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    Melba's Restaurant

    3.8 (2.1k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Melba's Restaurant Reservations

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    MELBA'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Melba's Restaurant

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    Signature Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich and Fries
    Prav S.

    My friend and I visited Melba's for her birthday and it was amazing! Melba's menu serves up Southern comfort food classics like fried chicken and waffles, catfish, short ribs, collard greens, mac and cheese, candied yams and sauteed spinach. The restaurant's website says "dining at Melba's is like coming home for dinner, whenever you're away from home." We ordered 2 "comfortizers:" Melba's Hand Cut Sweet Potato Wedges and Country Catfish Strips. My friend ordered Melba's Signature Chicken & Eggnog Waffle for her main dish and I got the Signature Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich. We also ordered a side of Creamy Tres Mac & Cheese and Homemade Lemonade. The food was delicious. The chicken was tender, succulent, and juicy. I really really loved the chicken sandwich. I wish I had more to eat when I was done. Our waitress, Tatiana was friendly, helpful and answered all our questions. She even brought my friend a free piece of red velvet cake for her birthday, which was extra sweet. Melba's atmosphere is unassuming as one feels welcomed and at home. We can't wait to go back!

    smothered chicken
    Abrar T.

    Melba's delivered that Southern hospitality from start to finish. I was warmly greeted right away, and the staff took the time to actually chat while my table was being prepared, which made the whole experience feel genuine and welcoming. The food is the real spotlight. The smothered chicken with collard greens and mac and cheese is a must. The yams were perfectly done but definitely on the sweeter side, so just something to keep in mind. I already know I need to come back to try the fried chicken next time. If you are looking for a traditional Southern brunch at a true neighborhood staple, this is the place. I only wish I lived closer.

    Xenia M.

    Been wanting to try Melba's for some time now and finally got a chance to over the weekend. This is down home good soul food! My faves included the collard greens, mac, and catfish! Everything was seasoned perfectly! Service is also fast and friendly.

    Sweet potato pie
    Shanel J.

    The brunch is where it is at! The egg nog waffle and chicken wings were absolutely amazing! And the grits and shrimp, the shrimp wasn't over cooked. The fried catfish wasn't overfried or to much batter. The sangria is strong but it is so good! And the sweet potato isn't too sweet but prefect spiced

    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!

    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.

    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.

    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

    Spring rolls

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    1 month ago

    Scrawny, unseasoned, but crispy, fried chicken over sweet fluffy waffles, in an impossibly noisy room.

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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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    4.2
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    The food and cocktails are genuinely excellent -- a clear highlight worth noting. However, the…read moreservice has been a consistent disappointment across multiple visits. Waitstaff are frequently inattentive and difficult to flag down, and when they do engage, the experience feels rushed rather than welcoming. What's more, management appears to be part of the problem rather than the solution -- unwelcoming in their demeanor and seemingly indifferent to the overall dining experience. I definitely would not recommend this restaurant to the families with young children.

    I had a magnificent experience at Clay. The ambience was intimate, cozy, and classy with low dimmed…read morelights and modern furnishings in a clean neutral palette. It's a perfect date night spot to share deliciousness with a loved one. My friend and I shared three flavorful dishes-- a radicchio salad, the Confit Duck Leg and the Paccheri, a pasta with house- made pork sausage and broccoli rabe. The duck was so tender it fell off the bone. The pasta was intricate and tasted perfect when it was first served then veered a tad salty as it marinated (but still great). The salad was gorgeous on its own but even better accompanied by the mains. The duck was probably my favorite, but every bite complemented the next thing so well, that all of my senses were thoroughly engaged. I truly was having such a deep experience with the food that at one point I asked my friend to stop talking so that I could properly take in all the flavors. Oops. She loved the food too, so thankfully she understood. We topped off the meal with the buñuelos. We liked the sauce, but I'd say it's not memorable. I liked my orange wine, and my friend was indifferent about her drink. It was a pricey dinner but such a worthwhile experience. Can't wait to go back.

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    I don't even know where to begin. From the moment you walk in, the staff sets the tone--warm,…read moreattentive, and deeply intentional. There's a camaraderie in the room that invites you to slow down, connect, and truly experience both the conversation and the food. Everything feels considered. My best friend and I each ordered the prix fixe menu, and it was a journey from start to finish. I began with the Spicy Corn & Coconut Soup--honestly, unforgettable. The crispy shallots added just the right amount of texture against the velvety base, and each spoonful layered flavor in a way that felt both comforting and elevated. For my main, I had the kichuri, and Chef Alex Guzman absolutely shines here. He is a star--full stop. There's a clarity and confidence in his cooking that you can taste. The cilantro chutney was perfection, and the way the mint lingers alongside the spice... it's the kind of balance that only comes from someone who truly understands their craft. You can feel his care in every bite. I ended with the key lime pie, and all I can say is thank you. The whipped cream was fresh and airy, the lime zest bright without overpowering, and the crust tied everything together beautifully. It felt like a thoughtful, intentional close to an already incredible meal. I highly recommend starting with the guava mocktail, then pairing your main with the fig mocktail--both are perfectly crafted and complement the dishes so well. Also, sit at the bar. Let Dan guide you through the experience. Trust his recommendations--you will not be steered wrong. He elevates the entire evening. And the playlist? Y'all really did that.

    From the second you walk into archer & Goat, you know you're in for an incredible treat. The…read morerestaurant itself is incredibly small, but there is outdoor covered seating that's heated. The menu changes in a spectacular. Everything ordered was delicious. I wasn't super hungry to order the roasted cauliflower and could have eaten two more plates. The portions are great for the price and the service is impeccable. Highly recommend.

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