Harlem – Dining

Diners from throughout the city, and beyond, flock to Harlem for its soul food and Latin cuisine—and rightly so. But the neighborhood has plenty more to offer as well: vindaloo at Mumbai Masala and Clove; gnocchi at Lido and Settepani; ramen at ROKC and Rai Rai Ken. Below are a few of Harlem’s best-loved eateries.

 

 

Melba’s

Founded in 1962, Sylvia’s is Harlem’s best-known restaurant, and arguably the country’s most famed soul-food restaurant. Locals who find it too bustling, however, gravitate to the cozier Melba’s. Here you can enjoy Southern comfort food including fried chicken and waffles, peas and rice, catfish, and crab cakes, along with variations on the theme such as spring rolls filled with a medley of rice, black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cheddar cheese.

 

 

 

Red Rooster

Another Harlem institute offering comfort food, Red Rooster was cofounded by acclaimed chef and Food Channel personality Marcus Samuelsson. Shrimp and grits with tomato-okra stew, hot honey fried chicken, and jerk salmon bowl with bulgar and roasted corn are among the house favorites. Order a large pitcher of rum punch for the table, and leave room for the green-apple pie for dessert. Bonus: There’s free live jazz and soul most evenings, and two gospel-brunch seatings every Sunday.

 

 

 

Contento

Since opening in summer 2021, Contento has earned kudos from “The New Yorker” and “The New York Times,” among others. Much of the praise references the restaurant’s inclusivity for those with physical disabilities—a dual-height bar to accommodate wheelchair users, adaptive tableware available upon request, extra-wide pathways between tables. But its Peruvian-fusion food easily warrants as many plaudits: two ceviche options, short ribs served with udon noodles and spicy peanut sauce, soy-braised pork belly, arroz con pato (rice with duck) accompanied by pickled fennel and onion and a spicy cherry emulsion. The wine list is equally notable, with a section devoted to “wines that have a social impact.”

 

 

 The Edge

Sisters Juliet and Justine Masters founded The Edge to celebrate their British and Jamaican heritage. The result is a menu with dishes such as coconut-battered fish and chips, linguine with a jerk alfredo sauce, and codfish fritters. And that’s just dinner. Brunch includes the likes of shrimp and parmesan grits with eggs, a curried chicken-salad sandwich, and a BLT with garlic mayo on Texas toast. And yes, the drinks menu includes Jamaica’s famed Red Stripe lager.

 

 

 

Tsion Cafe

Tsion Cafe offers another type of fusion cuisine: pan-African/Israeli—and everything is vegan and kosher to boot. You can even request gluten-free injera, the fermented flatbread that’s a staple of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine and of the restaurant’s offering. Shiro wot and messer wot, stews made with ground chickpeas and red lentils respectively and served on injera, are among Tsion’s specialties. Weather permitting, try to snag a spot on the covered patio for a truly transportive experience.