Photo by: Wallyg/flickr

A little over a year ago we reported the closing of Charles’ Southern Style Kitchen. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes Charles’ has reemerged in its former location, freshened up and ready to serve its loyal patrons their favorite ‘all you can eat’ dishes. As many can attest, Charles’ pan fried chicken pulled hot out of the oil is legendary in Harlem. 

Charles’ Southern Style Kitchen
2837 8th Avenue btwn. 151st and 152nd
212-926-4313

Gael Greene visits one of Harlem’s newest eateries and shares her thoughts about the ambiance and cuisine.

Read her review here

The owners of Viaduct Valley (ViVa) eateries Hudson River Cafe, Pancho Gringo and Covo have banned together to battle recession dining by offering free transportation to and from their respective restaurants.

The car service applies to diners coming from Spanish Harlem, Morningside Heights, Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, the Upper West Side, Fort George and Inwood. For all other diners, the ViVa owners will chip in $10 for gas and tolls.

The offer is valid from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, providing each guest spends a minimum of $40 on his or her meal.

Late last month, Talay decided to do a ‘do over’ and change their name and menu. The former Latin-Asian fusion hot spot switched to a Mexican menu and renamed the restaurant Pancho Gringo. You can read more about the change over at Greasy Guide’s blog.

Read our previous posts about Talay

WABC-TV Neighborhood Eats will be taping at Gospel Uptown on Friday, October 16,12noon-1pm
You are invited to WABC-TV’s Neighborhood Eats taping and interviews of GU’s loyal patrons

. The broadcast is Friday evening during the WABC-TV 5pm News.

Neighborhood Eats is a weekly segment on Eyewitness News on WABC-TV in
New York. Reporter Lauren Glassberg visits restaurants in the Tri-State area
to see what’s cooking! Area restaurants also share their recipes.

Come in for GU’s $9.99 lunch special. Chef Collins will be on deck featuring one of his amazing recipes!

Call to RSVP: (212) 280-2110

The question came to everyone’s mind when they first heard about a new BBQ restaurant coming to Harlem, “Is it part of the Dallas BBQ chain of restaurants?”  The answer was a resounding no. A Yelp! reviewer (and former UF writer) wondered, “How this place is not getting sued is a surprise to me.”

Well, they actually were sued.  As it turns out  former Dallas BBQ employees decided to give the company some competition and open their own restaurant in Harlem. The problem is that they ’straight jacked’ Dallas BBQ for their logo and most of their menu.

New Harlem BBQ is open for business (Photo by D. Bell)

Dallas BBQ in turn sued Harlem BBQ for trademark infringement and  misappropriation of trade secrets.  You can view the complaint here.

Weeks after opening signs are removed from awning (Photo: D. Bell)

Shortly thereafter Harlem BBQ removed the name from their awning and replaced it with a new (albeit similar) name and original logo.

Posted in Food, Restaurants ]]> http://uptownflavor.com/2009/10/13/harlem-bbq-is-now-harlem-bar-b-q/feed/ 3 Damaa bbq IMG00120 http://uptownflavor.com/2009/08/22/now-open-questans/ http://uptownflavor.com/2009/08/22/now-open-questans/#comments Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:18:04 +0000 uptownflavor http://uptownflavor.com/?p=15594 ]]>

Photo by Zinc Plate Press

While I haven’t been down on ‘the row’ to try out the seafood offerings of the new Harlem restaurant Questan’s, word has trickled our way that they are now open for business. Have you been?  How was it?  Read reviews of  Questan’s below:

Eating in Translation

Harlem Foodie

President Clinton announced today Zagat Survey’s first-ever Spotlight on Harlem neighborhood guide, a partnership between the Clinton Foundation’s Economic Opportunity Initiative and Zagat Survey, as the annual Harlem Week celebration gets underway. The guide highlights 323 of Harlem’s restaurants, nightspots, shops, and attractions with ratings and reviews that are based on the collective opinions of thousands of surveyors who voted at ZAGAT.com. These establishments showcase the rich culture of Harlem’s past and present and represent the hopes of a brighter future. In addition to ratings, reviews, and lists of noteworthy places, the guide offers lists of other neighborhood highlights and an overview of the history of Harlem.

“For me, Harlem has always been an endlessly fascinating and unique place, and I’m proud to have my Foundation’s offices headquartered here,” President Bill Clinton said. “We are pleased to partner with Zagat to showcase all there is to see and do, and hope visitors and residents alike will come explore the great restaurants, quaint shops, cultural landmarks and exciting events the neighborhood has to offer.”

The 2009/10 Spotlight on Harlem guide is sponsored by the Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative (CEO). Other sponsors of this project include Carver Bank, Citi, the Empire State Development Corporation, and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ), all of which support and celebrate the unique traditions of Harlem and present this guide as a tool to help locals and visitors alike explore all the neighborhood has to offer.

“When I think of Harlem, I immediately think of the undeniable influence it has had on American history and culture. Harlem is enjoying a second renaissance,” Tim Zagat, CEO and Co-Founder of Zagat Survey, said. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Clinton Foundation to celebrate and showcase this ever-evolving neighborhood to New Yorkers and beyond.”

Icons and Novelties

A rich, culinary base blends both historic mainstays and new ventures to offer an endless menu of dining options in Harlem. Iconic eateries like Sylvia’s and Rao’s continue to attract diners, while southern/soul food “staples” Miss Mamie’s, Miss Maude’s, and Kitchenette offer reliable, irresistible down-home cooking. Popular spots such as Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Patsy’s Pizzeria offer great value and at Londel’s Supper Club, southern cuisine + live weekend jazz = a packed house. Over on 12th Avenue, the newly dubbed Viaduct Valley (ViVa), hungry customers indulge in terrific pizzas from Covo and fusion fare at Hudson River Café.

Down on Lenox Avenue

The neighborhood that became home to a new school of music, literature, and social thought has retained its significance though museums, art centers, and churches that remain distinctlyHarlem. The landmark Apollo Theater helped launch the careers of legendary artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder ,and Michael Jackson, while the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a remarkable, one-of-a-kind research facility. Among the many churches and museums, Harlem boasts the Studio Museum, National Jazz Museum, and the architectural marvel of St. John the Divine.

Jazz it Up

Harlem nightlife ranges from dive bars to the 12th Avenue mega-clubs; but it is the historical nightspots that define the area. Legends Billie Holiday and John Coltrane are channeled at the celebrated Lenox Lounge, in existence since 1939, while Minton’s provides genuine jazz with nightly shows, reviving the sounds that made Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis iconic figures. Other jazz clubs include the Cotton Club and St. Nick’s Jazz Pub.

Shopping

Retail options abound in Harlem, with unique boutiques and big-name chains open for business. Carol’s Daughter offers botanically based beauty products while Harlem’s Heaven Boutique showcases men’s and women’s hats for all occasions. A new location of N is set to open this fall, offering swoon-worthy designer-wear. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store at The Cloisters, the Schomburg Shop – New York Public Library and El Museo del Barrio’s boutique (re-opening this fall) tempt shoppers with beautiful items that emphasize the cultures that they represent. And for gourmet shoppers, Harlem Vintage offers weekend tastings and superior wines, while Fairway and Garden of Eden Gourmet Market are just two of the major markets offering fresh produce and much more.

The Guide

The content in the 2009/10 Spotlight on Harlem guide was created by consumers for consumers. The guide is available through the Clinton Foundation as well as the other sponsors. Please visit www.clintonfoundation.org for more information.

Today Crain’s had an article about the rapid expansion of Applebee’s during the economic downturn. The article mentions the opening of two new restaurants in the Bronx (including the Atlantic Terminal location) as well as the issues that delayed the new Harlem location.

The Harlem eatery’s opening was briefly derailed last month but seems to be back on track.

On July 17, a State Supreme Court justice ruled against Apple-Metro in a lease dispute, in which the company was supposed to open an Applebee’s in a Harlem building co-owned by the National Black Theater and Nubian Partners.

The theater’s founder, the late Barbara Ann Teer, had argued that Applebee’s is not consistent with the theater’s cultural mission.

While Apple-Metro counter sued for breach of contract—and the litigation continues—it recently signed another deal across the street from the theater at 1 W. 125th St.

“We lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on the first deal,” said Mr. Tankel, but he believes he is saving money on the terms of his new lease. “Two years ago,” he said “rents in Harlem on 125th Street were running between $125 and $150 a square foot. I’m paying less than $100 a foot now.”

- Source: Crain’s

Tonalli Restaurant - Photo credit: Daniel Maurer for Grub Street

Here is the word on two new eateries in Harlem. The first we already heard about a few months back, but the other is relatively new and comes via New York Metromix.

According to Zinc Plate Press blog, the signage for the new Italian bistro is going up. The name, which was tipped off to be Cafe Adriatico, has been changed to Frizzante. The new Eighth Avenue is really coming along with new restaurants and lounges popping up along the strip.

Next up is Tonalli, located farther uptown. Read more on NY Mag and Grub Street. Ciao for now.

The amorphous area where West Harlem meets Washington Heights, in the West 150s, isn’t known for a wide range of dining options. Which makes this quaint newcomer a welcome addition. The menu leans Italian, with basic homemade pastas like penne alla vodka and lobster ravioli, while mains include braised lamb chops and grilled cornish hen. Tonalli’s just a stone’s throw from City College, and the prices are equally student-friendly: Pastas top out at $11, while mains hover around $15 a pop. (3628 Broadway between 149th and 150th Sts., 212-926-0399)

[Metromix]