Category Archives: restaurant row

Frizzante in Harlem closed for couple of days

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Oct 25, 2010 @ 13:05
By HarlemGal
Over the weekend a reader asked HarlemCondoLife “what’s up with Frizzante in Harlem? The doors have been shut for a few days?” I wondered the same thing!
I made a few calls and here’s the latest! Frizzante, located at 2168 Frederick Blvd., is NOT closed for good. They are fixing a few repairs according to a source from Meridiana, an Italian restaurant on the Upper Westside and the same owners of Frizzante. They hope to reopen in a couple of days!
Whew! Glad to gear it! I love the food at Frizzante and their Happy Hour is good as well! Hope to go back soon once they reopen!

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Harlem rezoning plus Frederick Douglass Boulevard equals restaurant row

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Sep 24, 2010 @ 6:00

Frederick Douglass Blvd. street sign

By HarlemGal
Frederick Douglass Blvd is in the news again! Some entities are clearly getting it that FDB from 110th Street to 125th Street is the place to be! DNAinfo.com and The New York Times have recently filed stories about FDB and how it’s experiencing a boom in drinking and eating establishments. These articles even mention the buzz words “restaurant row.” Hmm…sounds familiar?

Frederick Douglass Blvd. (Circa 2008)

On September 23, DNAinfo wrote about the booming restaurant and bar business along FDB.  It was a good story. They introduced us to new information about what the Livmor is up to with their commercial space. However, I was wondering why they left out other notable places, such as Mojo, Billie’s Black Bar, Questan’s and Cafe Amrita? Amrita is at the base of 110th and FDB. Mojo and Billie’s are technically on 119th Street, they are less than a block away from FDB and Mojo and Questan’s opened for business in the last five years. I think all these venues deserved a mention in DNAinfo and The Times. Also, why not mention the proposed Cupcake Suite opening on FDB, Aloft Hotel or the rumored Busboys and Poets coming to Harlem? I guess there is so much action happening on or near FDB, it is a challenge for these news outlets to keep track!

Frederick Douglass Blvd. today

In addition, I noticed that both publications did not mention much about vacant commercial space. What are The Douglass and Gateway Condominiums planning for their commercial space? I would bet that they are aggressively trying to sell their space. I hear Society Cafe is interested in expanding their space right next door once Gateway finishes their construction. If that ends up being true, that would be great for them. They appear to have outgrown their current space.

Overall, it is awesome media coverage for Harlem once again. I love it! Out of the two articles, I will end with my favorite quote from Chris Pollok, co-owner of bier international. “My sense is that this [Frederick Douglass Blvd.] is going to be the Restaurant Row of Harlem.” I will drink to that, Chris! Strawberry beer, please!

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Celebrate Oktoberfest in Harlem at bier international

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 17, 2010 @ 11:03
By HarlemGal
Harlem’s new premium beer joint, bier international, has hit the ground running since it opened several weeks ago. Bier first started serving quality beer (their strawberry beer is my favorite) and then came the starter and full menu. Soon after, they launched a brunch menu, which is offered on the weekends. Up next is Oktoberfest at bier. They are starting the celebration this Saturday! So if you want to join in on the celebration, stop by bier international, located at 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd., in Harlem this weekend!

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Brunch in Harlem bier international style

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 4, 2010 @ 10:27

By HarlemGal

If you did not get out-of-town this Labor Day weekend and you’re wondering who is serving brunch all three days in Harlem, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, we have a suggestion for you! Bier international in Harlem is now serving brunch on the weekends in addition to dinner. Here is their complete menu!

If you have not gone by bier international, located at 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd., I highly recommend it. This place has jumped right out of the opening gate and doing brisk business practically every evening. I myself am a fan of the strawberry beer. Try it. It’s delicious. And I now see from their menu they have incorporated their strawberry beer into their bunch menu, i.e. bierlini! Yum.

So stop on by bier international this weekend for bunch. I just might see you there! Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

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Harlem couple invest in where they live creating Harlem Tavern

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 3 comments

Aug 20, 2010 @ 15:27
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By HarlemGal
What does The Tonic Bar located in Times Square have in common with Harlem? The Tonic Bar is owned by a couple who live in Harlem. They’ve been residents of Harlem since 2006. The couple behind The Tonic Bar in Times Square have now decided to invest 100 percent in where they live by launching Harlem Tavern, a neighborhood bar & grill, at 2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd. This is the space we told you about back in April how the corner gas station/auto shop was up for lease. (Oh…and a reader too had sent us an update on the recent construction happening at this corner space.)
Today, one of the owners of the upcoming Harlem Tavern spoke directly with HarlemCondoLife to tell us why they are putting their dinero dollars into where they live-particularly Frederick Douglass Blvd.
According to Sheri Wilson from SoHa 116 Restaurant Corporation and co-owner along with her husband says Harlem Tavern will be a restaurant that is representative of Harlem. “Harlem Tavern is going to be a place for everyone. Harlem is such a diverse place. We are creating Harlem Tavern to capture and accommodate that diversity,” says Wilson.
Wilson says word recently got out about their exact plans cause their website was just finished and hit the internet. She said “you’re the first we are speaking to.”
They still have several processes to complete with NYC’s Department of Buildings. However, they’ve built-in plenty of time to open in their business timeline, which is not soon. Wilson says they are aiming to open after the new year. “If all things go as planned, we plan to open in February 2011.” She said if they make that deadline they will get heating lamps to accommodate customers and the winter weather.
In closing, Wilson explained why Frederick Douglass Blvd? “Harlem is a great place to live and Frederick Douglass Blvd is a wonderful street that holds enormous potential for growth.” We could not agree more with Sheri Wilson! We have dubbed FDB as “restaurant row” and the “gold coast of Harlem.” As each day passes, our predictions are becoming more and more of a reality.
A special congrats to our fellow Harlemites on their plans with Harlem Tavern! May everything fall in place and so that we have another new and interesting place to hang! Salude!

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Two Harlem establishments now open for business: bier international and Chocolat

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Aug 12, 2010 @ 17:26
By HarlemGal
We have received official notice that Chocolat, located at 2217 Frederick Douglass Blvd, and bier international, located at 2099 FDB, are now open for business. They join many other fine establishments on FDB, an area we have forecasted as Harlem’s restaurant row. Stop on by these places and tell us what you think!

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Introducing Cupcake Suite Cupcakery & Cafe in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Aug 4, 2010 @ 14:18

By HarlemGal
Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem just got a little sweeter! Why? Because 2211 FDB will be the home of the brand, spanking new Cupcake Suite Cupcakery & Cafe. According to their website, the Cupcake Suite is founded by the Get’em Girls (pictured in this post) and their vision “is to create a swank upscale bakery and communal cafe with the comforts of the Carolinas and the inspiration of boulangeries in France.” Ooh la la! I am so there! I love sweets!
The Cupcake Suite will be located on what they call-not us- Harlem’s budding restaurant row, Frederick Douglass Blvd., between 119th and 120th Street and will offer signature cupcakes for $2.00 each; and specialty cupcakes for $2.50 each. View their menu here!
The Cupcake Suite plans to open late September/early October so put your taste buds on hold and start to figure out how to manage your desire for sweets! Harlem will now have Tonnie’s Minis, Make My Cake and Lee, Lee’s Baked Goods all close by in Central Harlem. Let the cupcake competition begin! Hmm…can you say cupcake throw down! Quick, call the Food Network!

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HCL writes cerveza at bier international in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Aug 3, 2010 @ 7:00

By HarlemGal

How many ways can you say beer in a different language? And can you spell it out in that language as well? I was recently asked these questions by the owners and designer of the upcoming bier international in Harlem, which will be located at 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd. I answered the questions honestly. I only knew how to say beer in one other language and spell it out. I said “cerveza!” The folks at bier international, which I learned the name of the beer pub is not capitalized, said that was perfect and if I wanted to write it on their big, white wall that will be the home to the word “beer” in multiple languages. If you look at the rendering of the upcoming beer joint, it shows writing on the wall.

Any how, I said yes. I would love too! I was given the fun privilege of writing the word “cerveza” in brownish colored paint high up on their wall. I was a bit nervous writing on their freshly painted wall, but I did it and did not mess up! So when you head on over to bier international for a brewski and you see the word “cerveza” on the wall, you know the story behind it.

I hope bier international in Harlem opens up soon. I am getting thirsty!

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Harlem’s Chocolat in hiring mode, plans to open soo

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 5, 2010 @ 7:30

By HarlemGal

For those of you who inquired about whether Chocolat was continuing with their hiring process, we were told they still are. We stopped by over the holiday weekend to ask and a person on site said they are taking applications today, Monday, July 5 at the home of where Chocolat will be, which is at 2217 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

If your interested in working there, head on over. They are hiring cause they expect to open in about three to four weeks according to a worker on location. From the photos below, looks like they’re on track! Excellent. Another place for us to hang!

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Harlem’s Bier International taking shape

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 23, 2010 @ 13:03
By HarlemGal
During my usual stroll along Frederick Douglass Boulevard, I was able to capture the latest construction happenings with Bier International, Harlem’s first (alleged) beer garden. The beer garden, expected to debut soon at 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd., is starting to take shape.
In one of the photos below, you can see where the bar is going to be placed, which is what the rendering indicated. Also, there are workers on site every day now and what appears to be management standing outside late evenings. I have seen management hanging out in front lately reviewing the days construction.
So stay tuned, this place is expected to open while the 2010 World Cup is on!

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