From the soul-food landmarks to a Michelin-listed corner on Manhattan Avenue. Book ahead, and come hungry.
1. Red Rooster
Elevated soul · $$$
Marcus Samuelsson’s room on Lenox, where Harlem’s power crowd and visitors meet.
Order: Yardbird fried chicken, oxtail meatloaf, hush puppies.
310 Lenox Ave
2. Sylvia’s
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Soul food landmark · $$
The institution. The marquee on Lenox still glows.
Order: BBQ ribs, smothered chicken, fried whiting.
328 Malcolm X Blvd
3. Melba’s
Southern comfort · $$
Melba Wilson’s warm, polished take on Harlem comfort.
Order: Fried chicken and eggnog waffles, catfish.
300 W. 114th St
4. Clay
Seasonal American · $$$
Michelin-listed and intimate: the most refined small room uptown.
Order: Squid-ink calamarata with crab, duck confit.
553 Manhattan Ave
5. Ponty Bistro
Senegalese & French · $$
A straight line to the diaspora on the plate, at a fair price.
Order: Poulet yassa, whole branzino yassa.
2375 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
“When you eat, remember the one who planted the tree.”
Ghanaian proverb
Restaurateurs: feature your room in The Harlem Table. Write to harlemtimes@gmail.com.
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