I’ve noticed that a lot of readers have landed on this site as result of searching for A Taste of Harlem. While I think that it is a wonderful thing that Harlem has a festival like A Taste of Harlem, I am a little dishearten that it only includes 12 restaurants. My concern is that the same dozen that people are familiar with get business while newer restaurants that could use the extra publicity are left to fend for themselves in the shadow of what are dubbed the top 12.
In all fairness, there are a number of newer restaurants on this years list. The offer of $20.06 for three courses is a reasonable price and gives people who may otherwise not try the restaurants a chance to experience something other than the standard favorites.
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I would like to see A Taste of Harlem either extend the offer to all of the restaurateurs in the area or adopt the model of other “A Taste of…” festivals where the restaurants set up booths for a day or two and patrons sample the culinary delights in exchange for tickets they have purchased.
The latter model is different from the Harlem Week street festival that typically takes place along 135th Street. Many of the vendors who set up for Harlem Week are rarely businesses within the immediate community. The other problem is that there is not enough variety in the foods being offered. Many of the stands at the Harlem Book Fair and Harlem Week feature the same out-of-town vendors serving fried fish or Caribbean food.
The 2006 A Taste of Harlem festival features an additional 5 restaurants from the original 7 that participated last year. “Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone honored the people and the businesses of Harlem by offering a tasteful affair highlighting seven of the community’s many exceptional eateries. ‘A Taste of Harlem,’ co-sponsored by NYC & Company, invited individuals to visit a variety of Harlem’s top restaurants for special prix-fixe dinners for only $20.05. ‘A Taste of Harlem’ offered diners a chance to enjoy French, Mediterranean & Continental cuisine at Terrace in the Sky; Classic soul food at Sylvia’s; Contemporary cuisine at Harlem Grill; Southern fare at Amy Ruth’s; American Comfort food at Melba’s Restaurant; Creole cuisine at Le Café Creole, and French-American cuisine infused with other influences at Revival Restaurant.” [2005 Action Report]
Tuesday, 22nd – Sunday, September 3rd
August 29 to September 10
“A Taste of Harlem”
You are invited to dine at a dozen (12) Upper Manhattan’s best and most diverse restaurants for a discounted price of $20.06 for lunch or diner.
For more information please call (212) 862-7200 212-862-8477
The 2006 A Taste of Harlem participants include:
| Londels Supper Club | 2620 Frederick Douglass Blvd.New York, NY 10030 | 212.234.0601 |
| Melba’s Restaurant | 300 West 114th Street New York, NY 10026 |
212.864.7777 |
| Pier 2110 Restaurant | 2110 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd New York, Ny 10027 |
212.280.7437 |
| Sylvias Restaurant | 218 Malcolm X Blvd. New York, NY 10027 |
212.996.0660 |
| Dinosaur Bar-B-Que | 646 West 131st Street New York, NY 10027 |
212-694-1777 |
| Le Café Creole Restaurant | 2167 Third Avenue New York, NY 10035 |
212-876-8838 |
To view the full list of restauants visit: 98.7 KISS FM
Schedule: 2006 Harlem Week
Related: A Taste of… festivals around the country
A Taste of Cincinnati :: A Taste of Buffalo :: A Taste of Chicago :: A Taste of Georgetown :: A Taste of Atlanta :: A Taste of Baltimore :: A Taste of Charlotte :: A Taste of St. Louis :: A Taste of Chinatown :: A Taste of Tribeca ::
Emmett Causey
August 25, 2006
The Taste of Harlem date are August 29 to September 10. If you need additional information on any of the HARLEM WEEK events, please call Emmett Causey at 212-862-8477.