Category Archives: business

A crowd descends on Harlem Tavern opening night

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 6 comments

Jul 2, 2011 @ 11:56
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By HarlemGal
Harlem has a new beer garden and locals definitely turned out in large numbers to be the first to see it first hand. Harlem Tavern, located on the northwest corner of 116th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., opened its doors at 5 PM sharp July 1 and folks were lined up along the outer wall to get in. By 6 or 6:30 PM the entire place was packed with uptowners. And when I say packed, every table inside and out had patrons sitting anxiously awaiting to try out the food and beverage menu. By 7 PM, I checked my online accounts and several people20110702-113357
checked into Foursquare from Harlem Tavern and photos of the place from inside were posted immediately to Facebook. The place was completely full in two hours and the kitchen and bar were blasted with orders. The design and layout of the place had no problem seating the crowd. We had seats outside and it was nice and comfortable. Harlem Tavern is going to be a great place to drink, eat and people watch. Stop by this weekend. They are starting brunch from 10-4 PM.

20110702-113541As for product, I am not going to get into reviewing the food, drinks or service yet since last night was their first night of business. I want to give them some space and time to get their service dance down. All I am going to say is the wait staff and owners did their absolute best given what was presented before them-a tsunami like large crowd. The bar and kitchen got so backed up, it was going to take them all night to get caught up. I left before 9 PM so not sure what happened after then.

I know the owners of Harlem Tavern are seasoned restauranteurs. They own several joints in the City so they know what they are doing. I plan on 20110702-113550
returning real soon. However, when I left the place last night all I kept thinking was “they better hire more staff pronto!” They need more workers ASAP! Last nights turnout proved, along with bier international’s success, there is a demand in Harlem for outdoor dining/beer gardens. Last nights attendance proved that-in my view. There had to be at least 300 or more people in attendance.

There was one more thought that crossed my mind when I left Harlem Tavern last night “gold mine.” Harlem Tavern and bier international are complete gold mines. It is obvious or it will be. Walk by these places and see for yourself! Beer gardens in Harlem…are gold mines!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, entertainment, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, music, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants, review

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Sign says Harlem Tavern officially opening July 1

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 30, 2011 @ 12:05
By HarlemGal
A reader provided us with a nice photo this morning about Harlem Tavern! I believe the photo says it all-opening day at Harlem Tavern starts at 5 pm, July 1! See you there! And a big thanks to our reader!!! You know who you are! You are the BEST!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, entertainment, Events, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, music, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants, review

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Harlem Tavern delays opening to Fourth of July weekend

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 28, 2011 @ 10:45
By HarlemGal
If you were planning on stopping by Harlem Tavern tomorrow night, June 29, don’t. They’re not quite ready yet. They just passed their last inspection last night (June 27) and over the weekend they put out a call for more food runners. They were needing a lot more help. Given all this, they are now aiming to open this Friday if all goes as planned.

So if you are around over the holiday weekend, there might be another place in Harlem to sit outside to eat and drink! In the mean time, check out their menu and drink list, here. When they open, you’ll be ready to order when you arrive! Stay tuned…

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, entertainment, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, music, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants, review

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‘Like, follow’ Urban Garden Center in Spanish Harlem to receive discount

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 3 comments

Jun 27, 2011 @ 13:42
By HarlemGal
If you’re surfing through Facebook daily like I am, you can find some deals. I just came across this deal/coupon shown below by Urban Garden Center located at 116th and Park Avenue. If you like/follow them on twitter, Facebook, or tumblr, you can receive a 15 percent discount. They are giving out this coupon through their social networks as a way of saying “thanks” to those who interact with them. Not a bad way to say “thank you.” Check out Urban Garden Center on Facebook!

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Posted in business, Community, Events, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, shopping

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Harlem Tavern to open next week

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 24, 2011 @ 7:08
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By HarlemGal
UPDATE: Harlem Tavern is having a soft opening this coming Wednesday, June 29! Not the 27th!
The day is near when Harlem’s newest beer garden will officially open to the public. Harlem Tavern recently had their gas turned on, all the hires are in place, and this week several days of training occurred. When I last spoke to the owners, they said “give us one more week.” That was this past weekend. Plus all the major traditional New York press are reporting what we have known all along, Harlem Tavern is scheduled to open next week.

We hope our series called Inside Harlem Tavern was helpful and that it provided you with first-hand information on what’s expected to be one of Harlem’s hottest establishments on restaurant row. See you at Harlem Tavern!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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Kidberry will soon have a new location in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 2 comments

Jun 22, 2011 @ 8:35

By HarlemGal
Kidberry, the education and music center for children in South Harlem and the surrounding area, will be moving to a new location soon. Kidberry is currently located at 106 West 117th Street in the Lenox Garden Condominium. However, they are heading up a little to 2046 Seventh Avenue, also known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., which is between 122nd and 123rd Street in Harlem. If you recall that space use to be a skin care salon.

Managing the move and getting ready for summer camps, Kidberry will have a grand opening later in the year. For more information on Kidberry, go to their website for additional details.

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Posted in business, Community, education, Events, Harlem, health and wellness, New York, New York City, NYC

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Harlem to become outdoor music stage June 21

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 20, 2011 @ 7:57
By HarlemGal
On June 21, look around in Harlem. You may hear music everywhere. Harlem Park to Park (HP2P) and its HP2P businesses are taking part in Make Music New York, the citywide free live musical celebration on Tuesday, June 21st.

From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., participating Harlem Park to Park businesses will become impromptu outdoor stages offering live musical performances and some select specials. A complete list of business are listed below.

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Posted in art and culture, baking, Bars, business, Community, entertainment, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, Lenox Avenue, music, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping

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Harlem Tavern fun facts, inside Harlem’s up and coming beer garden

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 19, 2011 @ 9:44


By HarlemGal
We continue our series called Inside Harlem Tavern. We recently told you about how Harlem Tavern is going unisex all the way with their toilets. Let’s now turn our attention to the fun facts about the bar and restaurant opening up on the corner of 116th and Frederick Douglass Blvd.

  • Total square footage: more than 6,000 square-foot
  • Seating: 150 inside, 150 outside
  • Outdoor light fixtures: designed similar to look like the ones in Central Park
  • Music: weekend brunches with live jazz
  • Culture: art from nearby galleries
  • And exact address and phone number: 2153 FDB and 212-866-4500

We have a pretty good idea on when Harlem Tavern is opening so stay tuned.

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, entertainment, Events, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants, review

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Harlem Tavern goes unisex with you know what!

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 3 comments

Jun 17, 2011 @ 14:09

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By HarlemGal
First we told you about Harlem Tavern’s menu and drink list as part of our Inside Harlem Tavern series. We continue our series with a topic that some might find odd or unnecessary, but we think it is important strategic information to have. And hey…this topic everyone deals with. It is commonly know as mother nature and when mother nature calls-at least for me-the question I will immediately ask to anyone and everyone is “Where the h** are the bathrooms?”

When I visited Harlem Tavern recently I actually asked to see the lady’s room. I wanted to know where they are located. Well, I found out there is not exactly a lady’s room. There is not a men’s room either. Harlem Tavern went…UNISEX with their bathrooms. There are several stalls with closed doors lined up against the wall to the right when you walk indoors. It is all closed off. Don’t worry. Its only when you wash your hands that you may or may not know the person standing right next to you.

I was sort of surprised when I saw this. I thought with all that space inside why not send the men one way and the gals the other way? I guess the owners figured let’s save on space indoors and give patrons more outdoor space for eating and drinking. Oh well. See you in the Harlem Tavern bathrooms.

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, entertainment, Events, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, music, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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Escape to Montreal at Yatenga French Bistro and Bar in Harlem, new menu items added

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 2 comments

Jun 17, 2011 @ 0:19
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By HarlemGal
There is one place you will generally find us every other weekend and that’s at 20110616-115517.jpg
Yatenga French Bistro and Bar, located at 2269 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd (between West 133rd and 134th). Why? Because the French food is so darn good and reasonably priced. They have happy hour seven days a week up until 8 p.m. It’s right next to ShrineNYC, which offers live music seven days a week. And the couple who own Yatenga and Shrine are super cool, live in Harlem and have a beautiful family. We met them at the Ambassades Cafe launch recently and not too long ago bumped into them on streets of Harlem.

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The last bump in with Yatenga owners, they told us they have a new
summer menu! We said send it our way! And so they did! Some of the new items on the Yatenga summer menu include zaatar shrimps (grilled shrimps brochettes and cabbage salad), beet salad with arugula, orange and parmesan cheese, goat cheese terrine wrapped with zucchini and roasted peppers, French pate’ and tartine. These are all small plates. As for large plates, Yatenga in Harlem has added skate, this dish use to be a special and its the one 20110616-113549.jpg
I order all the time (love it), seafood pasta, and chicken milanaise. New sides include, sautéed asparagus and sautéed cauliflower and raisins. And for dessert, you can now order watermelon, parfait of the day, and crepe suzette

When we dine there, we always order the mussels and tuna tartare. The mussels have that perfect dipping sauce with bread and the mussel itself is actually always meaty. We like anything with avocado on it. At Yatenga, the tuna tartare is garnished with guacamole. It’s delicious and a different twist on tartare! For the main course, we always get skate, salmon en croute or steak. It’s a trade-off every other weekend on the large dishes. And sharing between us is a must.
We cannot stress enough how much we enjoy dining at Yatenga French Bistro. It’s a family run business. We think of and experience good French/Canadian food when we go there . And for us, it is our miniature escape to Montreal, but right here in Harlem!

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Posted in business, entertainment, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

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