Category Archives: drinks

Harlem Food Bar officially opens May 25

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Start your Memorial Day weekend at Harlem Food Bar, located on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 113th and 114th Street. The owner of HFB gave HarlemGal (HG) official notice yesterday that Harlem Food Bar will open its doors to the public May 25 for dinner only. HFB hours will vary over the next two weeks as will the menu offerings since this is a soft opening, however, lunch will start in the next week and brunch is planned for June 9th.

So check out the newest eatery in Harlem and let HG know what you think!

Harlem Food Bar mural on display for passerby’s

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Harlem Food Bar is working hard toward its opening day, which is expected in a few weeks. Yesterday, they were busy interviewing job applicants. While they were screening potential employees, Harlem Food Bar had the entire place on display for passerby’s. When walking by HFB, which is located on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 113th and 114th Street, one can quickly see a giant colorful mural on display in the back.

The mural is very interesting and will draw you in. It has a nice big picture of Malcolm X with a picture of President Barack Obama close by. The mural has the word HARLEM in bright big red letters coupled with the name of the place abbreviated as HFB. There is a stenciled cow on the mural, which I interpret as there will be meat served. There is also a nice big bar to the right of the establishment. It will hold plenty of Harlemites who want to grab a drink or wait for a seat to eat.

Again, Harlem Food Bar expected to open in a few weeks. Stay tuned here!

Drinking Liberally launching Harlem Chapter, first gathering is tonight at Lenox Lounge

For those of you that are left of center on social issues, that would mean the Big L for liberal, listen up! Drinking Liberally, a national organization that focuses on “promoting democracy one pint at a time” is launching a Harlem Chapter. And the launch party is tonight (May 16) at Lenox Lounge. Start time is 6 pm! If you are interested, sign up on their Facebook page or go to their national website to learn more.

Chris Noth of Sex and the City stops by the Corner Social in Harlem

If you’re not on twitter and following fellow Harlemites or Harlem businesses, such as the Corner Social located on Lenox Ave and 126th Street in Harlem, this blogger highly recommends it. Why? This particular social networking tool always seems to have interesting news about what’s going on in Harlem. For example, Corner Social, formally known as Lenox Social, tweeted last night that Chris Noth, the actor famous for playing Big on Sex and the City, did some socializing last night (May 13) in Harlem at…where else? You guessed it, Corner Social! That’s very cool! I guess Chris Noth knows some of the owners of restaurants in Harlem since he’s in the business as well, or maybe he likes coming uptown to hang because it’s just as fun, if not more, than being downtown.

If you haven’t stopped by the Corner Social in Harlem, better hurry up now. Once celebs start showing up, dining establishments almost always experience a spike in attendance. I am going back this week, pronto! See you there!

Frederick Cafe Bistro in Harlem is open, stop by for a fresh cup of coffee


On my way home from yoga this morning (May 12), I noticed that Frederick Cafe Bistro in Harlem appeared to be open. I walked in to double-check and it is definitely open for business. I had a delicious cappuccino!

Drop in and check out Frederick Douglass Blvd’s newest eatery. At the moment Frederick Cafe Bistro, located on the corner of 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., is serving a full line of hot coffees, i.e. latte, cappuccino, etc. and pastries. A complete menu, which will include hot and cold sandwiches, will be available at a later date.

While my hot coffee drink was delicious, sipping it in a freshly decorated place made it that much sweeter. The decor and layout of Frederick Cafe Bistro is fantastic! The Harlem bistro even pays tribute to Frederick Douglass himself with some of his quotes stenciled throughout the cafe. The quotes are simple, classic and thoughtful. Chris and Ousmane clearly want patrons to know that when they visit their bistro they are in Harlem and their place is named after a very famous African-American.

Again, go by and see the place for yourself! Frederick Cafe Bistro is located at 2104 Frederick Douglass Blvd. Phone is 212-222-0075.

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Second wine tasting dinner planned at Lido in Harlem, RSVP today

Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, located in the corner of 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd.,is having their second wine tasting dinner May 14 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m with Andrea Wobensmith, a wine expert. Wobensmith will once again take guests through five wines and pair them with the food served at Lido Harlem. The cost for the evening is $95. To make a reservation, call 646-490-8575.

Atomic Wings in Harlem looking to offer beer and wine

Want a beer to go along with your chicken wings from Atomic Wings in Harlem? How about a glass of wine with your shrimp sliders? This may be a reality soon. Atomic Wings, located on the northeast corner of 113th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem is waiting for final approvals on their liquor license. They hope to have approval in about a month.

Read our review on Atomic Wings, by clicking here!

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You’re invited to Food & Drink Boulevard in Harlem May 10

The Frederick Douglass Blvd Alliance based in Harlem came together this past January and already they are hard at work creating events for us Harlemites to enjoy and to help others. First on their to do is the Food & Drink Boulevard event taking place on May 10. On that evening patrons can enjoy $5 drinks and appetizers at several Harlem dining establishments by purchasing tickets for $10 in advance on Eventbrite.com. And proceeds made that evening, a portion of it will be donated to The Boys and Girls Club of Harlem. See you on May 10 along Frederick Douglass Blvd!

Lenox Social becomes Corner Social in Harlem avoiding legal drama with Lenox Lounge

As most of us know already, last week the owners of the former Lenox Social in Harlem decided to change its name to the Corner Social because that’s where they are actually located in Harlem, i.e. on a corner, and to avoid confrontation with the historic Lenox Lounge. It has been a smooth transition from what I have heard and patrons are flowing in at a steady pace to that “Corner” on 126th Street and Lenox. And if you’re wondering-like I was-if the former Lenox Social and Lenox Lounge ever really came to blows in court, I have confirmation from the Corner Social’s peeps that it never happened and there was never any settlement around a trade infringement. The folks behind Corner Social told me they decided to change their name because they wanted to “take the high road” and move on with building a successful dining and bar establishment in Harlem!

So there you have it. No court drama ever happened between the two entities. We can now all move on, which most of us have, and party on at the Corner Social and Lenox Lounge in Harlem!

Support East Harlem Cafe in their 10k in 30 days campaign

Remember how I told you about 67 Orange in Harlem creating a campaign to raise money for various items in the bar? East Harlem Cafe is taking the same approach by asking the community to join in helping them raise $10,000 in 30 days. The café needs kitchen storage, supplies and food prep equipment.  In order to purchase these items, East Harlem Cafe is turning to members of the local and global community for assistance, instead of going to big banks for a loan with high interest rates to expand.

If you would like to invest in East Harlem Cafe, go here from more details.