where the eponymous gallerist is moving his wares from Greenwich St. in the West Village. Three floors of space, with an inaugural exhibit including videos by Ed Atkins, who recently joined the gallery. Bierstrasse, located under the 12th Ave. viaduct in view of the Hudson River, at 697 W 133rd St, this German themed beer garden revels in its spacious outside sitting area. Curry-Ya, at 1467 Amsterdam Ave., is the uptown arm of the famed Lower East Side curry house.
And the big boys are all heading to West 125th St., with national brands a plenty. At 100 West 125th St., Whole Foods, Nordstrom Rack, Burlington Coat Factory, American Eagle, Olive Garden, TD Bank are all coming soon. At 5 West 125th St., we’ll soon have Bed Bath & Beyond, WeWork, New York & Company and T.J. Maxx. PC Richards is going to open at 309 West 125th St. and Footlocker is going to 272-280 West 125th St. And, keeping it spicy, Go! Go! Curry! is opening at 567 West 125th St., bringing its famous flavor from branches in Chelsea, NoHo and the Garment District.
Food is the new fashion and Harlem is where it’s at!
Happy dining, and happy shopping!
Faith Hope Consolo is the chairman of Douglas Elliman’s retail leasing, marketing and sales division, New York, N.Y.
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