Back in September of last year, one of our editors opened up a conversation about what’s missing in Harlem. Whether she was being sarcastic or not she felt that her post would merely “ignite a flurry of silence and maybe some cricket noises.” Not surprisingly we got close to 50 responses in that thread alone! Just to summarize, I’ve posted some of the comments we received after the jump. So here’s our question. Has anything changed over the past 8 months or are there still choices that are missing from the Harlem menu? Some things that kept popping up on more than one occasion in the previous comments were clamors for decent sushi, diners, and a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s type of place. What say you!?
The lack of sushi places breaks my heart. -rmk
The neighborhood definitely needs more Caribbean restaurants…The existing Carib restaurants in Harlem are either overpriced (for no good reason) or sub-standard (I guess they assume the locals don’t know any better). -JMars
I would love a bistro style place (remember the talk of an upscale bistro style place like pastis opening around 129th?). I would love it also if a place like cafe largo opened around central Harlem. -anon
I’m a big Thai food fan – we have none in E. Harlem, do we? If anyone can tell me of good Thai delivery, I would be SO grateful! -Vanessa
I would love Whole Food’s, more Duane Reade stores, and Ben & Jerry’s! Can NYC get a Dairy Queen???? -NYCDelta22
Photo Credit: Illustration by Hugo, Photo by Narmer
Filed under: Food, Restaurants
Stumble It!
Some smaller performance venues (100-250 seats) for music and theatre like they have below 14th st. For community arts groups with talent but not a lot of funding. Whole Foods of course, Virgin Megastore, more quality supermarkets.
we came so close to a coldstone creamery…only to have the announcement banner yanked away and the body shop expand into the space instead.
Bagels, Diner, closer fruit and veg than Fairway, kids store (aside from the terrific GrandMa’s Place) a Good Deli!!
a casual, pub-like place with good burgers and beer
i know you harlemites got more flavor that whole foods, coldstone, and virgin megastore? plus threads runnin through this site about Dunkin donuts seeming like a blessing….please. harlem is dying a little bit more every day. people crying about staples be closed. affordable house lottery that aint affordable. seemed things more dumb downed,waterdowned, and diying. a new condo coming, a new family getting kicked out. this new harlem is a disneyland. our diversity is turning into flagship stores. soon we will have one soul food resterant, one dominican resturant, and couples musuems to represent the diveristy. the Iron curtain comming, cameras on everyblock. our commidfied, homogized existense.
oh, btw, you got Organic Forever selling pleny of organic whole foods on FD, farmers markets, Exitos on 138th, Fairway on 12th. Harlem doesnt got music? we got momandpop cd shops all over the place. i’m gettin my bootlegs this weekend!
Sports bar, nail salon
I’d like a decent sit down restaurant that’s open late. Most everything in Harlem closes early except bodegas and take-out and laundromats. I guess it’s fear of crime, but it’s disappointing. If there were more late night destinations there would be more people on the streets and it’d be safer.
Also more places where you can sit outside. Summer’s here, let’s enjoy it!
I feel like IM what Harlems been missing! I haven been home in 5 yrs.. Been living in Austin ,TX and feel out the loop.
Anywayz I been poppin in and out all day ( at work), But yall got something special here. Definately will be back when i got some time
Respect -Q.
Re: Nail Salon. Nice place opened on 116th between FDB and ACP
What Harlem needs more of:
–Good supermarket (fairway is too far)
–Good Mom & Pop coffee shop
–Good neighbors (by this I mean non-haters).
Overall, very happy in Harlem although the occasional violent crime can put a damper on things. (Good friend was carjacked last week).
Dallas BBQ would be a big hit in Harlem, suggest the pier 2110 location
I haven’t found a good pizza place over in my part of Harlem. I mean there’s a place on FDB, but its just normal NY pizza, nothing special. The rest are all chains :-p
What i miss most from my previous neighborhoods in brooklyn is the neighborhood/local owned coffee shop (that also has good food-food, not just sandwiches and pastries)
http://greenpointcoffeehouse.com/gpchphoto1.html
Justin – Try the pizza at Piatto D’ Oro on 5th and 118th. Terrific thin crust