Tag Archives: Harlem’s Restaurant Row

Attend five course wine tasting dinner at Lido Harlem

Lido

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The good folks over at Lido Harlem, located at 2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 117th Street, are hosting a wine event in June. On June 5th from 7:30-9:30 pm, they are offering a five course wine tasting dinner featuring…of course, Italian wines and food.

Wine educator and sommelier, Andrea Wobensmith will take guests through the wines and help them learn more about pairing tips, grapes, differences in growing practices and more, all in an intimate and relaxed setting. Wobensmith has been teaching wine classes for over 7 years. Her passion began after visiting Italy and tasting wines throughout the countryside. Wobensmith earned her Sommelier Certificate with the Sommelier Society of America.

The price is $105 per person plus tax and gratuity. Space is limited, call for reservations at: 646-490-8575.

Harlem Yo! coming to Frederick Douglass Blvd, frozen yogurt, smoothies, shakes to be offered

I was walking along Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem this evening (May 10) and noticed new signage was up where the old Posh Paws was located, 2121 FDB. The purplish awning says HarlemYo!, Frozen Yogurt, Burritos, Smoothies, Shakes and Salads. Looks like Harlem’s restaurant row is getting another food/eating out option?

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Harlem’s Les Ambassades renovation halfway complete, Frederick Douglass Blvd location opens redesigned cafe

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I’m sure most of us have noticed by now that Harlem’s Les Ambassades on Frederick Douglass Blvd, aka Patisserie Des Ambassades, is in the midst of redesigning the place. You see it when you walk by.

In order to redesign and still stay open, Les Ambassades had to create new space for their breads and pastries first, which they did right next door at 2200 Frederick Douglass Blvd between 118th and 119th Street. They have recently opened this part of their new construction and the place looks great!

The new shop now has giant sign boards up displaying all of their products. Their pastries sit in new glass counters and the bread is very visible along the back walls for customers to just point at and buy.

Take a look for yourself! Stop on by and see how Les Ambassades is changing things up at their FDB location.

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Vinateria Harlem opens today April 17, take a look inside

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HarlemGal Inc has confirmation from the owners of Vinateria Harlem that they are in fact opening to the public today, April 17. If you’re interested in checking out this new place located on Harlem’s restaurant row, i.e. 119th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., stop on by. They will be serving new American cuisine by Chef Gustavo Lopez.

20130417-073546.jpgI had the opportunity to take a look inside recently via invitation from the owners to view the decor. Vinateria is very lovely and has a comfortable setting. What’s interesting about Vinateria Harlem is that they practically went green with the entire place. Almost every item inside is recycled, such as the dinner chairs & tables, the corner church pews, vintage decanters, and the bodega doors are the original from the prior place. The decorator had cut out aluminum placed over the entry doors to give it a cast iron look.

What I liked the best in decor was the spacious corner seating with the church pews, which you can see to the left when you walk in. It fits a large group and you can look out on to FDB and people watch.

Overall, the place looks fantastic. So stop by Vinateria this evening or over the weekend and tell us what you think of the place. The staff and owners are anxiously awaiting to meet you and be at your service.

Vinateria Harlem
2211 Frederick Douglass Blvd
New York, New York 10026
No public phone number yet

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Vinateria Harlem not open yet, but it will soon

If you’re wondering like I am when Vinateria Harlem, located at 118th 119th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., is opening, it’s not tonight or tomorrow night. I have heard from a very good source that Vinateria will not open to the public more than likely until later in the week. But stay tuned here. As soon as this blog receives confirmation of the exact opening day, we will pass along.

And if you see people inside Vinateria Harlem tonight or tomorrow night or you saw  people inside over the weekend, those are private events happening or also known as practice events. Generally, restaurants do practice runs with friends and family first before they open their doors to the public.

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This weeks HGTV Selling NY to feature Harlem again

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A real estate broker has given us the heads up that Harlem real estate and Harlem’s restaurant row will be featured in this weeks edition of HGTV Selling NY. The broker and two of her clients, who are looking to purchase their first home together, venture into Harlem to look at apartments in the neighborhood. In the course of the episode, the clients receive a tour of Harlem restaurants and shops to show them that everything they have become used to downtown can be found right here in Harlem, specifically along Frederick Douglass Blvd.

Check out the TV show this Thursday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 pm.

First look at rendering of upcoming Harlem restaurant, Vinateria

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A few months ago we told you about the upcoming Harlem restaurant, Vinateria, which will be located at 2211 Frederick Douglass Blvd. and 119th Street. This Harlem blog has an update with a FIRST look at the rendering of Vinateria! Take a look above! This is how Vinateria will eventually look. Pretty cool…huh? I have seen the inside of Vinateria Harlem and what I can tell you is that this new restaurant will have a nice big chocolatety/brown bar to the right when you walk in with gold-plated hanging sconces over it. The rest of the place is in full construction, but it is coming along.

HG photo 20121220-202621.jpgYvette, the owner and another Harlem resident who is investing in where they live, tells this blog she is aiming to open in the first business quarter of 2013. The owner also notes that her dining establishment will not just be a wine bar. They are building a full service kitchen inside as you read this blog post. So no more thinking of this place as a wine bar. It will be a complete restaurant with indoor seating for 57 people. Yvette described her new upcoming Harlem eatery as more of a ‘Vino y Cocina’ (Wine and Kitchen) that will serve “inspired seasonal cuisine centered on the marriage of wine and food in its most complementary expression.”

“We will offer a wine list hand-tailored by our in-house wine connoisseur and designed to complement our skillfully prepared menu. The food will be every bit as interesting as the wine and will tantalize with more than a few twists and turns on comfort food favorites that range from appetizers available at our bar to main courses and deserts,” says Yvette.

Their website is coming soon as well. Here is their landing page.

So there you have it.The first look at Vinateria in Harlem! Mark your calendars! Vinateria is coming to Harlem’s restaurant row soon!

Harlem’s Frederick Douglass Boulevard goes mainstreaming says NY Times

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Harlem’s restaurant row, aka Frederick Douglass Blvd between 110th and 125th Street, is back in the news again. The New York Times recently IMG_2762spoke with Leon Ellis, the owner of Moca Lounge, Chocolat Restaurant and Harlem Underground, about how this part of Harlem has gone through a complete transformation since he first opened Moca, which was back in 2003.  Ellis told the NY Times that his friends thought he was crazy for opening up a restaurant back then. Since 2003, Ellis has expanded his business presence in Harlem on FDB with Chocolat opening about two years ago and then Harlem Underground, a Harlem-themed clothing store.

The owners of bier international were also interviewed for the article and stressed that while this area is going mainstream, they emphasized “we need to find a balance and not forget what was here” in Harlem.

To read the full article, click here.

Savann Turkish Restaurant coming to Harlem, joining restaurant row

The restaurant scene on Harlem’s restaurant row is about to get more diverse. A very reliable source and long time reader passed along some juicy info! Apparently, the sponsor of 2280 Frederick Douglass Condominium, you know the place that was rumored to be in discussion with Busboys and Poets, but passed on sealing the deal with the DC-based chain, has recently signed a lease with the owners of Savann, a turkish restaurant that use to be located on the upper west side. This new Harlem restaurant will keep the same name and the menu will be similar, according to a source on the restaurant side familiar with the lease. Savann will rent part, not all, of the retail/commercial space that is near Harlem Flo.

If you are not unfamiliar with the former Savann, read here for more info.

And stay tune, Savann Turkish Restaurant plans to open in late 2013!

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Introducing Belle, a new restaurant coming to Harlem by Chef Darryl Burnett

The restaurant scene in Central Harlem continues to grow with new places planned for this year and 2013. Recently mentioned was Vinatería, which is opening up (hopefully this year) on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 119th. Maison Harlem on 127th Street and St. Nick is getting close to opening up. That place looks practically ready. Chef Stephen Putnam, the former chef at Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, recently announced he is planning to open up his own restaurant in Harlem in the near future.

Next up is Darryl Burnett, a former chef at Bergdorf Goodman, 5 and Diamond Harlem and a resident of Harlem. Burnett recently announced on Kickstarter that he is starting his own restaurant in Harlem, which will be called Belle. As for location, Chef Burnett says Belle will be located “in the center of Harlem’s restaurant row and within walking distance of other new and hot Harlem restaurants, bars, and lounges.”

According to Burnett, Belle Harlem will be a “casual dining restaurant focusing on Southern classics with a modern vision with touches of French, Italian, Moroccan and Asian.” Belle Harlem already has a Facebook page where friends can see some of Burnett’s delicious creations. I have experienced Chef Burnett’s delectables and it is fantastic!

Interested in helping Chef Darryl Burnett and his Belle restaurant, go here to learn more.