Yall, I don't have a picture or NOTHING. A friend recommended this spot and OMG. The catfish nuggets!! I could barely keep my eyes open because they were so delicious. The Mac & Cheese, oxtails, southern chicken sandwich, and baby the egg rolls? My God toDAY. So lovey and smooth and comforting. Or waiter Brian was phenomenal, kind and a fantastic mixologist. Vibes were lovely, each song was the one. read more

I dont typically go for soul food often these days because the weight keeps on climbing, but I am happy that I finally got to try out this harlem staple and I would not mind going back Food: 9/10: It was juicy, the waffle didnt taste like egg nog but it was still delicious. The mac was everything I needed it to be. Overall some solid food. Drinks: 8/10 superrr strong which is good no complaints there, but overall it was too overpowering and you couldnt taste much of anything else. Service 6/10: considering there was barely any people there at the time we arrived service is extremelyyyyy slow my goodness. Our waiter was a sweetheart but seems like she was by herself running around table to table Ambiance: 6/10: This is not a place you go for the aesthetic if you're looking for a birthday restaurant etc, you go there to get your belly full and keep it pushing. But you will not be disappointed! read more

Melba's Restaurant - Lunch - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

This place is perfect for any occasion. The food is made to perfection. The service was professional. The space is fitting to the theme of the neighborhood and those who come to visit. Pass by whenever you are in town. Worth every penny and delicious bite. read more

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With all the good things I heard about this restaurant I did not expect to be so disappointed. The dish wear was foggy, the table service was slow and there was very little intention, kindness, and effort being put in by the whole staff. They say that they use the freshest ingredients and best chicken but just by taste alone i can tell the oil is being reused and that the chicken is cheap. The fish was nothing to write home about and regrettably so i tried a large variety of sides and they too were all sad soggy excuses for southern cooking. I can tell the chef is dissatisfied with the work he is doing, you can taste it-- read more

Loved Melba's! I stopped by for dinner with my uncle while visiting in town. I got the vegan mushroom pot pie and candied yams. It was both healthy and filling, and the candied yams were amazing!! read more

Melba's Restaurant - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

I was in Harlem all day and my friends, and I wanted to get some soul food. What better place to go than Melba's. Neither of us have been there, so we decided to give it a try. We arrived close to 4pm. That was the perfect time. No wait, and there were only 2 ppl inside. There were some customers eating outside, but it was much cooler indoors. The place was clean, and the music was at a tolerable level with some good R&B playing in the background. We were in the front of the restaurant near the windows, and the tables were kind of close together, but because it wasn't crowded it was not that bad. We looked at the menu and made our selections right away. Our server, Brian, was on it. He overheard us talking about what we wanted, he made recommendations, and the next thing we knew all of our food was out on the table HOT and READY. We had the catfish sandwich with fries, Charleston fried shrimp, collard greens, and Mac and cheese. Brian recommended the carrot cake and the yellow cake with chocolate icing. The catfish was hot and flavorful. The bun was fresh. The Mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy. It had a nice texture. I was skeptical of the collard greens because I have only ever eaten my mom's and grandmom's greens. Now listen y'all, the collards greens didn't taste like my mama's, but they were really good. They had a good taste, not gritty. Let's talk about the carrot cake. It was moist and warm. I could taste all the flavors. The butter cream icing was PERFECTION. You gotta get that when you go. My friend said the vanilla cake was very good as well. I finally know what all the hype was about. Melba's is the real deal!!!! read more

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Service is excellent! Our server is quick, efficient, and attentive. The host is adorable. The bbq short rib was delicious. The yams were perfect and the collard greens are my favorite!!! The rum punch is one of the main reasons I come to Melba's. MUST HAVE! My cousins loved their chicken sandwich and fried catfish so no complaints at all. read more

Melba's Restaurant - BBQ Braised Beef Short Rib - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

Very lively atmosphere. Visited a friend who lives up in Harlem and he took me here for lunch. Definitely would go back. Tried and would recommend the catfish app, turkey meatloaf, mac & cheese, and spinach. Spinach wasn't anything special but it was prepared well and the Mac & cheese was so so good. Usually not a meatloaf fan but I really enjoyed the it with the bbq sauce they top it with. Also tried the strawberry cocktail (I think with bourbon)-- normally not a fan of dark liquor but the server recommended it, so I gave it a try. Was very refreshing. Service was a LITTLE slow/inattentive but it was also super busy, so didn't really negatively impact the experience. Plus food came out quickly for how busy it was. Would definitely go back!! My friend said he would rank the food higher than Sylvia's (another soul food place in harlem) BUT thought it was a bit overpriced. But overall he was a fan, too. read more

This was our first time visiting, and we will definitely go back in the future. We walked to Melba's before the Apollo Amateur Night. The service was amazing, and the food was amazing, too. I definitely wished I had the collard greens instead of the mashed. The atmosphere was great and cozy. I tried the sangria, and it was wonderful. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes Tres Mac & Cheese Country Catfish - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

Now let me start off by saying I love New York it was my first time visiting and from the food to the bars everything was amazing! Melba's did not disappoint their drinks were good & the food AMAZING!!! The catfish was freaking delicious the collard greens TOOOOO GOOD & the sauce & garlic mashed potatoes was just amazing I need it again LMAO. If I could find something like this in the bay I would be there religiously. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Fried catfish - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

Let's start. I made my reservation on opendoor - got to the restaurant and they said they didn't have it. No problem the manager got us in. We were seated before everyone arrived which was nice. The ordering felt very hectic and I felt like we were rushed. We had to ask for water and straws. The wait staff continually reached over our food to pass plates/utensils etc. Now to the food. Incredible. Everything was seasoned well, the portions are amazing and the menu is creative. Although I ordered yams and not greens I was satisfied with my meal. I'd come back again I wasn't put out by the wait staff but I wish my first experience was amazing. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Fried chicken, Mac and cheese and collard greens - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

Listen I've been wanting to get back to Melba's since the last time I was there several years ago. Now I've done it and it's just as tasty as I remember. The food was hot and fresh. I did delivery this time and it still was hot and fresh. Only fish and chicken this time. It was late so I passed on the sweets read more

Melba's Restaurant - Melba's delivery bag - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

I've heard so much about this restaurant. I avoided coming here for so long because I wanted to sit down and enjoy my time. Unfortunately, my experience was not good. My girlfriend and I visited on Memorial Day. It was late in the afternoon , and there was a 15 minute wait time at the door. The place wasn't packed, but it was very loud. The inside was dark, and the tables were small. To our left was a very irritable group who kept asking for their food. That should have been a clear warning, but we stayed. After the table to our left flagged down a waitress, she came over to us to take our drink and food order. She told us that their POS system was down. She wrote down our order on our napkin. After an hour, we still didn't have our drinks. We didn't even have water. The table that was already there when we were seated was still waiting for their food. And, then a new waiter came and asked us for our order. Our original waiter never submitted our order, and we were ready for leave if it weren't for our second waiter. She was diligent and our appetizers and drinks started to roll out. Unfortunately, the food wasn't nearly as good as I hoped. There was no way that I could turn the experience around. I ordered the signature chicken with a side of potato salad and mash potatoes. The chicken was crispy, but I don't have anything else good to say about it. Both the potato salad were good but not spectacular. Overall, it was a bad experience. But, I don't think the experience is reflective of the restaurant. I'd like to think it was a bad night. I'll be back to check read more

Melba's Restaurant - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

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The food here was pretty decent overall, and the service inside was good although a bit slow as it seems they were a little overwhelmedand undestaffed. It was strange to wait 15 minutes outside to be seated for our reservation. The food delivered hough. The spring rolls were addictive. The black eyed peas hummus with cornbread was delicious and well-seasoned. The cornmeal dusted and fried deviled eggs were indulgent. The mushroom pot pie wasn't quite a pie, and was a bit too deconstructed although flavored well. The mac and cheese side is quite nice and decadent. I'd recommend going here if you're in the area as they do have a decent vegetarian selection. The ambiance is quite nice and I appreciate the music at the restaurant. It was a the right level, enjoyable but not too loud that you couldn't talk. read more

I went back today and they had my oxtails. I also had peas and rice with collard greens. The food is absolutely delicious.

10/10 loved the greens spring rolls were my personal favorite and the music definitely set the tone for my night. I had a solo date here last week and I can't wait to go back just to redo it with my girls. I felt like I was at my aunts house having some delicious soul food with a side of R&b! read more

Melba's Restaurant - Melba's Melba's Spring Rolls - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

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Came all the way from Dallas to check out Melba's. Definitely enjoyed the vibe as soon as I walked in. Great music, intimate setting, and loved the art on display all over the restaurant. I made reservations online and was seated within 2 mins of arriving. My server was excellent and checked in frequently. I started with the crab cakes which were amazing - definitely add this to your list! I was torn on the entree but ended up landing on the catfish with spinach and Mac n cheese. If I could do it over again I would not order the catfish or the spinach. It was good but not great. The Mac n cheese was hittin though! For dessert I tried the sweet potato pie. It was good but probably would have been better with ice cream to top it. Overall, great spot and I will return. I look forward to trying more items on the menu. read more

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The ambiance never fails. The Rum Punch needs some fixing. The short ribs are not the same. They could have been more tender. The catfish was good. read more

Loved! First time and it won't be the last. We had a craving for soul food and this hit the mark! The soul spring rolls were spectacular, the fried chicken crispy, the spinach was fine, although not my fave and the greens had too much sugar for my liking. That didn't however deter from the meal overall! My gf had the oxtails with mac n cheese which she loved! Highly recommend this spot and ask for Kenny! He does not play about his tables. Just go! read more

Melba's Restaurant - Soul Spring Rolls - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

Melba's Restaurant in New York, NY. @melbasharlem is an institution! Melba's Signature Chicken & Eggnog Waffles is a must! Insta: @thehungrysw read more

Melba's Restaurant - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

This place creates community through good food. Quality produce, good flavor combinations, affordable prices, and welcoming staff. Outstanding staff conduct. Everything on the menu is carefully planned. I'm completely loyal to Melba's Restaurant. read more

Food - chicken and waffles was really good. The eggnog in the waffles thru me off for a sec but it was really good. Chicken was okay. Next time, I would get the wings with the waffles. Oxtails were really good. Got rice and Mac n cheese as 2 sides. Mac n cheese was SUPER cheesy. Service - good, no complaints. Food came out really fast. Ambiance - was good, no complaints. Played good music in the background. Def will go back if I visit NYC again. read more

We came here for dinner. Melba's is a staple restaurant here in Harlem, and being from the South, I was looking forward to eating some comfort food. Apparently, Melba beat Bobby Flay with her chicken and waffles, so I would think that's your best bet when ordering food here. As an FYI, you can't sit until your full party arrives, but you have the option to sit at the bar while you wait. The place is fairly small, and they packed the restaurant with tables, so there's not a ton of room if you're on the taller side and want to stretch out our legs. This is definitely not the place for an intimate dinner, IMO. I ordered the oxtail, with the collard greens and yams as my sides. The oxtail was tasty, just very bony. I don't think I actually got a lot of meat. Both the greens and yams were delicious! Both were perfectly cooked and seasoned. I tried a bit of my friend's catfish and beef short ribs. The fish was good, if a bit salty. The short ribs were dry, IMO. The service was good as well. Overall, I enjoyed my meal here, but I found the food to be overpriced. However, I would definitely come back, if only to try the chicken and waffles read more

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I can't believe I didn't discover this place sooner! What a gem! The food is so delicious and flavorful. I ordered crab cakes with yams, Mac and cheese, and collard greens. The collard greens and yams are the best. They have decent sized bar to sit at or tables if you prefer. I didn't order a cocktail but I did have the Melba's skinny margarita. The owner has her own canned margarita!! It was super light but I felt a very nice buzz. It was perfect because I don't like feeling too tipsy and it has delicious flavor. I wish there was way to purchase them in store. read more

Got to Melba's in Harlem 40 minutes before our reservation and we waited about 5 minutes and were seated promptly. They were busy with dine in and carry out orders. It took us a few minutes for our server "Ole" to arrive but once she got here she at the top of her game. She asked us our names and then proceeded to give us a great walk through her favorites on the menu. She answered all our questions, and took our order promptly. I ordered chicken wings and waffles, and my wife ordered the catfish with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. My waffle was hot and tender and received the maple syrup like a champ. My wings were seasoned to perfection fresh out the fryer. I added a little hot sauce and I was in heaven. I apologize for no pictures. We dove right in after a short prayer. For dessert we ordered yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and sweet potato pie. My wife's catfish was totally delicious as described by her Had to wash my hands so went to the restroom. They were in terrible condition and need to be attended to on a regular basis. If I was a lady I would not want to use them. Overall experience food and service experience was awesome and I will definitely come back again. Ole did a spectacular job. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Bar @ Melba's - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

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I was very much disappointed the BBQ beef ribs were full of grease the membrane was still attached to th bone. The grease met up with my Mac n cheese. We had desert to go the chocolate cake was not homemade. The pricing for the quality of food was way too high. I went to celebrate my husbands Birthday what a disappointment. I will not be recommending this place to anyone, if you want quality don't go to Melba's. read more

Kenny was a great waiter. The environment was nice and inviting. The food was seasoned well And drinks were strong. read more

The service was a bit lackluster. There was a problem with their paying machine with my credit card. The waitress that was helping us was kinda rude! The food was pretty good, except for the yams being too sweet! read more

Service was good. We were seated immediately. Appetizer was served within 10 minutes. I had the Jamaican oxtail and they did not disappoint. My sister ordered fried catfish strips but had to return them as they had been fried in shrimp oil. She's allergic to shell fish. Overall a good experience. read more

I do not pass out 5 stars easily. Melba's deserved it for me- especially based on food. My son & I consider ourselves 'chicken & waffle connoisseurs'. We'd heard so much about Melba's that when we found ourselves touring Columbia University and found it was within walking distance we couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it. Listen up!!!!! Never have I had restaurant fried chicken wings that were so obviously marinated before frying. I mean, not just the batter. The whole wing in its entirety was well seasoned! Ok- you probably guessed by now but we ordered the eggnog waffles and fried chicken (all wing option (3)). The waffles were soft and yet crisp. The strawberry butter was so full of real berry flavor and tasted so fresh. Our server was very attentive and polite. So sorry I never got a pic of the food. We were too busy digging in. The sweet tea and the lemonade were equally delicious. The dining room is nothing fancy, maybe even a bit tired but didn't detract from the overall experience. The outdoor patio is very pretty and is located on a quiet street. Can't wait to return... read more

Melba's Restaurant - Outside - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

I been wanting to check this place for awhile and since I was coming to a show not too far away this was the perfect opportunity. I made reservations a few days prior and I'm glad I did since when I arrived there was a line out the door. We were seated promptly but it took awhile for a server to come to us. There was a wait between getting our menus and placing our order. The server apologized a few times and explained they were short staffed. I got the strawberry henny and it was very tasty but on the sweet side and not a lot of alcohol. For my meal I went with beef short ribs with collard greens and mac & cheese. My husband got the chicken and waffles. All of our food was amazing and the portions are a great size. I will be coming back for sure. read more

We had reservations for 7:30p. We tried to call to see if we can come earlier, but no one answered. When we arrived, we were about twenty minutes early. The entrance is narrow with no waiting area or host/hostess station. There were people standing by the entrance which made it hard to freely walk in. There was no one there to greet us and we stood there for a good twelve to thirteen minutes. We didn't know if there was a host/hostess checking for reservations. Another patron came in with their party and was just as confused. That party eventually left after waiting for about ten minutes. I then decided to stop one of the waitstaff and asked for a manager and explained that we've been waiting to be seated. They informed me that the manager is also the hostess and they will contact them to help us. When the manager/hostess approached us, I informed them about our reservations. She stated that our table would be ready shortly. We waited another eight minutes. We then were seated in an undesirable part of the room. Approximately a foot away or so from the bar. We thought the menu online looked more extensive than what we saw on the menu provided to us at the table. Water in a mason jar was given to us and we ordered the rum punch. Unfortunately, this establishment did not have Appleton Estate Rum to mix in with the rum punch. Once we ordered our food, it was served within about five minutes after we placed our order. We had the Chilean Sea Bass with A$AP Yams and collard greens. We also had beef short ribs, potato salad and sautéed spinach. The food was delicious minus the spinach which was bland. Also, the portion size of the Chilean Sea Bass was only about four inches long. That was rather disappointing. The food was better than Sylvia's Restaurant. The atmosphere was okay. The wait time experience was a turn off. We have no plans on ever returning. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

I went to Melba's yesterday evening with my bf & friend, overall we had a really good experience! We started off with the honey lemon chicken fingers & spring rolls. The chicken fingers were okay I don't think I would get it again, but the spring rolls amazing! The accompanying sauce was to die for. For drinks I opted for a margarita it was okay, my bf had the rum punch and that was really good. For our main courses I had the fried catfish with fries and onion rings. The catfish was super tasty I recommend it. My friend got yams, Mac, & mash. I'm usually not crazy about yams but they were pretty good. I also got to try the Mac & that was really out of this world. I try to stay away from dairy but that Mac was good! My bfs southern fried chicken (white meat) was also delicious! I appreciated the service, our waiter was helpful and attentive. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really homey. Price wise it's really decent 2 apps, drinks, & 3 full meals with multiple sides ran us $173 with tip to give you an idea. I would definitely return and recommend everyone give it a try at least once. I'm very curious about the waffles too so I might have to return for that. read more

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I know everything is premade, like turkey meatloaf, etc. But it took so long for my food to come out. I was the only customer! When it did come it was covered in the bbq sauce I guess for appearance. The greens were not warmed. And the potato salad dish on top of them made it even colder. The potatoe salad had a slight fishy taste. The meatloaf wasn't flavorful. The amount of bbq sauce covering it, I had to scrap off as it offered nothing. Just overly sweet. My seat was had crumbs from the night before, I had to wipe it with my hand before I sat down. Mind you the staff was totally chilling and dispersed when I arrived, four minutes after opening. The hot sauce on the table wasn't cleaned either from the night before. I used my napkin to open and pour it. I still left a decent tip, but really wish, they'd do better. This "fun" visit to Melba's, could have been good. But there's no management of front house staff. The prices are very high for soul food, so I would have hoped the service, cleanliness and food quality would be minimally met. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

Things to travel "far far away" for? Melba's. And more specifically, for their waffles. But seriously this was such an epic meal, one that I had been looking forward to all week long, and a place that a Harlem local suggested I try. I only wish they had a live band that Friday evening that we popped by, alas, we will just "have" to come again. We started with the rice and pea spring rolls (MUST order item), the deviled eggs (heaven), fried catfish (even more heavenly) and I got the sea bass with potato salad and yams that blew my mind. But wait, then we split a eggnog waffle, and all of us, couldn't believe how insanely delicious it was. Service was wonderful and I can't wait to come back again! read more

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One of the best meals ever. Where to begin? Super friendly staff & fantastic service even when the place was packed for new year's eve. The beet, arugula & cheese & pumpkin seed salad was perfection. The signature fried catfish & eggnog waffle was a pescetarian's dream new year's feast. The desserts...that coconut lemon cake. That red velvet cake. Thank goodness new year's resolutions start tomorrow. Chef's kiss! read more

Loved the garlic mashed potatoes and boiled spinach at Melba's, but was disappointed to find that there was no cornbread on the menu! ASAP yams were syrupy and indulgent but too sweet for my liking. I was told they're not too sweet but our definitions of that metric clearly differed. I felt rather hurried by the servers, maybe it was just the urgent nature of a popular restaurant but I'd like to have been left alone for longer as I savored the soul food. read more

Okay, I've been wanting to try these places for years! I just never had the urge to go uptown as I always lived in Brooklyn. Me and my friend who's also a fellow foodie promised ourselves that the next time we met up it would be at Melbas. So I was very nervous because of the mixed reviews that I saw. We decided to go anyway and see for ourselves which I'm glad we did. We didn't have a reservation but host was extremely nice and found seating for us in under 10 minutes. I suggest have a reservation because this place is packed. Food. 10/10 across the board. Listen to me when I tell you, the food is GOOD. I has the fried wings with mac n cheese and yams. The wings were fried to perfection and well seasoned. The mac n cheese was cheesy, tasty and creamy. The yams were nice and candied. I tried some of my friend's collard green and delicious. We also had the white sangria which was really strong but delicious as well. The servers were super friendly and warm. I would definitely come back again. read more

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This was one delicious dinner we had at Melba's. I had no complaints maybe my bestie for not having rice and peas. Yo they even gave us oxtail gravy on the side and it was a lot. The fried chicken breast was juicy and flavorful. I loved the greens had a bit of sweetness. I loved their homemade hot sauce. The catfish was fried perfectly. Didn't care too much for the sauce that came with. The spring rolls were good it was made with cheese, collards, rice, and black eyed peas. I'll be back soon. There is also another room when you ener which I didn't get to film with a small bar. Their portions are big and filling. read more

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I was impressed entirely! The staff here provides excellent service! The restaurant exceeds expected quality. The dining experience exceeded what we expected. This restaurant has my full attention now. read more