Category Archives: Minton’s Harlem

The Cecil in Harlem to close after three years

The Cecil in Harlem will join the fate of many other New York City restaurants, closure. It happens to the best (and the worst) restaurants even when you have experienced restauranteurs involved, a PR machine behind it and a good chef like Chef Joseph Johnson.

The spinning “as to why” has begun in publications like Grub Street and Eater.

The cliff notes version of the articles is the backers of The Cecil have decided, as of now, to move everything into Minton’s, which was the jazz portion of the two establishments, and reopen a restaurant after the New Year.

“[Chef] Johnson envisions the “new” Minton’s, which will debut on January 6, as a hybrid of the two restaurants, and he’ll bring along some of his most-loved dishes at the Cecil: oxtail dumplings, the collard-greens salad, and a gumbo that represents how he celebrates the diverse foods of the African diaspora, with smoked chicken, Chinese-chicken sausage, gulf shrimp, and crab meat.”

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Minton’s officially opens it’s doors today to the public in Harlem

Minton’s, located at 206 118th Street, officially opens tonight! Minton’s will offer live jazz music nightly from the Minton’s house band. Minton’s will be open for dinner six days a week from 5 pm until 12 am, with three pre-set seatings each night. Reservations are required. Men are required to wear jackets.

Telephone: 212.243.2222
Cuisine: Southern Revival Cooking with Low Country Notes
Website: www.MintonsHarlem.com

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Mark your calendar: The Cecil to open in Harlem September 23, Minton’s in October

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OMG, HarlemGal Inc has the latest information on Richard Parsons’ involvement around The Cecil in Harlem and Minton’s, formerly known as the famed jazz club Minton’s Playhouse. According to his peeps, The Cecil will open September 23 and Minton’s plans to open the second week of October. So mark your calendar!

Richard Parsons has been trying to revive this space in Harlem, ie 118th Street and St. Nicholas, for quite sometime. Looks like this well-known businessman is making it happen in Harlem. With opening dates set, Parsons’ is about to deliver on what he’s been talking about for a few years, which is to revive this old-time Harlem jazz spot.

According to the information provided to HarlemGal Inc., “Minton’s is the revival of the 1930s/40s jazz club Minton’s Playhouse and will operate as a speak easy feel with a nightly house band. The Cecil will incorporate worldly music for a social dining experience. The Cecil’s menu will incorporate an Afro-Asian-America Brasserie style and Minton’s southern revival cooking with low country notes.”

Below are additional details on The Cecil and Minton’s!

The Cecil
Address: 210 West 118th Street (St. Nicholas & Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd)
Telephone number: 212.866.1262
Cuisine: Afro-Asian-American Brasserie as conceptualized by Executive chef and partner, Alexander Smalls, integrating culinary traditions of the African Diaspora.
Team: Richard Parsons – Restaurateur, Alexander Smalls – Executive Chef, Joseph Johnson – Chef de Cuisine

Minton’s
Opening Date: Second week of October 2013
Address: 206 West 118th Street (St. Nicholas & Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd)
Telephone number: 212.243.2222
Cuisine: Southern Revival Cooking with Low Country Notes
Team: Richard Parsons – Restaurateur, Alexander Smalls – Executive Chef, Banks White – Chef de Cuisine

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