Gothamist: Death Knell for Harlem Soul Food?

LillyBelle

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:44:20 -0500

Just to add to bclm's comment, Harlem has quite a few vegan restaurants--considering that vegan fare isn't ubiquitous anywhere--two of which are owned by the same guy. There's the Uptown Juice Bar, on 125th between 5th and Lenox (Jamaican-style vegan cuisine and an excellent fruit and vegetable juice bar); there's Cafe Veg on Adam Clayton Powell just above 131st (cheap and delish); Vida Saludable on 139 between B'way and 139; Raw Soul mentioned above at 145; Strictly Roots on Adam Clayton Powell and 123rd(?), etc. The list is long and (hopefully) getting longer. As someone who enjoys a (mostly) meatless diet but loves the occasional soul food dish, I think the real tragedy is how foods that used to be comforting (and are incredibly cheap to prepare) have become so exorbitantly expensive as to be for tourists only. Spoonbread is great, but bring your wallet. That said, if my choices are dodgy health records or ridiculous prices, I'll just fry up some chicken at home.

stereotypical

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:56:58 -0500

This really blows. Every restaurant, grocery store, bar, bodega, you name it has roaches. Most restaurants keep all their supplies in a basement which is definitely a den for rats, mice, and an assortment of 'bugs.' The only difference is that most places pay off Health Dept. inspectors or they're down with the mob and the Health Dept. doesn't touch them. The economy has gone to shit so now people can't afford the pay the inspectors off.

Papercutninja

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:05:46 -0500

AWESOME. Now the Cheescake Factory can move in and all the Ohioans can feel at home.

bclm

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:04:35 -0500

"What Harlem needs is a good vegan restaurant. I think vegan would do very well in Harlem." I live in Harlem and there is a vegan raw food place down the street from me apartment-and it's been there for years. I don't see why one has to replace the other-why can't you just sometimes eat the boring salad and then sometimes have a cool soul food feast? Everything in moderation. Soul food is part of the old Harlem culture and it tastes incredible. I don't want to see these places die off.

Internet Handle

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:46:51 -0500

Charles' had the absolute best fried chicken I've ever tasted, and absolutely perfect mac and cheese. I have never found anything to match. Granted, I haven't eaten in the South, but I'm sure it would hold up there as well.

The Edge

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:55:29 -0500

Do people really think rats and roaches don't come out to play when everyone's away?

Barbj8

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:26:08 -0500

Charles' Southern Style Kitchen... food so good it made me cry. I'd put up with a few violations to eat there.

ides_of_march

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:22:20 -0500

Is it too late fo Chef Ramsay to come and straighten them out? It would make a damn good episode of Kitchen Nightmares. I wonder if they ran afoul of Bloomberg's anti-trans fat jihad.

calcetines

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:03:18 -0500

Fuck the Health Department...

matukonyc

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:03:13 -0500

The closing of the M&G actually made me cry today... great food, great people.

HUGO_MEGO

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:49:38 -0500

One less greasy fried food restaurant in the city can't be a bad thing could it? What Harlem needs is a good vegan restaurant. I think vegan would do very well in Harlem.