Harlem Breakfast Club — Restaurant in New York

OK so a Harlem based breakfast all day joint that's only serving takeaway? Food prepared in your face and you're on your way? With the density of folks in Harlem and the dearth of breakfast spots (there's lots of brunch places but not a whole lot of breakfast spots - you're limited to IHOP (and now just one in all of Harlem), Jimbos, and a scattering of other joints competing with bodegas) - this sounds like a slam dunk, home run winner.

Ah, but not so fast.

Not sure when Harlem Breakfast Club opened, but it appears there is room to grow in order to claim the top spot for breakfast in Harlem.

The Good - prices are borderline reasonable ($12 (before tax/tip) for basic pancakes, eggs, and choice of meat). The food is prepared when you order (it's not sitting around). Real butter (not margarine) is served with your food.

In my opinion, there is definite room for improvement and growth. My order came with one piece of sausage (cut in two so it looked like two sausages) and one egg (I asked for it scrambled with cheese). Use links so you can give two - instead of cutting up one patty. For my eggs, I think they only used half a slice of cheese (American) because I noticed the lack of cheese in my eggs. Up your cheese game. Restaurant grade syrup (AKA flavored Corn Syrup) was shared as standard - there was no option for pure maple syrup (which I would have paid extra for).

Another item to improve is the takeaway utensils. If you're ONLY takeout, then invest in finding quality utensils not just the basic run of the mill fork/knife situation. There's another place in Harlem I get delicious meals from (not breakfast) - and they have amazing takeaway utensils (especially forks). I'll include a photo with this review.

The menu could use more details - how do we know which types of meat and/or sides you have to order with the entrees? If I have to ask the hostess taking orders about the menu, that takes time away from me being able to make my selections - if there's a line, that will just make the wait longer. Post all the potential entrees and side options on your menu so folks can make their decision before they get to the counter.

Most importantly (in terms of areas to improve), the pancakes were dense and doughy. They were heavy when I got them which is a sign - but I've had heavy pancakes that are absolutely delicious (not often, but it can be done). Pancakes can be heavy and cakey delicious - but most often heavy pancakes are dense and doughy. They require lots of syrup to be good in your mouth. That was my experience with Harlem Breakfast Club. My pancake order came with three but I was quickly filled up with just one - that's how dense and how much syrup it required.

From the time I placed my order and paid until the time the food was handed to me ready to go was almost 15 minutes - I think that's a long time to cook some pancakes, eggs, and sausage (which I can do in my home faster). Please find ways to be more efficient so that orders can be processed, cooked, and given to the customer faster.

All in all, my experience was OK. I'll probably come back again to try the Harlem Scramble - which does sound good. The $5 BEC could be a hit with the prices of inflation (especially if that includes turkey bacon). Tweak the pancake batter recipe, offer some real syrup options, upgrade the plastic utensils, and streamline the process to speed up cooking and providing completed orders to customers - oh and add more cheese to the egg orders - and Harlem Breakfast Club might be on...

I am ALL about supporting small black businesses but I will NEVER return here! The food has NO flavor and is WAY too expensive! You'd be BETTER off going to Jimbos, Honestly! These tiny flavorless salmon cakes, rubber like patty sausage, watery grits and they don't even ask you HOW you like your eggs, they just fry it like it's on a sandwich and over cook them to top it off! I asked for egg whites and couldn't tell what they were! I ate 2-3 bites and couldn't do it! What a waste! I called the restaurant and spoke to a young lady named "Chevy" who NEVER put the Manager on the phone, as I asked when I FIRST called! I explained EVERYTHING wrong with my Husbands and my order. She asked me how she could make it right, I told her when I bring the food back we can figure it out. I called back in less than two minutes to catch the young lady's name and speaking to her a second time around was like speaking to a new person. She proceeded to tell me NOW, that she spoke to the chef and he insisted he added YELLOW cheese to the grits, when all we seen was a bunch watery WHITE grits! She then said they cannot take the food back or give us our money back because THEY make the food how THEY make it for $50. We could have waited for SYLVIA'S to open and ate REAL salmon cakes at a REAL restaurant for that price! It's NOT about the money because my Husband & I LOVE to try new places to eat, when I'm not in the mood to cook. And I cook COOK! That's Our Thing!. I am SUPER disappointed! The food is flavorless, thrown together, missing ingredients, the service is horrible, there is NO Higher Management available when needed and if so, they will HIDE & NOT take accountability or proper action for dissatisfied customers and they are charging SEATED prices for a HOLE IN THE WALL! Dont waste a moment of your Life, especially if you're a TRUE FOOD CONNOISSEUR! TRUST ME! I'd give ZERO stars if...

One morning, I really had a taste for some fish and grits and for some reason was suffering from extreme brain fog. I couldn't think of any place to go off the top of my head.

I just so happened to drive by and look up at the right moment and spotted the Harlem Breakfast Club. Now, to be honest I drive by a few times a week and never saw it before. When you are always driving sometimes you catch things but more often than not you miss things.

I was glad they caught my eye. I made a U-turn, double parked and ran in. On that day, I got catfish, cheese grits with a cold press watermelon juice. The following week, I was back and ordered salmon cakes and cheese grits. Both times the food was great, I didn't snap picks of my first order but it had me return so that should tell you it was enjoyed.

With a small square footage, there is no dine in option. All orders are made to-go. Staff and service are friendly and quick. If there happens to be a delay, you might be lucky enough to snag a seat while you wait.

Not an everyday option, but definitely will be in rotation when I am missing my mom's breakfast and can't jump on flight to see her fast enough.

Just A Note:

Closed on Mondays. Opens @...