Tag Archives: Moca Lounge

The Fourth Annual Spring Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month starts February 15

Harlem Park to Park kicks off its fourth annual Spring Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month tomorrow (Feb 15) with an impressive list of restaurant and retail establishments in Central Harlem. With food options like Ristorante Settepani’s Braised Monkfish, and the Chicken and Red Velvet Waffles at 67 Orange Street; along with services that include a week’s worth of Unlimited Led Classes from Land Yoga, and the popular Men’s Razor Relief Treatment at Harlem Skin Clinic, Harlemites and visitors alike can experience a variety of options and opportunities to sample Harlem’s finest offerings from February 15 – 28.

Twenty businesses are participating, including:

Restaurants
67 Orange Street, Bleu Violin, Chez Lucien, Chocolat Restaurant and Lounge, Corner Social, Cove Lounge, Harlem Food Bar, Harlem Tavern, Lenox Coffee, Moca Lounge, Native Restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem, Ristorante Settepani, Sylvia’s/Sylvia’s Also Lounge

Retail Services
Brownstone Fitness, Doggedly Devoted, Franz James Floral Boutique, Harlem Flo – A Floral Boutique, Harlem Skin Clinic, Land Yoga

For more information about Spring Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month and a full list of offerings, visit Harlem Park to Park on Facebook or link below for prix fixe menus and retail/service items.
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Harlem’s Frederick Douglass Boulevard goes mainstreaming says NY Times

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Harlem’s restaurant row, aka Frederick Douglass Blvd between 110th and 125th Street, is back in the news again. The New York Times recently IMG_2762spoke with Leon Ellis, the owner of Moca Lounge, Chocolat Restaurant and Harlem Underground, about how this part of Harlem has gone through a complete transformation since he first opened Moca, which was back in 2003.  Ellis told the NY Times that his friends thought he was crazy for opening up a restaurant back then. Since 2003, Ellis has expanded his business presence in Harlem on FDB with Chocolat opening about two years ago and then Harlem Underground, a Harlem-themed clothing store.

The owners of bier international were also interviewed for the article and stressed that while this area is going mainstream, they emphasized “we need to find a balance and not forget what was here” in Harlem.

To read the full article, click here.

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!

Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month starts March 1

It is that time of year again…where Harlem Park to Park presents Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month for the month of March! Starting March 1 and running to March 31, a select group of Harlem businesses will be offering prix fixe menus and select retail items all for $20.12. Check out the list below and head on over to your favorite Harlem hangout this month for Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month!

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

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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!

Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month continues, don’t miss it!

Harlem Restaurant and Retail Month is happening right now and there is still plenty of time to get out there and enjoy the benefits.  The month-long event which takes place twice a year in the Spring and Fall, showcases Harlem’s premiere restaurants all located in area of Central Harlem, from Morningside to Marcus Garvey Parks and 110th to 125th streets.  During this month, diners can enjoy a prix fixe meal at any of the participating restaurants for $20.11; and shoppers can purchase select items at retail stores for $20.11.  The promotion runs to October 31.   

The restaurants that are participating include: 5 and Diamond Restaurant, 67 Orange Street, Chocolat Restaurant Lounge, The Harlem Tavern, Lido Harlem, Moca Lounge, Native Restaurant, Nectar Wine bar, Red Rooster Harlem, Ristorante Settepani.

And for retail, the following places are participating: Bikram Yoga East Harlem, Brownstone Fitness, EG Bodywork, Franz James Floral Boutique, Harlem Flo Floral Atelier, Harlem Flo Lifestyle Boutique, Harlem Skin Clinic, Harlem Vintage Wine Store, Karrot Health Food Store, Katrina Parris Flowers, Land Yoga.

It’s $20.11 in Harlem

Apr 15, 2011 @ 7:15
By HarlemGal
Several Harlemites have $20.11 posted on their Facebook or WeHarlem pages and it’s not a reminder of the current year.  It’s locals reminding us through social networks that it is restaurant and retail month right here in Harlem. From April 15 to May 15, select local businesses are offering special deals. If you’re wondering who is participating, see the complete list below.

Last year, I went to Chez Lucienne and enjoyed the meal and deal very much. I wonder where I should dine this year for this occasion?

And a big thanks to Harlem Park to Park, who is once again leading this effort to promote all the wonderful retail businesses we have right here in Harlem.

RESTAURANTS
67 ORANGE STREET   2082 Eighth Avenue
BIER INTERNATIONAL  2099 Eighth Avenue
CHEZ LUCIENNE  308 Lenox Avenue
CHOCOLAT RESTAURANT  2223 Eighth Avenue
GRAN PIATTO D’ORO  1429 Fifth Avenue
LIDO HARLEM  2168 Eighth Avenue
MOCA LOUNGE  2210 Eighth Avenue
NATIVE RESTAURANT  101 W. 118th Street
NECTAR WINE BAR  2235 Eighth Avenue
RED ROOSTER HARLEM  310 Lenox Avenue
RISTORANTE SETTEPANI  196 Lenox Avenue
SOCIETY COFFEE  2104 Eighth Avenue
SYLVIA’S RESTAURANT  328 Lenox Avenue

RETAIL/SERVICES
BIKRAM YOGA EAST HARLEM  4 E. 116th Street
FRANZ JAMES FLORAL BOUTIQUE  2114 Eighth Avenue
HARLEM FLO ATELIER    2292 Eighth Avenue
HARLEM FLO BOUTIQUE  2276 Eighth Avenue
HARLEM VINTAGE  2235 Eighth Avenue
LEVAIN BAKERY  2167 Eighth Avenue
MODSQUAD CYCLES  2119 Eighth Avenue

Chocolat to be Harlem’s next restaurant on Frederick Douglass Blvd

Apr 7, 2010 @ 12:56

By HarlemGal
I would like to introduce you to the space that will house Chocolat Restaurant Lounge at 2217 Frederick Douglass Blvd. There has been all this speculation about this space pictured below, but speculate no more! I have spoken directly with the owner of Chocolat and he tells me this corner space will be his second restaurant on FDB, also known as 8th Avenue. I believe Chocolat was previously located on 5th Avenue and the first place was Moca Lounge, which was one of the early establishments to open on FDB way back in the day. It is safe to say Moca Lounge is the pioneer on FDB!!!

As for additional details, the owner shared that Chocolat will offer mixed cuisine and will open soon. Exact date to be announced later!

Now that the restaurant rumors are a little bit more clear. I guess this means Red Rooster will now open at….?