Along with the Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park and the serene hiking trails in Inwood Hill Park, the uptown Manhattan neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood are home to a number of intriguing restaurants.
Tapas are served upstairs and downstairs at this new Latino restaurant, which is done in exotic woods and onyx. The bar on the ground floor leads into a churrascaria, with all the meat-grilling action visible through big windows on the street.
Upstairs there is a tequila and rum bar.
The chef de cuisine, Jorge Adriazola, is taking his direction from Ricardo Cardona, the executive chef, with a menu that explores Central and South America.
(212) 923-8269; 1004 St.
Nicholas Avenue (West 191st Street); $; Article: 1/26/06.
This Dominican restaurant, with the slogan “Un cuadrangular en sabor” (“A home run of flavor”), is a favorite hangout of Dominican baseball players and their fans. The menu offers dozens of dishes named after Latino ballplayers, based on what they order when they visit, and lists their preferred side dishes.
A footnote on the menu assures customers that each player has authorized his own dish before lending his name.
(212) 568-5323; 1 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park; $$; Article: 8/22/01.
A few minutes’ walk from the medieval complex at the Cloisters, this 1930’s limestone structure with chiseled arches near the park’s southern entrance was restored to elegance five years ago.
The renovated building houses the New Leaf Café, a cool, airy oasis, its dark oak contrasting with pale green walls. Profits from the restaurant help maintain the park.
The menu includes pan-roasted filet of salmon with lime coriander broth, tiger shrimp, fregola and asparagus; and grilled rib-eye steak with beer-battered Vidalia onions and ancho chili sauce.
(212) 569-7071; 4946 Broadway (207th Street); $; Article: 12/15/02.
Inwood was once home to many Irish immigrants. Piper’s, one of the area’s few surviving Irish pubs, serves pub food like Irish nachos (French fries with cheese and bacon), terrific burgers, hot wings and a fish lunch special on Fridays.
(212) 927-7011; 3938 Broadway (164th Street); $; $25 and Under: 3/8/00.
This small, bright place serves food of the Hispanic Caribbean: Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Flavors are powered by garlic, bell peppers and annato rather than the heat of chilies.
September 3, 2006
17 W. 125th St., between Fifth Ave.
and Lenox Ave.; 212-876-9300
The name comes from Jamaica’s Montego Bay, but this uptown joint is actually as indebted to the American South as it is to the Caribbean. Amid sand-colored walls, you’ll hear gospel, jazz, R B, and reggae while supping on barbecued beef ribs and curried goat or sipping on local brew Sugar Hill and the smoky Harlem Mojito—which substitutes cognac for rum.
At the “coupling table” bar, get ready to talk to your neighbor: Patrons are seated directly across from each other.
288 Lenox Ave., between 124th St.
and 125th St.; 212-427-0253
An historically attuned renovation in 2000 re-emphasized that this zebra-striped, Art Deco lounge deserves its landmark status. Opened in 1939, the cathedral of jazz once hosted Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane and currently delivers marquee names like Hank Johnson and Carrie Jackson for a reasonable $10-$20.
The small but competent kitchen spins out popular soul-food dishes like fried whiting or Southern fried chicken with sides of macaroni and cheese and sweet potatoes. One caveat: When things pick up, the service gets slow.
2367 Fredrick Douglass Blvd.
, at 127th St.; 212-222-8338
With specialty drinks like the Frangelico-infused Harlem Hazelnut and a chocolate martini named for Frederick Douglass, Revival trumpets its neighborhood pride with sass. By day, the space operates as a popular restaurant; at night, the happy-hour crowd gathers for half-price well drinks and beers (Mondays through Saturdays, 5 p.
m. to 7 p.m.
) alongside the Cajun cuisine. Every Friday evening, the 1,000-square-foot lounge next door opens so locals can alternate between dancing and trying their luck at karaoke.
2210 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
, at 119th St.; 212-665-8081
Though it doesn’t feature live music, a hard-thumping sound system keeps the beats coming at this sleek, upscale nightclub. You’re going to get frisked before you get frisky on the dance floor, but don’t be put off by the gruff bouncers or the weekend’s two-drink minimum.
Inside, the wait staff is helpful and friendly, and the salsa, reggae, and hip-hop is a blast.
553 Manhattan Ave. at 123rd St.
; 212-666-8500
This corner jazz club may sport a quiet exterior, but looks can be misleading. Beyond the apartment-like façade and awning, musicians like organists Seleno Clarke and Nathan Lucas perform, while on the weekends a D.J.
spins a mix of hip-hop and jazz a floor below. The extensive jukebox on the first floor is loaded with classic and modern R B. As patrons at the bar are often called up to perform a song or two with the band, you’re going to feel like you’ve discovered a secret—and with zero cover—a priceless one at that.
November 6, 2005
Not long ago, dining in Harlem or East Harlem meant soul food or a neighborhood Latin place. These days, diners can find everything from Mexican-French to healthy Chinese.
(212) 426-3800; 308 Lenox Avenue (125th Street); $; $25 and Under: 5/31/00.
This handsome Creole restaurant would do any New Orleans native proud. Bayou looks like countless other neighborhood bars and grills, but its big picture windows and second-floor setting offer an unusual New York panorama. The short menu includes crawfish étouffée, shrimp Creole and deep-fried catfish.
Views of the Hudson distinguish this spacious restaurant with a terrace. Christopher Faulkner, formerly the sous-chef at Town, combines cuisines that are typical of Harlem and are long on seafood in dishes like Charleston crab and lobster cakes with shaved cucumber, red onion and fresh cilantro salad, and guacamole tartar sauce. The dining room becomes the Pearl Club for late-night jazz.
Michelle Jean, who set Butter in NoLIta in motion, just opened this Chinese restaurant, emphasizing healthful recipes by James Marshall, formerly at China Grill. The current menu includes entree selections like grilled marinated spicy tofu; ginger sizzling beef with bok choy; and shrimp with garlic sauce and Chinese eggplant.
This cozy room is done in warm wood and tile and has a copper bar.
Tea and light food are served, including a classic afternoon tea on Saturday with sandwiches and pastries. Wine and beer are also served.
(212) 410-7292; 169 East 106th Street (Lexington Avenue); $; $25 and Under: 11/14/01.
Everything seems to move to a beat at this convivial Puerto Rican restaurant where the food is hearty and satisfying, particularly the beef stew, tender meat teamed with peppers and onions; and arroz con pollo, smoky baked chicken with a mass of yellow rice.
(212) 423-0255; 1575 Lexington Avenue (101st Street); $; $25 and Under: 4/19/04.
Anselmo Bello s Mexican-French bistro cooking is quiet and engaging.
He takes the bistro repertory and adds Mexican touches that tweak the dishes in unexpected directions but do not overwhelm them. Typical of Mr. Bello s gentle approach is an appetizer of steamed mussels, subtly different in their spicy broth of tequila, lime juice and serrano chilies.
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