Category Archives: food

Harlem’s restaurant row, Frederick Douglass Blvd., has its own map and alliance group

Posted on January 29, 2012 | 1 comment

It’s official…again! Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem from 110th to 125th Street, also known as restaurant row, has its very own map, according to The New York Daily News. And the folks behind the map is an alliance group called Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance (FDBA). Check out the map below. It mentions all existing businesses from 110th to 124th Street. The map does not include up and coming places on FDB, such as the Harlem Food Bar or Marcos Leatherlab, the cobbler store.

Lia San Filippo, co-owner of 5 and Diamond Harlem restaurant and co-president of the recently formed FDBA, tells the Daily News “the map was created to help people know that Harlem is here and helps customers find us more easily.” Amen Lia!

Back in 2008, I wrote a blog posting asking if FDB is turning into Harlem’s restaurant row? Looks like we have our answer not only in a map but in the form of an alliance group!

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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, apartments, art and culture, baking, Bars, bier international, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, commercial real estate, Community, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem blogs, Harlem businesses, Harlem Restaurant Row, Harlem restaurants, Harlem Tavern, health and wellness, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping, spending

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Drew Barrymore dines at Rao’s in East Harlem? Get outta here!

Posted on January 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

According to Popsugar.com, actress Drew Barrymore headed uptown to Harlem last night (Jan 26), along with her fiancé Will Kopelman, to dine at Rao’s with friends! Oh la la! As most of us know, to get into Rao’s one needs a reservation, which is hard to get, or one needs to get in with a member to eat there. Clearly, Hollywood has an open-ended reservation at Rao’s or Drew hangs with folks who have a membership. Must be nice!

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

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Harlem Savour of Seafood is open for business

Posted on January 26, 2012 | 3 comments

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A reader has let us know that the old spot where Just Wingin It use to be in Harlem, has been turned upside down and a new eating place has arisen. It’s called Harlem Savour of Seafood and they are open for customers to come in and order-seven days a week. Apparently the place opened this past weekend.

I looked for them online and so far their website is not up, and I can’t seem to find them on Facebook or Twitter. Hmm? I’m sure they’ll be up and online soon.

In the meantime, here is a copy of their menu incase you want to try them out now. Hope you can see the menu!
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Posted in food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Fat Chef premieres January 26 featuring Harlem’s own, Melba of Melba’s Restaurant

Posted on January 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Thursday, January 26 is a big day for Harlem’s own, Melba of Melba’s Restaurant located on the corner of 114th Street and FDB in Harlem. First, Melba will be on The View, which starts at 10 a.m. on Channel 7. Then later in the evening, Melba will be appearing on the Food Networks’ Fat Chef starting at 10 p.m. on Channel 50 for Time Warner subscribers. Fat Chef will be showing every Thursday for the next couple of weeks.

Let’s all turn out and support Melba by watching her at 10 a.m on ABC’s The View. Then 12 hours later at 10 p.m. on Fat Chef.

Catch you on the tube Melba!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, drinks, entertainment, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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You’re invited to a Harlem brunch with the Divas of Making our People Healthier

Posted on January 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

The ladies of Divas, MPH, a non profit whose goal is to help improve the health and wellness of women, their families, and their communities, would like to invite all of you HarlemGals for brunch this Saturday, January 28th at Londel’s Supper Club. Divas, MPH is holding its second annual New Year, New You women’s empowerment brunch in Harlem. This year’s brunch, which starts at noon, is centered around the non profits’ 2012 theme, “Be more. Do more. Live more.”

The Divas, MPH Harlem brunch will feature a scrumptious buffet with a menu of traditional, savory breakfast items including homestyle eggs, beef sausage, and homefries; as well as lunch favorites including a southern-style fried whiting and fresh garden salad. Guests will also enjoy complimentary mimosas, special guests favors, guided goal setting activities, and a dynamic keynote address from psychiatrist, and wellness coach, Dr. Janet Taylor.

To hang with the Divas, MPH in Harlem, click here to purchase tickets for this event happening this coming Saturday, Jan 28th!

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Posted in Community, entertainment, Events, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

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Melba’s Restaurant located in Harlem to be on ABC’s The View this week

Posted on January 23, 2012 | 6 comments


I just read on Facebook that the fabulous woman behind Melba’s Restaurant, i.e. Melba, will be on The View this coming Thursday, January 26 at 11 AM. That is so awesome! I think the show should be called, that day, the HarlemGal’s show! Why? Two awesome ladies, who reside in Harlem, will be sitting side by side, Sherri Shepard and Melba! Can’t wait to watch The View this Thursday!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants, spending

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David Martinez out, Darryl Burnette in as new chef at 5 and Diamond Harlem

Posted on January 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

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New York Magazine’s Grub Street reported yesterday that Harlem’s 5 and Diamond has named a new chef…for the third time! It’s Darryl Burnette, who was with BG at Bergdorf Goodman and has been the guest chef at 5 and Diamond Harlem for their Supper Club events.

We have tasted Darryl’s food creations and let us say, it did not disappoint. He is a highly skilled chef and can cook up some great dishes! My only concern is the high turnover rate for this restaurant. It has not been open that long! Maybe chefs and management/owners are like dating? Ya gotta keep dating until you find the one! Once you find the right chef, you’ll marry them and food will be created happily ever after.

Congrats to Darryl and we wish him the best! And here’s hoping to a third times the charm!
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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, Bars, business, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Dallas Cowboys owner dines at Harlem’s Melba’s Restaurant hoping for good luck

Posted on January 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

The New York Post reported yesterday (January 3) in their Page Six section that Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas, Texas Cowboy Football team, dined in Harlem this past Sunday before the big game, which they lost to the New York Giants. Jones dined at long time, Harlem establishment Melba’s Restaurant, located on the southwest corner of 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., for some good luck. Jones wanted specific southern dish items, i.e. black-eyed peas and collard greens, but apparently did not get what he wanted. Melba’s was out of those items (wink, wink). I guess this explains why Tony Romo was sacked a couple of times during the game. Jones did not get to eat his lucky meal.

On a personal note, I actually wish I would have seen the Cowboys owner in Harlem myself for a pic! I would have scored major points with some members of my family. I have several family members that love the Cowboys. Next time they visit me in Harlem, how much do you want to bet they’re gonna want to eat at Melba’s?  Why? Cause the food is darn good, try the catfish…and Jerry went there.

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Posted in entertainment, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Harlem Food Bar, a new bistro, coming to Harlem’s restaurant row

Posted on January 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Back in November 2008, I wrote a post titled: Is Frederick Douglas Blvd becoming the restaurant row of Harlem? I am going to answer that question with another question, how can FDB not be now with another bistro scheduled to open this year (hopefully Spring 2012)? It’s called Harlem Food Bar as reported in The Wall Street Journal. They will be located at 2100 FDB, right across the street from bier international and right next door to Coco Nail Salon.

The owners of Harlem Food Bar are “working it” in the area where they plan on opening by leaf-letting area residents telling them they plan on “opening an old style Parisian bistro” with a hint of modernism. They plan on serving light tapas and hope to have sidewalk seating.

They are also letting Harlemites know that they are applying for an on site liquor license. I wonder if Harlem Food Bar owners know they could get approved, however, their license may be for only 2 AM if Community Board 10 gets their way. Yikes! Hope they’re considering that possibility in their business plans.

Good luck to them and glad to hear they are joining Harlem’s restaurant row!

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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, Bars, bier international, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, Community, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, restaurant row, restaurants

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The 5 and Diamond Harlem kicks off 2012 helping Haiti

Posted on January 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

The women behind 5 and Diamond Harlem are starting off the new year by thinking of others. Lia Sanfilippo and Selene Martinez, co-owners of the Harlem restaurant Frederick Douglass Blvd., are organizing a benefit January 5 called Helping Hands for Haiti. All the proceeds, i.e. 100 percent, from the event will be donated to support grassroots efforts in Haiti in the areas of medical, construction and food distribution. If you would like to attend this event, RSVP to info@5anddiamondrestaurant.com. Suggested donations are listed below.

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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, Community, education, Events, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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