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.

Clay is a popular option for an elevated meal uptown, which had been suggested to me by multiple…read morepeople before we came for dinner on a recent frigid evening. The downstairs area is an especially cozy, inviting space. The food is safe but well-executed new American cooking. We shared the popular gnocchi, which was perfectly textured, and the chickpea mushroom burger, which was on the plainer side but had a hearty, fulfilling flavor. I enjoyed the thick-cut fries on the side as well. I would pass on the nut and buckwheat appetizer next time. This honestly felt like something you'd be served on a flight (but probably in business class, to be fair).

I'm surprised I've never written a review for this place considering how often I come here. It's…read moreeasily one of my favorite neighborhood spots in Harlem. The vibe is chill, relaxed, and very neighborhood-friendly. Even when it's busy, it never feels overwhelming, and they're usually very accommodating with walk-ins. The service is also some of the best I've experienced in Harlem. My go-to is the roasted duck, which is consistently excellent. It's cooked medium to medium-rare and comes with mango, onions, vegetables, and greens. Easily one of my favorite dishes in the neighborhood. The drinks are great too. I recently had the Nas, their take on a Manhattan, and it was incredibly smooth--one of the best whiskey cocktails I've had in a while. Overall, 10/10. A hidden gem on Lenox between 119th and 120th and definitely one of the best spots in Harlem.

Came in for NY Restaurant week! Ordered the Sage Knees and the Crime of Passion for our drinks…read more(both were enjoyed). We both had Brussel Sprouts, good, but the bites without the sauce did taste like bland Brussel sprouts. I had the lamb ribs, very good. They do warn you before that the ribs have a bit of fat on them, I think in the context of NY restaurant week I'm happy to pay it but as a solo entree, the amount of fat vs meat would have annoyed me. My friend had the duck, she enjoyed it. But it is very much salad with a side of duck, I believe she had 6 pieces of duck (pictured) and then a mango, arugula and onion salad. Dessert was very good, but I do hope those are not the usual portion sizes and maybe they just served smaller for NY restaurant week. Which I really didn't mind as I was full from the entree and sprouts. Servers were really nice, this place seems to have its regulars and a nice garden sitting area towards the back. Would overall recommend

The food and drinks were absolutely amazing, and the atmosphere and music were easily a 10/10…read more Unfortunately, what started as a great experience was overshadowed by how an incident involving one of my guests was handled. During our meal, a server accidentally spilled a plate of food down the back of one of the guests in my party, ruining her dress. The manager initially removed her meal from the bill. However, when we noticed that her drinks were still included, we had to speak with the manager again to have those removed as well. What was most disappointing was the manager's explanation that because he had spoken with her and she said she was "okay," meaning she wasn't physically hurt, he felt that comping her meal was sufficient. While we certainly appreciate that she wasn't injured, that wasn't really the point. Her dress was ruined because of an accident caused by the restaurant's staff, and her entire meal and drinks totaled no more than approximately $100. Given the circumstances, I don't think making her entire evening complimentary was an unreasonable expectation. We were a party of 11 and spent over $800 that evening. Considering the size of our bill and the fact that her clothing was damaged, fully comping her food and drinks would have been a small gesture that could have completely changed how we felt about the situation. The restaurant itself has a lot going for it, the food, drinks, music, and atmosphere were excellent. Unfortunately, customer service is also about how problems are handled when something goes wrong, and I was disappointed with the response in this situation. For that reason alone, the next time I'm looking for this type of dining experience, I'll be heading to Harlem Tavern instead of BLVD Bistro.

I loved the food, drinks and DJ... I went Sunday August 30th for my birthday... the only thing to…read moreadd is to please consider expanding the restaurant... it is really small and by the time I got there at 1:30 pm it was standing room only at the bar and all the tables were taken but thank God my friend and I had a reservation... and when we left there were people waiting outside to get in so I know it is a popular place to eat and I plan on going back just an earlier time

Our 'foodie week' in Manhattan hit an unexpected peak at The Ellington! We pivoted last minute for…read moreMother's Day, and it was the best decision we made. The outdoor seating was perfection and the food was delightful, but the real star was our waiter, Nahid N. Even with a packed house, he was the definition of grace under pressure--attentive, informative, and genuinely cheery. While NYC has endless dining options, we'll be returning to The Ellington specifically demanding that we sit in his section again. Nahid N., you are the man. Thanks so much for being a highlight in our New York trip. We will be back!

The Ellington generally offers nice ambience with a pianist, good food and good service, but my…read morefirst experience carries a caveat: their policies can be enforced against their interests and yours. I visited The Ellington on a rain soaked Sunday with a group of thirty, a Ministry from a Harlem Church. The restaurant has the room to host substantial groups and one of our Ministry members has been a regular at The Ellington for many years, more often for brunch, and she arranged for us to brunch at The Ellington. We were not seated exactly where we were supposed to be seated, but it worked out fine for the most part... I ordered the Skirt Steak and Eggs Frites, medium rare and scrambled soft, from the brunch menu, but had my eye on a few items from their regular menu, which I was told was not available during brunch. I also ordered a glass of Australian Shiraz they have on the wine menu. The steak was pretty good and cooked just a bit north of medium rare, but okay. The au poivre sauce put it over. The eggs were scrambled soft and the surprise was how good the fries and onion rings were, the latter particularly crispy on the outside. This would be most satisfying for most appetites. One person returned her chicken and waffles for lack of any substantial chicken on the plate, but the steak frites will stick to your ribs. The Australian Shiraz must be the sleeper on the wine menu. It's good. The confounding issue arose from the member who is a regular here, who brought her own tea bag and was charged five bucks for the hot water. This charge and policy was enforced by the manager with indifference, which is surprising for a regular who just brought the restaurant receipts of $1500 or more. I ordinarily choose not to comment on such matters within the discretion of the management, but, when the discretion is exercised with indifference to a regular, it is worth noting and adjusting my rating, even when most aspects were good. I cannot see how enforcement of this policy is in the interests of the restaurant or the patron for five bucks on an overall check of $1500 or more possibly. 3.0 stars

Big portions and delicious food 10/10…read more Best comfort food I've had would 100% recommend coming here for a visit

Amazing service the staff are so welcoming definitely would recommend and the food is amazing.read more

I see why this restaurant has great reviews. The food and drinks were amazing. The Bronzino was the…read morebest I ever had. Omg it was absolutely incredible delicious. Words cannot describe how good it was. Please taste it for yourself. I promise you will not be disappointed. The drinks were just as good as the Bronzino. Service was great too. The bartender was very friendly and polite. Definitely a must visit if you're ever in NYC.

Came here on Thursday because, my friend said, they were having an anniversary party with passed…read moreo'dhourves. I made my way after work - it's very small with a full bar and limited seating inside but with seating outside. Older crowd but Dj was good. Thankfully a table was free and someone got me a chair. As I waited for my friend I ordered the Ginger martini, Dibi lamb, and Crusted Ahi tuna all on the Happy-hour menu from 5 to 8 I believe. The ginger martini was very good. I didn't care for the dibi lamb & the tuna was ok. My friend ordered the chicken tacos and wings; she recieved four wings which she said, was spicy and similar to buffalo wings- they were small and looked like baby wings lol. She said the tacos were good. We were given appetizers of beef empanadas mushroom fried balls, and vegetables rolls. The empanadas and mushroom balls were good. We didn't care for the vege rolls. I also tried the bissap drink and didn't care for it. All in all I would recommend. Service was lacking a little.

This Harlem neighborhood gem is tucked away from public transportation and is located on Park…read moreAvenue and 119th Street. Unsuspecting on the outside you could easily walk right past it. I would describe it as one of those IYKYK places with a speakeasy feel. The decor was immaculate. A wooden bar gave it a bit of a polished rustic feel with mirrors and pictures on the wall. There was a high ball rectangular wood topped table in the middle of the bar area as well as a couple of banquettes against the walls. The wall lights were works of art. The place was simply an eclectic montage of comfortable and welcoming decor with hints of art deco inspiration throughout. Kudos to the interior designer!!!!! Please see my pictures as I tried to capture the ambiance visually. My friend and I were on our way home from visiting another neighborhood establishment when we stumbled upon it and decided to check it out. When we walked in we were immediately transported to a world of low lighting sepia tones and sheik embellishments. Our experience started off very grand. Greeted by a hostess we decided to sit at the bar for a quick drink. We saw diners enjoying themselves. The place had a low level of audio giving it more of an intimate aura. Our bartender remained professional but was a bit withdrawn. I ordered a sparkling water and my friend had a prosecco. We also decided on a quick nosh consisting of fish fritters and jerk mushrooms. Honestly, the fritters were disappointing as all I could taste was fried breading. The presentation was nice but the taste failed. The jerk mushrooms were completely delightful and the highlight of our dining experience. My compliments to the chef for the mushrooms as I will try to recreate them at home. Food and beverage pricing were on par with Manhattan establishments. The staff were very nice. We went kind of late and stayed until the establishment closed. Never once did they make us feel rushed to leave. We chatted with the hostess and another server before leaving and got a little history of the place. I must say the bathroom was amazing!!! A single unisex room with handicapped bar installed. Please refer to the pictures. It was beautifully decorated and the cleanest bathroom in Harlem!!! Even the floors were very art driven. It was a pleasure to use such a well kept and decorated facility. I was extremely impressed with this Harlem establishment. Definitely worthy of a date night and as a travel destination dinner. Totally give it a 5 out of 5 and most definitely will patronize it again in the future.

Food and service were very good, and decor and lighting were very welcoming and cozy. This is a…read moregreat place for young or energetic people who prefer a vibe with loud music and don't mind speaking loud to each others rather than enjoy meals with easy conversation. I also found some of the main dish over priced for a small portion, and I wish they served a dish that has heavy sauce with rice or bread, rather than leaving it to the customer to know and order sides to soak up the sauce. If it was a quieter place, I would definitely return.

I really liked this place. The vibe is super cozy, a little quirky, and honestly just feels like a…read morefun place to hang out. We got the Winnie Smash with fries, wings, and a Caesar salad. The burger was probably my favorite -- juicy, filling, and exactly what I wanted. The wings were really good too, crispy and flavorful, and the Caesar salad was actually a nice surprise. I got the Happy Trial for my drink and I genuinely don't know how to explain the taste but it worked for me so much Overall, really cute spot, good food, good drinks, and a chill atmosphere. I'd definitely come back with friends.

I came here with a friend after finding this spot on Google while searching for a bar that served…read moregood food. I noticed the great ratings along with all the reviews and photos of the burger, so we decided to check it out. We ended up getting a table in the back room by the windows. The place has a very chill vibe. I also noticed they provide Uno cards, and a few people were playing while enjoying their drinks. I already knew what I was getting, the Winnie Smash ($18), a double-patty smash burger that comes with a house-style mac sauce and fries. The burger was solid, and I really enjoyed the crispy fries. I also ordered a side of BBQ sauce ($1.50). I washed it all down with a couple of draft beers. Overall, I had a good experience and would recommend this place if you're looking for good food and drinks in a laid-back atmosphere. * Street parking * Sunday Football special

And they "suggested" Melba's Restaurant?? lol I appreciate…read moreyour great taste. But I've been at THIS "table" for years... Rate Melba's for Me. Since there's NOTHING higher than what I would give!

First meal on this trip to New York!…read more I'm in New York for a week and was catching up with a friend who suggested we grab some soul food. I love me some chicken and waffles, so we decided to check out Melba's Restaurant, located at 300 W. 114th Street in Harlem. I thought the exterior was really cute, especially the nice awning. Inside, the restaurant has a very traditional, home-style feel, with lots of wood and warm brown tones. You can definitely feel the history of the place when you walk in. If you're driving, I would be a little cautious about parking. There was quite a bit of street cleaning happening, so make sure you pay close attention to the signs. I'd also recommend making a reservation if you can, especially depending on what time you visit, because the restaurant can get pretty busy. One thing I noticed about the seating is that it can be a little tight. Coming from Chicago, I'm not necessarily accustomed to the same kind of seating arrangements, and I have pretty broad shoulders, so I like having a little personal space. If you're seated at a smaller table, just be prepared for a more compact setup. My friend and I both ordered the chicken and waffles, and they were delicious! I have to give a lot of love to the waffle because it was cooked perfectly. I actually took some of it home, and surprisingly, it still tasted really good the next day. The chicken was also breaded really well. It wasn't overly seasoned, which I appreciated, it had just the right amount of flavor. Since I wanted to try some of their soul food, I also ordered the greens, and those were delicious as well. I washed everything down with a strawberry lemonade, which I really enjoyed. My friend got the sweet tea and loved that too. One thing to keep in mind: Melba's isn't really a full-on breakfast restaurant. They happen to have chicken and waffles, but if you're going there expecting a traditional breakfast menu with things like eggs and breakfast potatoes, you're not going to find a huge selection. Since I wanted something to complement my chicken and waffles, I ordered French fries instead. Overall, this was a really good first meal for my New York trip. The food was delicious, the staff were super accommodating, and the atmosphere had a lot of character. There were just a few small things keeping me from giving it a full five stars, but I would definitely recommend checking out Melba's if you're in Harlem. Solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Went to meet some friends on a Thursday about 1pm. Great service provided by Jabie…read more He was patient and listened carefully to all our requests. The wango wings, were delicious. Everyone in our part of six was content. The Chopped salad was alo fresh and delicious and the cornbread tasted better than usual. The only disappointment was no Bronx IPA, but other than that we had a great time!

We wanted some Mac n Cheese And decided to come to Dinosaur…read moreBBQ. Since we were in the area. Ambience was classic BBQ decoration. Poster. Service was a bit slow even tho it wasn't busy. We waited about 15 mins to order drinks or food. We ordered Fried Catfish with Mac n Cheese and Salted Garlic potatoes and BBQ Ribs along with half chicken. Taste was just mediocre. Waitress was very sweet. Drinks finally arrived halfway through our meal. If it's a must have come just be patient with your food service.