The long awaited Harlem Shake restaurant is finally open to the public today, offering a tasty menu that includes griddled burgers, New York-style hot dogs, and hand-spun shakes.  Located on the corner of Lenox Avenue and 124^th street, Harlem Shake gets its inspiration from Harlem’s rich culture and energy, as well as the iconic “original” Harlem Shake dance. The idea for the restaurant was in fact developed before the recent Harlem Shake viral video craze, but all of that free publicity and awareness doesn’t hurt.

I was welcomed for a preview of Harlem Shake the other day by co-owner Jelena Pasic, who was very excited to show the interior which features a retro design by Dennis Decker. It definitely gave off an old school diner vibe, which will be unique to the area. I got a kick out of the eye-catching “Wall of Fame” which featured an impressive collection photographs signed by a bunch of well known stars,  as well as Harlem Shake’s restroom with walls that showcase vintage covers of JET magazine.

After scoping out the joint, I was ready to taste the goods. I went with the spicey “Hot Mess Burger” with hand-cut fries and a “Red Velvet Shake” which had bits of Red Velvet cake in it, and yes it was as delicious as it sounds. I sat in one of the comfortable booths right next to “Miss Harlem Shake,”  a life-sized lenticular photo of Harlem resident and fashion model Shannon Thornton. Harlem Shake is a great place to take a date, or eat with friends, but at about $8.00 a burger (without fries) it is a bit expensive to take the family and kids out to eat after a movie.

According to Harlem Shake, other delights on the menu include the signature Harlem Classic – two 2-ounce custom blend Pat la Frieda beef patties ground fresh daily and griddled smashed-style for crisp browning and served on a toasted Martin’s Potato Roll with house-made condiments. Specialties also include the Pigskin Classic topped with crisp fried pork rinds and the Jerk Fry Burger topped with jerk-seasoned, triple-cooked fries and smoked jerk mayo, as well as juicy turkey burgers and house-made vegan burgers. Let’s not forget the New York-style all-beef hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheeses/melts, kale and legume salads, and fries hand cut from Kennebec or sweet potatoes.

Old-school, handcrafted milkshakes are said to be made with whole, all-natural ingredients, and local products like ice cream from Blue Marble, organic milk from New York Fresh Milk, and peanut butter from Peanut Butter & Co., as well as seasonal fruit and hand-spun additions like house-made salted caramel sauce and malt. Sticking with a vintage diner theme, Harlem Shake also has a nice selection of vintage real sugar sodas and regional specialty sodas including Cheerwine Cherry Soda, Vernor’s Detroit Ginger, Foxson Park Birch Beer, along with a selection of draft beers and house wines.

Harlem Shake’s Jelena Pasic also mentioned that they expect to open an outdoor seating area in the near future, which will make this a nice new spot in Harlem this summer.

 “Our aim is to celebrate the soul of the neighborhood and reinvigorate modern Harlem with a bit of nostalgia and a nod to pop culture,” explains Pasic. “Not to mention, bring residents and visitors high-quality, affordable offerings in a welcoming environment.”

Welcome to the neighborhood Harlem Shake!

It’s time for the 2nd annual Harlem FOOD & DRINK BOULEVARD evening of events on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, this year set to take place on Thursday, May 2nd at participating restaurants along FDB from 111^th to 123^rd streets, from 6pm-10pm.  Cost is $5 in advance and $10 at the door.

Frederick Douglas Boulevard Alliance Food & Drink Boulevard Event details:

The Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance Invites You To:

FOOD & DRINK BOULEVARD

Summer Kick-Off and Evening of Food, Cocktails, Music & Entertainment on Harlem’s Restaurant Row

Thursday, May 2, 2013

6:00PM-10:00PM

Frederick Douglass Blvd

From 111^th –  123rd Streets

Tickets:

Drink, appetizer & special promotions

$10.00 at the door

2-for-1 in advance

A portion of each purchase benefits the Food Bank of New York.

Featuring:

1.     Savann Restaurant 

2280 Frederick Douglass Blvd

b/t 123^rd – 122^nd Sts

2.     Chocolat

2217-23 Frederick Douglass Blvdat 120^th St

3.     Bad Horse Pizza

2224 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 120^th St

4.     Vinateria

2211 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 119^th St

5.     Cédric

185 St. Nicholas Ave at 119^th St

6.     Lido

2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 117^th St

7.     Levain Bakery

2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd b/t 117^th & 116^th Sts

8.     Harlem Tavern

2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 116^th St

(Bracelet pick up)

9.     Melba’s

300 W 114^th St at 114^th St

10.  Harlem Food Bar

2131 Frederick Douglass Blvd b/t 114^th & 113^th Sts

11.  Bier International

2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd b/t 114^th & 113^th Sts

12.  67 Orange Street

2082 Frederick Douglass Blvd b/t 112^th & 113^h Sts

13.  5 & Diamond

2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd b/t 112^th & 113^h Sts

Spring Bank

2049 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 111^th St

(Bracelet pick up)

About The Film:

Changing Face of Harlem is a film told from the voices of longtime residents, business owners, politicians, developers, and clergy about the dreams and struggles of a neighborhood. The film explains Harlem’s intricate history so you can comprehend the complexity and height of emotions that Harlem citizens express today. If you weren’t aware, Harlem is undergoing a huge rebirth and revival just like many other urban communities of color. Identified as The Black Mecca, the birthplace of the renaissance, and also depicted as a crime-infested ghetto, Changing Face of Harlem takes a critical look at how Harlem has undergone its present transformation.

Ginny’s Supper Club is located  between 125th and 126th street and Lenox Avenue, underneath Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster restaurant.

Related articles

• New Harlem Condominium going up – 240 Manhattan Avenue at 110th Street
• Harlem Renaissance Map and Poster Guide

Location – 2217-13 Frederick Douglas Blvd at 120th Street.

Saturday, October 20th 2012

Ginny’s Supper Club – Get Tickets

310 Lenox Avenue at 125th street.

Sets are at 8pm and 10:30pm, $10 admission

Related articles

• Whole Foods East Harlem Confirmed
• Belle Harlem Restaurant looks to open soon…with your help

Harlem Harvest Festival Schedule is as follows:

ON STAGE PROGRAMMING

Check-out this video presentation of Belle Harlem, and get ready for a new casual dining restaurant that will focus on “southern classics with a modern vision with touches of French, Italian, Moroccan and Asian.”

Related articles

• 6th annual Harlem Arts Advocacy Week
• “Harlem in the City” Festival runs October 1 – 7

Savor The Season – UPTOWN ticket Info:

Early Bird VIP Tickets are available until September 5th at a discounted rate of $250, and include a private reception with Chef Marcus Samulesson ( Price at the door $275).

Early Bird General Admission Tickets are available until September 5th at a discounted rate of $125, and include food and wine tasting & raffle prizes (Price at the door $145).

To pay by check: Make check payable to Harvest Home Farmer’s Market, write # of tickets in Memo and mail to –  Savor the Season, Harvest Home Farmer’s Market, Inc, 104-106 East 126th Street, Unit 4A, New York, NY 10035

Participating Savor the Season Uptown!  restaurants from East, Central and West Harlem include:

Creole Restaurant and Music Supper Club

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

5 And Diamond

Jin Ramen

Le Monde

Levain Harlem

Melba’s

Mobay Catering

Red Rooster

Tonnie’s Minis

Related articles

• 2012 Harlem International Film Festival – September 19-23
• Old Harlem, New Harlem: Images of Transformation