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    Melba's Restaurant

    3.8 (2.1k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

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    MELBA'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Melba's Restaurant

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    garlicky spinach. YUM.
    Jennifer B.

    sooo good! Work has me up in the Bronx, and on my break, I came down to Melba's. The server was nice enough to give me a sample deviled egg because she described the filling as an "acquired taste." My taste is acquired, baby, so I ordered an entire plate of 'em. DEE-LISH. And some good old garlicky spinach for obligatory iron intake. I will be back.

    Fried Catfish & Eggnog Waffles
    Tavin B.

    A visit to Melba's feels like coming home. From the moment we walked in, the warmth and hospitality wrapped around us--you could feel the love in the room before the food even hit the table. Every bite reminded me of home. The smothered chicken was tender, rich, and seasoned just right; the mac and cheese was creamy, comforting perfection; and the greens were cooked the way they're supposed to be--full of flavor and soul. And let me tell you... THAT iced tea was a HIT!!!! Smooth, refreshing, and exactly what you want alongside a true Southern-style meal. Melba's isn't just a restaurant--it's an experience. Welcoming, heartfelt, and delicious from start to finish. If you're looking for food that feeds both your stomach and your spirit, this is the place.

    Bbq short ribs
    Rosie P.

    We enjoyed such a delicious lunch here. From the moment we arrived the staff was welcoming. The restaurant has separate dining areas, yet it still feels cozy. Our server was so friendly and helpful. The food was served hot and everything from the appetizer to our main dishes were freshly made. We ordered: -cheeseburger sliders -oxtail with mashed potatoes & collard greens -bbq short ribs - with Mac n cheese and potato salad -bbq short ribs with French fries & Mac n cheese We will definitely return to try more of their delicious dishes. Highly recommended.

    Oxtail, greens and mac n cheese at the top and the same sides with beef short ribs at the bottom.
    Edmond C.

    As 2025 winds down, I recognize Melba's Restaurant, along with Shaw-nae's House on Staten Island as the Queens of Southern Soul Food in the five boroughs. It's an increasingly competitive genre in NYC, with Amy Ruth's, my previous favorite yielding only slightly with its incredible Beef Short Rib and waffle choices and the venerable Charles Pan Fried Chicken still leading the charge with his fried chicken. Competition is fierce and there will be people who legitimately bring Make My Fish to the conversation as well. What you get at Melba's is a diverse menu with all your favorites and each of them looks picture perfect. Have you ever seen better looking fried chicken or candied yams...? I'm waiting... Nothing is oversalted or overcooked. Case in point: the collard greens, made with smoked turkey and well seasoned, without the sodium penalty. The chefs are paying attention to the details we crave: Mac n Cheese with perfectly cooked elbow macaroni then baked with a multi cheese combination to a crusty top and edges with cheese pull. We see Melba's preparing the side dishes with great care, tastefully, and looking as good as they taste. I have not had the fish here, but I have recommended vegetarians who are pescatarians as well, and those individuals have put Melba's on repeat. The beef short ribs I ordered here bow down to those at Amy Ruth's. The beef short ribs are very good, but the cut was not trimmed of excess fat, leaving these savory beef short ribs short of those at Amy Ruth's. Yet, the story doesn't end there at Melba's. I have had their fried chicken and it is superb down to the bone, tasting like they brine the chicken. It's so appealing to look at when it arrives, matching the picture perfect candied yams, a combination that must be experienced on a plate to be believed. The crispy chicken here is matched by the chicken and chicken sandwiches Melba's serves up at Grand Central. If chicken doesn't rock you, try their oxtail and you'll experience all the tender flavors for which oxtail was recognized by our people until its broad appeal pushed the price of oxtail at the supermarket. Melba's is like a lot of Harlem institutions on Sundays: jammed packed with after church brunchers. It's a mark of its appeal, like Amy Ruth's, Sylvia's and Chocolat, but better. Service is good from my experience. Atmosphere is very nice at Melba's, but bested by the wraparound warmth and intimacy of the smaller Shaw-nae's House. I realize this competitive genre will generate some controversy and some will disagree with me. If so, I am open to your feedback and reactions. For me, Melba's has an extensive menu that showcases great care by the chefs and it shows on the plate and palate. Melba's shares the Crown with Shaw-nae's House and you can dine here with confidence, experiencing the best of Southern Soul Food in Manhattan and across the five boroughs. 4.5 Stars!

    Rum punch and one of their new items-coquito!
    Sheneil B.

    From being greeted by the host of the evening (I think Kyla) to the food and drinks-amazing!! We didn't make a reservation, and I do not recommend doing that; we made do by sitting at the bar but if you want and table, make that reservation. The food was amazing and came out pretty quickly! Everything i have pictured tasted really good. The short rib had some fatty parts but was falling off the bone, the greens were perfectly cooked, and mac n cheese had a nice cheese pull and a crisp on top. The yams were-get them! The chicken was juicy and had the perfect crisp. My partner is from the South and approved! My only qualms was the menu saying "peas and rice" lol Now let's talk about the drinks Kyle mixed! So so good. Had the rum punch and I tried the coquito. Both had a good alc pour and were tasty. Thank you Melba for a great meal!

    Catfish nuggets
    Arthur P.

    Melba's is spectacular full stop. We went here for my Nana's 80th and it did not disappoint. We started with the fried calamari and the catfish nuggets/bites. Catfish nuggets/bites were perfect, calamari was tasty but i prefer it in smaller pieces i think. Next our entrees (they come with two sides each which is nice to see in today's food scene) Oxtails with Mac & Cheese, Short Rib with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Collard Greens, Fried Chicken with Mac & Cheese and Collard Greens, Fried Catfish with Mac & Cheese and Collard and the Chilean Sea-bass with the Mac & Collards. Everything was delicious it takes a good cook/chef to dish out good oxtail and these were great! The short rib was tender and flavorful. The Catfish and Fried Chicken were hits as well as the Chilean Sea-bass. Chef really did his thing here go support this storied restaurant. We had a great time. Thanks!

    Unfinished flavorless wannabe Jamaican oxtails
    Mimi H.

    The food was terrible I ordered the Jamaican oxtail with the Mac and cheese and their potatoe salad. Never again. Collard greens not tasty either. I ordered drinks a sweet tea and lemonade that came thirty minutes later which the waiter apologized for. That was served warm and it had ice in it. It wasn't that busy in there . Had us sitting on top of one another. Didn't finish my food at all the Mac and cheese was gooey and cheesy the way people like it. The oxtails wasn't Jamaican at all. Where was the scotch bonnet and the seasonings at . The msg network recommended this place. Waste of money and time . I didn't even take my food to go it was so bad . Then the worker there was sweeping the floor as we were eating. Who does that? Tight seating. One and done for me. The catfish was good. The chicken was okay.

    Napoleon M.

    I took my brother and his lady to Melba's for his birthday on 09/04/25! Walking in you will notice a Club vibe as you hear soulful sounds of different R&B artists. Located a few feet from the entrance is the bar with bartenders that are eager to craft your favorite libation. The Black and White decorum presented elegance and sophistication which made the room less busy yet attractive. The chair I sat in was not sturdy, so I switched it for another. I did notice that there are two sides of dining, so it seems like it holds a lot of patrons. The service was great, and the staff worked as a team, each team member performing in their roll effortlessly. We finally ordered a huge spread. Our apps were spring rolls, calamari, and crab cakes. The crab cakes did have a robust flavor as if it were real crab meat used and not artificial. Calamari had texture. I liked it because I was able to chew the entire ring completely. The spring roll were pretty good but a little too greasy for my stomach. Everyone ordered the Mac N Cheese, my brother and I agreed it was almost as good as moms if not better. I place mother's dish above this dish, but I am exercising familial bias. I had a medium well salmon that turn out to be very delicious, I made an excellent choice. The greens had texture and was a bit chewy for my liking. My brother's friend had the catfish which she did not enjoy at all. She's from Louisiana, so the cooking styles will vary. My brother found the cod to be very good, but he wasn't a favorite of the potato salad which he rated as the least. I did taste the potato salad, and it taste pretty good to me, I can only say that preference to play an important part of any dish. I am most definitely returning for another dish. We did see another person eating oxtails and he was shaking his head as he enjoyed his dish.

    I see why these one on beat Bobby Flay. They are delicious. Light and fluffy. The fried chicken skin is absolutely the perfect consistency.
    Teresa B.

    yes, I see why she won on beat Bobby Flay because the chicken and waffles here are succulently delicious fluffy and what can I say?

    Maricar T.

    The Prince and NYC's Harlem Chicken & Waffles This is a true story. Once upon a time, there was a Prince who had never tasted chicken and waffles. His beloved--a true American damsel--decided it was time to change that. She brought him to what she believed was the best spot in all of Harlem, New York--the historic neighborhood where this unlikely yet iconic pairing first rose to fame as a post-performance meal among jazz musicians in the 1930s. And so I came to eat chicken and waffles because first, I love stories. And second, I'm curious. I had to ask the staff if the story were true and if true, did the Prince ate all of his waffles and chicken. Staff said Prince and beloved damsel sat on the right side of the restaurant-- in pictures. Melba's, Harlem, NYC July 2025 #curious_eater #chickenandwaffles #melbas #melbasharlem #harlem

    Inside
    Skyy S.

    We stopped here on the snowy day and I am glad we did. We were immediately greeted and sat fast. Our server was super helpful and nice. When you go you HAVE to get the eggnog waffle and fried chicken. OMG as a girl from the south it soothed my soul. This is some of the best fried chicken I have had in New York. My boyfriend rated the chicken tenders a 8/10. Overall the food was really good. I would skip the Mac and collard greens but the catfish was really good! I will be back!

    Spring rolls
    Joannie B.

    Came here after the Uncle Nearest Juneteenth crawl in Harlem around maybe 10 ish after the crowd had died down. Ample seating inside woth a full bar. My friend and I got a seat in the corner booth we ordered the spring rolls which were delicious. Oxtail for $30 had us curious, it was good but a little too sweet; side of mac and collards were good although i wanted rice n peas. My friend said the rice was good. We also wanted to try the catfish appetizer but didn't come out in time. One of our party member had it as a meal and it looked good. I've been here before and wasn't too impressed with the food but this time it was good. Also the uncle Nearest drink was good but a little too sweet. I would reccomend them for soul food options in the area and would definitely return for those spring rolls and catfish.

    Nicole B.

    My party of 3 came here for a late dinner. We didn't have reservations but was seated fairly quickly. All drinks were tasty, but I ordered the strawberry Hennessey and it was soooo good, better than I thought it would be! Food was spot on in flavor and portion size. The slow braised short ribs were succulent. Overall I had a good time and a satisfying meal.

    Southern Fried Chicken, Momma's Potato Salad, A$AP Yams, Chicken & Eggnog Waffle, Tres Mac & Cheese

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    The food is good. A little wait but it's worth it. I love the meatloaf and also the catfish is my favorite.

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    Melba's Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Melba's Restaurant

    Do they have gluten free options?

    I am not sure about gluten free items.

    How do you make a reservation online?

    Yes

    I have been following Melba's ratings from the NYC Health Department for years and have never seen them with an "A" rating? Do they have an "A" rating now?

    Their pineapple coconut cake gets an A+ rating from me.

    Does Melba's take reservations?

    Pre COVID-19, yes. Right now, they do for outdoor seating ONLY.

    Are they kid friendly?

    Yes

    Pre fixe menu available for private party tables?

    Idk

    Are greens and potato salad available at brunch?

    No not at brunch only at Dinner time

    There's no prices on the menu; I hate when restaurants do that. Can somebody give me an idea of the prices? Thank you

    If you go to my photos of the menu that is in the restaurant you will see the prices- entrees range from $16.95 to $28.95. Hope that helps you. You can also call them for prices or ask them to fax you a menu.

    Are Chicken and Waffles only served during brunch?

    No. We had it at dinner

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Manna's

    Manna's

    3.6(165 reviews)
    0.6 miHarlem
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    Listen, I bought food from Manna's on a Saturday, and it was so good that my mom and I had to turn…read moreright back around and drive down to Harlem again (from Rockland) just to get more. I am Haitian, so trust me when I tell you I know good food when I taste it. This is the kind of food that makes you hum while you eat. The kind of food that makes you forget about your diet and your errands because nothing else matters in that moment except what's on your plate. The flavors were rich, seasoned all the way through, and every bite tasted like somebody's auntie or grandma was in the kitchen putting real love into it. What I really love is that it's buffet style, so you already know I was piling my plate with everything that called my name. You get exactly what you want and as much of it as you want, which makes it even better. Harlem has so many gems, but Manna's is one of those places where you can feel the community and the history in the food. The price is more than fair for how satisfied you will leave, and you will be thinking about that plate long after you finish it. When I say this place is worth the trip, I mean it. If you see me driving down to Harlem again, mind your business, because it is probably just me, my mom, and grandma (who came along for the second ride) going back for another round.

    In town for a few days. This is a Nice cozy place off 125th street. Everything I ate was fresh and…read moregood quality for the price. The honey coated fish was excellent and the fried chicken wings top notch as well! I'll be back soon

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    Red Rooster Harlem

    Red Rooster Harlem

    3.6(4.2k reviews)
    0.7 miHarlem
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    Outdoor seating
    Takes reservations

    Saturday, 9th May 2026 Harlem, NYC…read more Rainy day 60s We were here for a Pre-Mother's Day Reggae brunch and to hear the music of the fabulous BROOKLYNERS Reggae band. It was wonderful to see customers get up to dance! Red Rooster's brunch menu had much to enjoy and we tried as many items on the menu as we three could. Of course we required 'doggie bags' to take home leftovers. - For Brunch we indulged on their: - Deviled Eggs, Cornbread, Fried Chicken on waffle, Red Velvet pancake with eggs and maple bacon, and Double Smashed Cheeseburger with Fries. Yes, we will have to work off the calories tomorrow, but so worth it! Good list of wines, beers, cocktails and various libations. Friendly staff and servers, although often moving at a slow pace. However, each were very friendly, warm and helpful with inquiries. Irie!

    Great food and drink choices. Just catch them on a non-busy day…read more Bathroom: *** (average) Quality: *** Quantity: **** Presentation: *** (okay plating) Price: $$$$ (a bit pricy for what you get) Ambiance: Loud/Casual/Busy/crowded Attitude: **** (very nice staff and attentive) Overall: went on a Friday, packed. Not that I didn't expect that but, it was too loud to even hear your table side guest. Things were pricey, and some food items weren't available. Maybe try again but, it's iffy.

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    4.0(203 reviews)
    0.5 miHarlem
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    10/10 traditional Nigerian spot right in Harlem. Super affordable, and a great intro if you've…read morenever had Nigerian food before. Quick rundown -- you eat with your hands. The fufu is your utensil. You pinch a piece, dip it into a stew, and that's your bite. I didn't get a stew this time so I kind of freestyled it... dipped mine into the jollof rice with that tomato/meat sauce they put on top and grabbed some lamb. Still hit. One thing to know: there's no traditional restroom setup to wash your hands. They'll bring out a bucket of water and liquid soap so you can clean up at the table. It's normal, but if that's not your thing, just bring hand sanitizer and you'll be good.

    Food: We ordered jollof rice with chicken stew, egusi spinach with fried fish + fufu, and hibiscus…read moredrink. The portion sizes were large so come in with a big appetite and bigger stomach. The jollof rice was a simple rendition of perfectly seasoned, fluffy rice that packed deep West African spice with every bite. The accompanying red chicken stew was addictively tangy and had enough spice to singe the taste buds. So yummy. The spinach had an unctuous vegetative flavor that paired nicely with the dough-y mellow fufu. The only thing I didn't like was the bits of fish cooked in that still contained bones. Felt like I had to be cautious going through the spinach. The big fried fish pieces were simple and tasty but had a similar but lesser problem. A bit of a first world problem, I know, but it makes the experience just slightly less enjoyable. The hibiscus drink was perfumed with floral sweet and sour. Service: Service was immaculate. The wonderful staff behind the counter asked if it was our first time and had us sampling all the different rices and stews/soups to make sure we liked what we ordered. Ambiance: Very much a hole in the wall in East Harlem with very few tables. Simple but effective. The predominant foot traffic was all the food service drivers coming in and out of the establishment (which there was a healthy flow of).

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