The Wall Street Journal takes a look at Harlem's restaurant boom today alongside some of the slowdown on lower Lenox. Out of the dozen restaurants that opened in the past 3 years, it is Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster that has put Harlem back on the map for downtowners to head uptown and the celebrity chef views the historic neighborhood as an "emerging market." Lower FDB has Bier international, Harlem Tavern, Lido, Cedric, Nectar and more on its way. Revealed in the article also is that the planned Settepani Brick Oven Pizza will not open anytime soon and that lower Lenox's "far grander, European-style avenue" has not proliferated as well as FDB. Read more in the Wall Street Journal:
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It's interesting how there is nothing proximal to the Apollo. I always found that strange. Pier 2110 aka Uptown Gospel aka whoever else got cold feet all went downhill. I honestly don't think it was because the location was cursed but rather what kind of food and the pricing. There is still such an opportunity to bridge the gap between places like Jimbo and others like Red Rooster.That is such a prime location. Then again the rent may be astronomical. I don't that piece of info.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought the sheer size of the space would pose a challenge for a restaurant. It is huge. They would have to be turning a whole lot of tables to make it profitable. I wonder if it would be more viable if the space were split up for multiple establishments.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the splitting idea. They can do like cafe largo(with vinegar hill and tres pasos) did back in the day. They had one master kitchen for 3 restaurants. One was a sit down(the cafe) the other two were a gourmet pizza place and the other was Mexican staples like tacos/burritos. The businesses didn't do so well (depending on who you ask) but the idea was a good one as far as costs were concerned.
ReplyDeleteWhat about caffe latte? Great place.
ReplyDeleteBagel shop on Lenox would be nice.
Even further downtown you don't see a ton of non-chain restaurants on 57th, 42nd, 34th, 23rd, 14th, etc. Rents must be prohibitive. It would be nice to see some more surrounding 125th on ACP or FDB just like you see on Lenox though. What is the Harlem Food Bar they mention? Is Honeycomb actually opening? Let's hope its a diner.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering why Yatenga or The Shine didn't make the list but places that aren't even open are represented.
ReplyDeleteMarcus Samuelsson’s comment about Harlem being an emerging market is absolutely right and not just for dining. It was not so long ago some predicted never having any restaurants in Harlem due to the Churches, now the dining business model has been tested and proven viable. It is also telling in the article that many retail real estate inquiries are for restaurants businesses. I see many more red dots on this map in the future.
ReplyDeleteCityDweller, agreed, the Apollo is such a destination, there really should be a good Harlem restaurant across the street, another Sylvia’s would be a good for tourism. 125th has some not so nice low rise retail buildings that are asking to be replaced, when this happens I expect to see more dining options on the Apollo stretch of 125th.
ReplyDeleteThe large Gospel Uptown space would make a good Dallas BBQ, not my first choice for dining but a good fit for Harlem and would liven up that block.
ReplyDeleteI think Gospel Uptown could have been successful if they had the music they promised. When it first opened I had quite a few friends want to go there despite my warnings.There was a lot of new coverage and people were really excited but nothing ever came of it. With out the music it was just glorified bowling alley food. The whole gospel thing really attracts the tourists, just try and get a table at Sylvia's on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThis map is missing some places like...Billie's Black
ReplyDeleteAlso missing Zoma. Zagat rates it as the best on FDB (and I agree!)
ReplyDeleteI wish there were more restaurants in Hamilton Heights... we have very few good ones! I guess I'll have to wait for the new Columbia campus to open...
ReplyDeleteZoma is pretty awesome. Re: Gwin, I'm with you on the desire for quality places in Hamilton heights.The greatest loss for me was Cafe Largo.That place was my personal 'Cheers' spot. I knew the staff and managers by name. I knew their schedules.They had poetry on Sundays.Brunch was wicked delicious.It was quite utopic.Had they towed the line it would have been an anchor restaurant along side other favorites like Picante and Tanto Dulce. There is still really good potential out there. Look at Trufa. They've done a pretty amazing job with what would be best described as the square footage equivalent of a small pizza joint.The new 'Parrilla' has tried to fill the void but the place just doesn't do it for me. Too flashy.
ReplyDeleteReal estate is so cost prohibitive you guys have to understand the landscape
ReplyDeleteOf harlem take a look at the buildings along the streets ....so many don't have spaces for restaurants, in addition the city ordinance that you have to be at least 150 feet from a church to get a liquor license!!!