Tag Archives: Cafe Amrita

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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Harlem Happy Hours-where to go?

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 23, 2010 @ 12:37
By Austin2Harlem
These chalkboard signs shown in this post say it all. There are some good happy hours to check out in Harlem! I found three early evening happy hours and one late in the evening that are very reasonable and worth stopping by!
The first chalkboard is from my favorite hang out Cafe Amrita, which is located near the corner of 110th Street and Frederick Douglass Circle. Their prices for happy hour go as low as $3 for a beer and it lasts until 8 PM.
Second, is a newcomer to the Harlem happy hour scene. 5 and Diamond Harlem has been busy non-stop since it opened in the Spring, but now offer a ‘5 for 5’ drink and menu special. The menu is different. Crispy Pig Ears are available for $5…I kid you not! Go early if you want to experience the ‘5 for 5.’ Five and Diamond’s happy hour is from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. (I hope they change that to 8 PM one day. It’s a bit early.)
Another newcomer to the happy hour scene is Frizzante located at 117th and FDB. Their beer and wine starts at $4 a drink.
And the most interesting happy hour in Harlem is at Mojo on 119th and St. Nicholas. They do a reverse happy hour in Harlem that starts at 10 PM and goes until 1AM. Their signature drinks during happy hour are $6! That is a deal! Plus it’s always happening at Mojo in Harlem!
With all these happy hour options, there is no reason to be home in Harlem. Get out and frequent one of these establishments. Better yet, tell us what you think of these places and any other happy hours you may like!

Cafe Amrita sign board

5 and Diamond sign board

 

Frizzante sign board

Drinks at Mojo's reverse happy

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World Cup madness at Cafe Amrita in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 18, 2010 @ 10:41
By HarlemGal
This morning (Friday), I walked into Cafe Amrita, located at 301 West 110th Street (between Frederick Douglass Blvd and Manhattan Ave), to get some iced coffee while on my way to work…and I could not believe the scene in there so early in the morning once I entered the place! It it was packed full of people! Harlemites were up bright and early on Friday having their breakfast along with a good dose of World Cup-mania!
I assume the crowd was large due to the fact that the American soccer team was playing Slovenia! Plus they were there cause Cafe Amrita has a nice size screen to watch the soccer games.
If your interested in watching this year’s 2010 World Cup at a public venue in Harlem, Cafe Amrita may be the place for you! Check it out!
And if you can’t make it to Amrita in the mornings, swing by in the evening for Happy Hour, which lasts until 8 PM every night! They now offer sangria! I have had it and it’s quite good and refreshing! I just might go there tonight for some sangria given how nice the weather is and it’s Friday! A nice summer drink to start my weekend in Harlem sounds like the way to go. See you around in Harlem!

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Café Amrita: The Harlem Chameleon

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Mar 31, 2010 @ 1:00

By Austin2Harlem

Café Amrita, located at 301 West 110th Street, can be almost anything you want it to be. In the morning, it’s a bright, airy spot for coffee, hot chocolate and a breakfast sandwich or toasted bagel. At lunch it’s a good place to grab a quick and delicious grilled Panini.  The roast beef and swiss Panini is my favorite along with chips. Hang out a little later in the evening as the lights are turned down and it transforms into the perfect neighborhood watering hole.

If you show up before 8 p.m., you’ll be treated to happy hour specials including $4 draft beer and $5 wine. I generally order Samuel Adams on tap or Blue Moon. After happy hour ends, it’s just a buck more, so feel free to stick around and enjoy the game on the big screen TV or just chat with the friendly patrons and staff.  You can choose from the numerous small tables or grab a stool at the long wooden bar.

No matter when you visit, you’ll find Café Amrita in Harlem to be a warm, relaxed, and a welcoming venue filled with tasty food and drinks at reasonable prices. Throw in the affable mix of Harlem locals, and it may just become your favorite place to spend an hour…or three. I know that for this recently transplanted Texan to Harlem, it’s a spot where you’ll often find me hanging my hat.

Cafe Amrita
301 West 110th Street
New York, NY 10026
t: 212-222-0683
Open from 8 am to around midnight -1 am every day

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