East Harlem Restaurants

Piatto d’Oro
Café Ollin
Earl’s Beer and Cheese
Joy Burger
Moustache
El Paso
Patsy's Pizzeria
Aurum
Walkerswood Caribbean Restaurant
Savoy Bakery
Yo In, Yo Out
The Duck
Orbit
Ricardo Steak House

Earl's in New York Press

I'm very excited to have my review of Earl's Beer and Cheese, the new bar that opened on Park Ave between 97th and 98th aves, in the latest issue of New York Press.

If you haven't been to Earl's yet, perhaps this preview of the piece will entice you:

If the allure of microbrews and the 1970s basement vibe isn't enough to draw you uptown, perhaps the seasonal pickle plate ($6) and selection of local cheeses ($9-$15)—what Earl's humbly calls "bar food"—will. Cescari and co-owner Adam Clark originally thought they'd serve only cheese-focused bar food, but when they gave free reign over the menu to chef Corey Cova, who recently spent time in Momofuku Ssam Bar, the menu was upgraded. Cova is constantly trying out new dishes, but one semi-regular standout is the Beer-Cheese ($6). Inspired by a dish Cova had in a beer hall in Prague, it's a basket of toast with raw garlic to rub over it, served with a spicy cheddar and cream ale sauce. Another standout is the grilled cheese with cheddar, kimchi, pork belly and a fried egg ($8).

Earl's Beer and Cheese
1259 Park Ave
(between E. 97th & E. 98th sts.)
212-289-1581

Update: Either Yo In, Or Yo Out

As of late December 2010, Yo in, Yo Out now has a liquor license. French food and wine...is there anything better?


Your Neighborhood French Bistro

Speaking of French bistros. Oh, we weren't? Sorry, I'm always thinking of French Bistros. I am a lover of all things French, and now we have another piece of France in East Harlem (have you been to any of the French bakeries around?). An adorable bistro/coffee shop has opened on Lexington. It's been open for only a week or so, but I can see it growing into a great spot for coffee, brunch or a small meal. The decor is whimsical: old-fashioned chandeliers, oversized coffee cups with fun designs and a ceiling painted blue with puffy clouds. I know that East Harlem is called Spanish Harlem, but the area is full of ex-pats from France as well as Puerto Rico and Mexico. We were surrounded by French speakers at this bistro – definitely adding to an authentic French vibe.



Location: 1569 Lexington Ave, between 100th and 101st Sts

Phone: (212) 987-5350

Recommended Dishes/Drinks: Chevre Roti au Miel (Goat Cheese Salad), Truffle Croque Monsieur and Chocolate Chaud (Hot Chocolate)

Average Dish Price: $9

-Gloria

Spring Saturday, East Harlem

Last Saturday Sam and I took advantage of the perfect weather and spent time outside having a fun-filled East Harlem day. We started the day with the One Harlem Community Service Day volunteer program I wrote about earlier on the blog. We were assigned work at the Modesto "Tin" Flores Garden on Lexington between 104th and 105th St. We planted flowers and did general clean up in the garden. I'm definitely going to go back and see how our flowers are doing in the next few weeks.
Afterwards we had brunch at Orbit and walked around the neighborhood listening to the ice cream truck music and watching spontaneous sidewalk parties erupt.





Hard at work in the garden



Sam and I celebrated a morning of hard work over Blue Moons at Orbit


NYC Green Cart on 110th and 3rd Ave.


Dusk in East Harlem

-Gloria

Aurum

NOW CLOSED

East Harlem Mediterranean



A fan of the blog (yes a fan!) suggested we check out Aurum, a Mediterranean restaurant on First Ave. We were excited to try it out, there aren't many Mediterranean restaurants in the area. We went late – around 10pm – on Saturday night for dinner. The restaurant is painted deep burgundy with exposed brick walls and is decorated with photos from local artists with lots of shots from around the neighborhood.

The food was fantastic: classic Mediterranean dishes and great wine. After being seated we were served rosemary seasoned bread, pickled hot peppers in olive oil and feta cheese. After wolfing that down we ordered a Mediterranean Salad with mixed greens – it was perfect and fresh. I ordered the Linguini Seafood which was subtle and seasoned perfectly. But the ribs, I would be amiss if I did not mention the ribs. Sam ordered the Braised Short Ribs, he waxed on poetically about them until I had to try them myself. These ribs were perfect – falling apart in all the right ways and totally worthy of Sam's praise.

They are hoping to have their back patio ready for seating this summer.

Location:
2252 First Avenue
(btwn 115th and 116th St.)

Phone: (646) 719-1157

Recommended Dishes/Drinks: Mediterranean Salad, Braised Short Ribs. Linguini Seafood Pasta

Average Dish Price: $14-$25

Aurum

-Gloria

Walkerswood Caribbean Restaurant

Ate at Walkerswood Caribbean Restaurant for lunch today, on 2nd Ave between 109/110. They have a daily lunch special with a couple of options from the menu for only $6. I tried several items from the lunch special - the BBQ chicken and the curry goat, as well as a chicken patty.

The chicken patty was great, the pastry was light and fresh and the filling delicious (and only a buck seventy five). The BBQ chicken was good, I got it with rice and beans and veggies. It was sweet, which i don't normally care for, but this was really good and tender and juicy - real chicken although with lots of little bones. The curry goat was good as well, although a little dry. I would have preferred it with more sauce, but it was quite spicy and great with a beer.

The restaurant itself is incredibly plain, half white walls, half sky blue with just a couple of tables. You order from a really nice guy in a little booth/kitchen in the back of the restaurant. I would definitely suggest checking out Walkerswood, grab it to go, pick up a couple of beers and try something you wouldn't normally order. -Sam

Location:
2135 2nd Ave (btwn 109/110th)
New York, NY 10029

Phone:
(212) 996-2310

Recommended Dishes/Drinks: BBQ Chicken w/ Rice & Beans

Average Dish Price: $9, Lunch Special $6

Savoy Bakery

When I stepped off the train the first time I'd come to East Harlem last summer, I admittedly had no idea what to expect. But not long after walking eastward on 110th I was quickly surprised to see a great little bakery called Savoy. Savoy is a bit of an anomaly on 110th, with its all-glass front, slate floors, brick walls, wood-crate bar stools and warm ambient lighting, you can't help staring in as you walk by. Once inside you'll find fun, colorful art on the walls, a long glass counter full of delicious baked goods, and cheerful hired hands that are happy to chat about Law & Order filming nearby or the walls in the Library next door falling in.

The food is quite good, although virtually everything is very bready. They have sweet and savory items alike, from regular items like croissants, danishes and cookies to curry beef puffs and pigs-in-a-blanket. The cakes and pies in the front counter look like they deserve to be hung on the walls with the rest of the art. Gloria thinks the coffee is a little too strong, I think it's perfect. And the best part of it all is the prices are very reasonable.

We've walked past Savoy on several occasions when the lights were dimmed, candles lit and curtains semi-drawn. You can book the bakery for a private party, they have a full kitchen and will work with you on planning a complete dinner. They also do catering if you are in the need of such services.

It's lucky Savoy does not have couches, the place feels so warm and comfortable I would have been asleep within 5 minutes on this chilly drizzly day. There may be a million places similar to Savoy throughout the city, but in East Harlem they're few and far between. There are great bakeries for sure throughout the neighborhood, but if you are on 110th Savoy is definitely worth popping into. -Sam


Location:
170 East 110th Street (btwn Lex/3rd Ave, 6 train to 110th)
New York, NY 10029

Phone:
(212) 828-8896
contact@savoybakery.com

Recommended Dishes/Drinks: Red Bean Danish, Pig-in-a-Blanket, Chocolate Eclair, Coffee

Average Dish Price: $1.50

Orbit

The Bar You'll Root For


NOTE: Restaurant is closed indefinitely for renovations.

You're not sure what to expect when you walk into Orbit, a bar and restaurant on the corner of 116th St. and 1st Ave. It could be a dive bar - dark wood-paneled walls and mismatched tables and chairs are the decor - but this bar has bigger dreams of grilled salmon, skirt steak and seafood fra diablo.

Orbit will welcome you with a friendly staff who seem to be on a first name basis with half of the patrons. They are a surrogate family of sorts, but like every family it has its issues – a forgotten drink here, an ambitious dish that doesn't quite make it there. But they are your family, so you root for them in their ups and downs. And like the best family they are always there for you with a round on the house.

Orbit serves generally good American fare, with an interesting hit-or-miss list of specials for the day. The addition of a weekend brunch menu is definitely welcomed in an area with few other options.

The restaurant has lots of entertainment options like live jazz and themed parties.

Location: 2257 1st Ave., at the corner of 116th St.

Phone: (212) 348-7818

Recommended Dishes/Drinks: Grilled Skirt Steak Sandwich, Chicharron de Pollo, for brunch the Breakfast Pasta or Comida de Puta.

Average Dish Price: $12

Orbit

-Gloria