Harlem Tavern
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Ended up here on a whim just walking around Harlem on a Friday night. It was busy, however got seated upon arrival without a reservation. We sat on the outside covered area and the noise level was a bit much. Just be aware, not sure if in the proper restaurant/indoor area if it's any better. Our waitstaff seemed to be absent minded wondering around and wasn't good at checking in on us. We ended up having to call him over after he passed by multiple times without even looking to see if we needed anything. To the point where we ended up ordering double drinks as we weren't sure when the waitstaff would return. The food was delicious. And honestly the savior of the review as the service left little to desire. Ordered the Pot of Mussels (2 ways...did the White and Spicy Tomato), I've only had in white sauce while my counterpart only had in tomato. I maybe bias but the white sauce is wayyy better. For mains ordered the Truffle burger (I love me some truffle) and the Codfish Po'boy sandwich. Ended up splitting both in half and sharing the other 1/2 with one another as they were so good. The burger was cooked perfectly and not overwhelmed with truffle and the codfish po'boy was crispy with the lettuce, tomato, mayo and the bread all adding to the flavor. I would go back and sit in another section to see if the service is the same all around or if we just had an off night for the gentleman.
Angela BrownAngela Brown
10
Maybe their night life is better than their day time lunch hours. I called ahead to see if they serve turkey burgers and was happy to hear that they do! I walked in around 2PM and the energy and hospitality was lack luster, as I was told to seat myself wherever. Initially I went to the bar where I was told happy hour does not begin until 4PM and only drinks will be served. So, I find a quiet spot in the corner between the threshold of the bar and dining room. The water glasses are already facing right side up on the table, and visibly dirty. I just asked for a clean glass, no problem. I’ll take partial responsibility for the fact that I was served a turkey burger with pork bacon on it. I ordered blindly without reading the menu, but I feel as though I should’ve been informed by my knowledgeable waitress. Regardless, I sent it back knowing they were just going to remove the bacon from my burger and reassemble it accordingly. To my dismay, my burger comes back with a hair on the plate. Mind you, it’s only 2PM. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional but at this point the cleanliness of this establishment is a cause for concern. In the end my meal was compensated, and I was no longer planning to leave this review due to their effort to rectify the situation. However, the opportunity presented itself when I was notified to leave a review😅
YanaYana
10
Been coming hear for years and the service has not been the same after the pandemic so have to downgrade my rating. The latest: Met a long time friend for drinks and dinner last minute and was glad the Tavern was scheduled to close at 12am (according to their website) , however, on this day everything was shut down by 11:30pm latest. I mean the music was abruptly turned-off, last-call was called, doors were closed, televisions cut off and frankly, killed our entire vibe and conversation and felt so rushed. To add insult to injury, they place the shut off TV directly in our line of sight, blocking our already obstructed view. 😡 I've eaten at restaurants all over the United States and usually restaurants don't do this until the stated time to close (12am according to their website) and even then allow customers to enjoy their meal and not just shut the music & TV off and turn the bright lights on. In the end, we cut our meal short (had no choice really) and took our half-eaten meals to-go, only to throw the enite thing in the garbage once we got home, due to cold and having to reheat the meals. Until they get back to their prepandemic standards, I'll be going across the street to Bistro Blvd.
Johnny PerezJohnny Perez
30
Let’s keep it short and sweet. Happy Hour is now 4-7 despite a sign saying 4-9pm. Buffalo wings are not buffalo. Tastes like hot sauce and a touch of sugar. What buffalo sauce is sweet? The wings are not crispy. They’re like pre-cooked then reheated with sauce. Definitely not freshly fried. This is sad because wings are so simple. Fried calamari was mediocre and not flavorful. It’s missing something and poorly breaded. They brought it out 2 mins after we ordered so maybe it’s from a box tbh. Short rib was pretty good. Potatoes were good and the rib was tender. It needed a little more spice though, it depended too much on the sweet sauce. Service was okay, maybe a little rushed because it’s so busy. They’re definitely understaffed. $75 including tip for 1 appetizer, 1 entree, 2 drinks. Definitely not worth it. I do not understand how their drinks are $14 in this area—we are not way downtown. It was too early for the music to be blasting the way it was. This is NOT the place to have a conversation. Great place to go by yourself for the loud atmosphere if thays you’re thing and watch the game.
Keh ElleKeh Elle
40
Good fun place with friends or a date. I surprised a date and took her here on a Saturday night. When we first pulled up she thought it was a place for an outside mass. Inside is a large interior with big screen TVs on everywhere you turn. The DJ was an A+ in my book mixing old school R&B joints and had the place thumping. The waitress we had was very nice and friendly. The food and the atmosphere was off the hook. Beef ribs seem to sell out quick but I was satisfied with fried chicken and white country gravy with math potatoes. The drinks however left much to be desired and tasted watered down compared to other places where you can get stronger drinks for half as much. I also wasn't a fan of them including the gratuity into the bill. I was impressed with the closet style single restrooms and a towel girl who hands you paper towels after you wash your hands. All in all expect to spend about $100 or so just for drinks and dinner for two. I would definitely come here again but not in a frequent basis.
Sparkz MentalzSparkz Mentalz
10
The service at Harlem Tavern is the WORST dining experience I have ever had. I have been to Harlem Tavern multiple times and their quality of service is always horrible but my most recent experience was ABYSMAL. We saw in the restaurant for 2 hours waiting for our food to be served. When it arrived, our salmon was cold and uncooked on the inside. We ordered food to go for our family which came out incorrectly. We asked to speak to the manager, saw our waiter communicate this, and the manager couldn't spare 5 minutes to speak with us. Harlem Tavern shows no care for their customers, the quality of their food or other people's time. We would have been better off going to Chipotle than spending $150 on subpar service and uncooked food. There are too many good restaurants in Harlem to waste your money on such an unprofessional and inconsiderate establishment. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE. Better Harlem Restaurants: BLVD Bistro Vineteria Lolo's Lido Indian Summer Sotto Casa
Dannie HenryDannie Henry
20
Nearby Attractions Of Harlem Tavern
Apollo Theater
AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9
Marcus Garvey Park
Morningside Park
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
Marshalls
Columbia University
Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market
Westside Market NYC
H&M

Apollo Theater
4.6
(3.6K)Click for details

AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9
3.9
(2.7K)Click for details

Marcus Garvey Park
4.3
(2.1K)Click for details

Morningside Park
4.5
(2K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Harlem Tavern
Red Rooster Harlem
Amy Ruth's
Melba's Restaurant
Harlem Shake
Corner Social
Chocolat Restaurant & Bar
The Hungarian Pastry Shop
BLVD Bistro NY
Angel of Harlem
Levain Bakery – Harlem, NYC

Red Rooster Harlem
4.4
(3K)Click for details

Amy Ruth's
4.3
(2.7K)Click for details

Melba's Restaurant
4.3
(1.9K)Click for details

Harlem Shake
4.2
(1.8K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026
Map
Phone
(212) 866-4500
Call
Website
harlemtavern.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.1
(2K reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
Description
Corner tavern/beer garden with extensive food & drink menus in a spacious indoor/outdoor setting.
attractions: Apollo Theater, AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9, Marcus Garvey Park, Morningside Park, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, Marshalls, Columbia University, Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market, Westside Market NYC, H&M, restaurants: Red Rooster Harlem, Amy Ruth's, Melba's Restaurant, Harlem Shake, Corner Social, Chocolat Restaurant & Bar, The Hungarian Pastry Shop, BLVD Bistro NY, Angel of Harlem, Levain Bakery – Harlem, NYC
