The food was amazing. Service was okay it was busy so I understand but we didn't get a hi, a smile, no eye contact, nothing from our waitress. And that was while she was serving us. She just walked up with her pen in hand, ready to write down our order. I don't think I ever heard her voice. The food however was perfection. Some of the best mac & cheese I've ever had. The salmon was soft with a mildly sweet sauce. And the greens were perfectly seasoned not bitter or too salty. We also ordered the egg rolls and it was delicious. It's obviously a popular item as we saw it coming out of the kitchen nonstop. Their menu isn't extensive but the items they have they do very well. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Spring rolls salmon greens and Mac and cheese - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

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(Non New Yoker Review) If you like live loud music, and want the New York experience this is it. They also had a party in the middle of the street. The art was very nice and all for the culture. Dessert prices are a little high but everything we had was reasonably priced for the portions. I received 3 very large wings a generous amount of Mac & cheese and a smaller but still good portion of yams. The chicken was fried to perfection the Mac and cheese was baked and it thing they used a cheese blend. The yams per the menu were asap yams and they were suppose to be sticky but they seemed regular. I couldn't tell if they were canned but that's a good thing. My wife had the country fried catfish with Jamaican styled rice & peas & potato salad. My wife said the rice was a tad dry but good. My wife enjoyed the potato salad and said it was good. She left nothing behind lol I had a taste of the fist and it wasn't fried if you ask me and I didn't like the seasoning choice. We left full and well served. Our waiter was worth the gratuity. read more

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I liked it, but I didn't love it. Our group of 6 waited well over an hour for Sunday brunch and the food didn't really have that "wow factor" once we got it. The Mac and Cheese and eggnog waffle were excellent, but everything else was mediocre: catfish wasn't as well seasoned as I would've liked; the sweet potatoes were too sweet and the ox tails were just ok. read more

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Contender for the best fried chicken in Harlem (really), and consistently warm and quick service. Amazing drinks, sides, and options. Nothing but love for Melba's. read more

I did a take out of chicken and waffles from the new Grand Central location early in the day before 12 noon. A huge dissapointment! The fried chicken was small pieces of boneless white meat (tenders?) dried out and overcooked. Wonder if it was leftover chicken from the day before that had been reheated many times. Waffles were 2 soggy disks, not waffles that are crisp on the outside with a fluffy interior. read more

We and 20 of my students dined at the Harlem Melba location and our experience was unfortunately not what I had expected altogether we spent a total of $3,059 and the experience did not feel like we were valued customers from the moment we sat down we felt rushed, the food came out in quick successions and cold. We paid for a party of 35 but had only four dishes for each table. There was a mop that was placed at the end of our table and left there for the duration of the meal making the dining experience even more uncomfortable. Everything felt rushed and unwelcoming. We chose Melba's because it is a black owned establishment and a staple in the Harlem community but after our visit we were extremely dissatisfied with the overall dining experience. read more

Visited Melba's for brunch on a Saturday with a friend and we were seated right Way. We shared an order of chicken and waffles, plus grits and home fries. Everything was delicious and service was great. Next time: I'd definitely return for dinner, as I want to try the short ribs and oxtail. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Chicken and waffles, grits, home fries - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

In town on business. Our group of 9 had a reservation and was seated right away. Waiter was attentive he gave good recommends and everyone really loved their food. Everyone accept me. I had the chicken and egg nog waffle and honestly it felt me cold. No hints of eggnog came through. The strawberry butter was equally, blah. The waffle and chicken wings were well executed, but flavorless. I'd come back, just recommend skipping this dish. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Chicken & Eggnog Waffle - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

Vibe, Vibe, Vibe!!!! Amazing food, drinks and service! Definitely worth the trip from Boston to NYC. That potato salad, tho! Chilled perfectly and well seasoned. The chicken was dynamite, and my son, well, you can see for yourself, enjoyed his oxtail dinner. I think he may have left 2 grains of rice on his plate! Rum Punch banging! coconut pineapple cake- moist! read more

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I went to Melba's to celebrate my son's 29th birthday. I have eaten there twice. The drinks were embarrassingly weak the first time around. No one from my table ordered drinks this time. Sounded good on the menu, but in real life it was a waste of money. I had smothered chicken (good). Mac and cheese (high blood pressure salty), the greens were good. Sent the mac and cheese back for potato salad - much better. read more

Lawd Lawd Lawd! First I wasn't ready for the place to be this packed on MLK Day, but oh boy was I wrong. We had a 12:45preservation and didn't get seated until 1:09p. This restaurant has become very very diverse in its population. I was very surprised by that. They were bumpin Aaliyah as this was also her birthday. But the food has not changed. As soon as my plate hit the table I began to dig in. This smothered chicken was AH MAY ZING!!!! I literally began to eat my wings as I'd I was at home and didn't care. They were just that good. I was sucking my fingers and smacking it was good. Now the yams weren't candied (IYKYK) but they were good. The Mac n cheese was very good too. One of my friends had the vegan burger and she ate the whole thing. My other friend had the chicken fingers and she said albeit they looked different; the sauce on them was scarce. Overall, I would definitely go back again. I'm hoping they put smothered pork chops on the menu. read more

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This restaurant has great service, amazing food, and strong drinks! My server was super helpful in helping me select a drink that would meet my needs, i. e. getting drunk. I highly recommend the strawberry Hennessy drink and you can't go wrong with the rum punch! For food, we had chicken and waffles (we got this as an appetizer to share, had to after learning that she beat Bobby Flay with this recipe). Words can't express how good this dish was. The strawberry butter, the crispy but very soft waffle, the syrup, the fried chicken, all made for the perfect bite of food. I need my own order next time I visit. For my main I had the mac and cheese, yams, and short ribs. Chef kiss to that meal! I never order mac and cheese when I go out because (humble brag) no one makes it like me and I am always disappointed so I usually don't waste my time. This mac and cheese beats mine!!! The yams were yamming! Husband had the catfish and the tartar sauce they used really set it off. Side of rice and peas was a good filler but nothing to rave about. I'm really not a rice person to start with though. I will say, check your bank account before you hit this place up. We were a little surprised by the total of the final bill. But the food was top notch, the menu prices were listed clearly so there were no surprises, but things add up quickly! I will definitely be back very soon! read more

Food 100% Service 100% Hospitality 100% Ambiance 100% We decided to have lunch in the city today and chose Melba's as our destination. Well.... We chose correctly. Everyone was so amazing to us. From Tatiana, our server, to Arron, the Director of Hospitality. Great soul food. Beautiful vibes. Outstanding hospitality. The chicken wings were big, crispy, and tasty. The oxtails were flavorful and falling off the bone. We will be back again and again and again!!!! read more

When I arrived for my reservation five minutes early, I was told to come back they don't open until 10. When I arrived exactly at 10 other customers were seated. What happened here? Other than crumbs probably from yesterday on the bench I sat on that's the only negative. Everything else was up from there! Decent decor with a very attractive bar area, clean bathrooms, spacious seating, extensive menu and professional service. As for the food the eggnog waffle lives up to the hype however, I think the utensils may have been crossed during preparation. There was residue and other flavors at a few spots on the waffle. It appears they had a big catering job so who knows? It was a slight hiccup that I could move past. The young man who was the server was very helpful and attentive. It's clear management takes effort with having and teaching high standards when it comes to service. The service, was friendly, helpful, engaging and prompt. My food arrived in a timely manner with fair portions based on the price. If you like meaty bacon try the slab bacon. The was a very good experience. Next time I'll try dinner! read more

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I definitely would recommend this place! The food is seasoned to perfection. I had the oxtails. Although drinks are a bit pricey, you can taste the spirits! Yams were not toooo sweet, just yummy. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Oxtails, rice and beans, low country greens and Strawberry Henny. - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

Had a fabulous lunch at Melbas... Sampled her chicken and waffles which she beat Bobby Flay with on throw down... Also tried her mac & cheese - out of this world! And a delightfully crunchy spring roll filled with rice and beans and collard greens. A+ friendly service with a smile Close to the subway read more

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I've come to Melba's multiple times and they never disappoint. I had the chicken and waffles as well as the Mac and cheese. Everything was amazing! What made the experience top notch was the customer service. Our waitress Olleigh was exceptional ! She was friendly , accommodating, funny, and kind. I highly recommend! read more

I want to Shout Melba's Restaurant in Harlem Out for accommodating my daughters party of 8 with 6 showing up first without a reservation & being seated Right Away. So Saturday for my baby girls 17th Bday I wanted her & her friends to have the Harlem Brunch experience at BLVD Bistro so I made reservations weeks in advance. We travel all the way from Westchester only to get there & they have a sign on the door stating they dn't have any power. I call them, a polite lady answers & apologizes for the inconvenience but I didn't get a text or email ahead of time saying their restaurant was inoperable. So her apology isn't enough! She offers us to go in & be seated in a completely empty place to eat with limited power. We decline her offer & she directs us to a few other places nearby. Mind you it's freezing cold, I have 5 teenagers well 4 & my oldest daughter & I'm not driving & 2 more in route on their way in an Uber. We show up to Melba's & their customer service, & accommodations were Top Tier! The 6 of us were seated immediately, they were ok with 2 more showing up later. Our server (Brian) was The ABSOLUTE BEST! The girls had a great time we sang Happy Birthday the Stevie Wonder Black Way in honor of Black History Month & an Aquarius Holiday! We are so Appreciative & Thankful to Melba's Restaurant in Harlem! That was my first time there & I can't wait to go back. Service was great & the food was too! We rate them 5 stars across the board! Blvd Bistro I'm disappointed with their lack of communication. We Had A Time! Harlem owes us Nothing! Thanks to Melba's! read more

Melba's Restaurant - Tres Mac & Cheese - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was delicious service was good just need a bigger place .Get there early or you will be on line.

Great experience! My server, India, was kind, attentive and lovely. The music and atmosphere was perfect. The fried chicken was juicy and perfectly fried. The yams were sweet and delicious, the collard greens were super tender and flavorful....Maybe a tad too salty. The Mac and cheese stole the show! Make a reservation! Can't wait to come back next time I'm in NYC. read more

Melba's Restaurant - fried chicken with collard greens, yams, Mac and cheese (the best Mac and cheese ever!) - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

The reasons to dine at Melba's are many. In a truly restaurant-saturated city, that's saying something. Whether you recognize how necessary it is to support Black-owned businesses, you appreciate expertly-made food, you know that "celebrity chefs" are, thanks to Food Network and Bravo, a dime a dozen, you enjoy meals made with thoughtful, historically and culturally accurate recipes, and/or you need to hear music that is not only appropriate for the venue, it is the right mix of BPM, tunes, and artists, Melba's is your place. You can't beat the catfish strips to start - perfectly fried dense, fresh fish - and when I say you will almost lick the plate clean after the fried chicken, I'm no lt exaggerating. You'll pair your main with two - yes, two - side dishes. I am prone to the garlic mashed potatoes and the collard greens (which my mother made with ham hock or fatback in the pot when I was growing up) are the truth. Truth. Shouts to the nonstop moving service team, particularly to Shermaine. I know you think you know where to eat in Harlem. If you are unfamiliar with, unaware of, or not going to Melba's, now you know and now you can. read more

I was so looking forward to going here and having a great experience, especially coming from California, since I'm such a huge fan of the owner Melba.. From the moment we enter the restaurant at opening time, I felt like I was interrupting something. We were not greeted with the most warmth. They told us since we weren't able to make reservations , we would have to sit outside. After we ate, we still noticed that the restaurant was completely empty in the inside. When we asked the hostess why we weren't able to sit inside, she sort of dismissed us. I feel totally let down, although our server Olleigh was a delight. I don't think I will revisit the next time I'm in NYC. read more

Took my team out for Holiday dinner. The food was fabulous and the customer service was top notch. All said they loved it and are returning there on their own time. read more

I was expecting the chicken to taste very crispy and juicy. It is a little bit to the dry end. The Mac and cheese is also a little too soft. Atmosphere is good and service is good. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Mac and cheese - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

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Whenever I travel, I'm always excited to find the best soul food restaurant in town. My friend has been living in New York for a few months now and he'd heard a lot about this restaurant so we decided to give it a try. The staff was great, one staff member even went out of her way to make sure there was a table for us even though online reservations were booked up. Unfortunately the food didn't meet my expectations. I tried the beef ribs, Mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes. As a baked Mac and cheese connoisseur, this Mac and cheese was a hard NO for me. I didn't like the flavor at all. The beef ribs were okay but not something I would ever get again. And the mashed potatoes had a weird taste that I didn't like. The best thing about my meal was the homemade lemonade which was delicious! I will add that my best friend got the oxtails and he said they were amazing. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Beef ribs, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

My cousin made reservations to come here for his birthday on Christmas Eve. The food was amazing. The vibe, music and art were awesome. I ordered a sangria and chicken and waffles. I had to have 2 glasses of the sexy sangria. I hate that I don't remember the waitress name. However, she did an awesome job with our hot mess family. We overstayed closing time since it was Christmas Eve and they were not mad and offered to take photos for us. Can't wait to come back to visit when the temp is not freezing outside. read more

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

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I wasn't expecting Melba's to be so good because I am from the south and what northern city can do soul food like the south? I had to eat my words. The food was delicious. Melba's would have received 5 stars; however, if you are going to do soul food then you must have cornbread and Melba's doesn't serve cornbread. Ms. Melba, now you know better. Fly me to NYC and I will show you how to make gluten-free and regular cornbread that will make you dance. I had Salmon, candied yams, and collard greens. I also had a sangria. For dessert, we opted for the sweet potato pie which was delightful. Also, Bryan, our server was so friendly and helpful and he deserves an award for being one of the best servers ever. Please give this man a raise. He went above and beyond to make us happy and he definitely exceeded our expectations. Kudos to Bryan. Lastly, that hot sauce is amazing. I am waiting for it to be bottled and mass produced because I will definitely be ordering some. read more

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Melba's service was warm kind and quick. There is a waiting area at the front of the restaurant that is large enough to take your coat and even hold a stroller. The decor is simple and elegant with some great paintings which honor Black culture on the walls. The small bar is cozy and the bar tender is welcoming. Drinks are sweeter than I'd like but if that's your palette you'll enjoy. The food is the real reason to come. Everything was good the oxtails were full of meat not just fate and bone. The Mac and cheese was so crispy on top with tender macaroni and a smooth luxurious cheese béchamel. The yams were the perfect texture though a bit sweet. The collard greens were some of the best I have had in Harlem. The Smothered chicken or fried chicken is excellent; Crispy skin tender meat , seasoned well and balanced. Plus we were served food within 10 mins of ordering. The price is right. For the serving size and quality the price is very affordable. I Recommend for sure. read more

The food was very good. I ordered the catfish Mac and cheese with peas and rice. I also ordered a rum punch. The rum punch was a 6/10. The catfish was a 9/10 the mac and cheese was a 10/10 and the peas and rice was a 1000/10. I highly recommend this restaurant read more

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I had taste for soul food, so my sister and I went to Melba's. Despite not having a reservation on a Saturday night, our wait time to be seated was less than 4 minutes. Our server Kenny was so personable and exceptional when it came to recommendations for food, drink and dessert. I am big on customer service, so this definitely was a plus. We ordered the TENDER short ribs. I had mine with rice & peas, sautéed spinach and potato salad. My sister had hers with collard greens and A$AP yams and it DID NOT disappoint. I had the rum punch and she had the Melba's margaritas in a can...two thumbs up. Dessert was coconut pineapple cake for me and sweet potato pie for her...in her words "... it was delectable." Melba's will be my go to...the food, drinks, the family friendly environment- oh I forgot to mention there were 3 birthdays and a newly married couple celebrating life & love- and the attentive staff, especially my guy Kenny. read more

If you are looking for consistent delicious soul food, Melba's is a great place to stop-by in Harlem. I've been here more times than I can count throughout the years. Some of my favorite dishes are the fried catfish (seasoned well and not oily) and the chicken/waffles. The weekends are very popular for brunch and dinner so I recommend making a reservation. Service can be hit or miss. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Country Fried Catfish with Low Country Collard Greens and Momma's Potato Salad - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here yesterday for my little sister b day. We had a lot of people. The Food didn't take too long. To be honest I was a little upset for it to be a soul food place and not have any cornbread. Anyway the food was ok nothing to brag about but eatable. The waiter was fine at first but then later on when my sister and some of our friends got up to go to the bar to get shots she assume that they were trying to leave and was asking that it's better to bring the drinks to the table. We said fine but lady we got money nobody was trying to leave without paying lol . Nobody even had a jacket on or had a purse in the hand lol . Anyway after we paid and left as soon as I got home I went to the bathroom and today that food didn't sit well with me again my stomach is hurting . I love food and I didn't finish either meal I had. I will not be returning. I go to a lot of places to eat and this is one I will not come back too. My sister said the crab cakes were horrible. The Mac and cheese taste like they just put noodles and threw the cheese on top no soul in the food at all. I did have a good time singing happy birthday to my sis though and the people singing was the bomb I would go back for that. read more

Was here for lunch, came back the next day. The food is really good. Not pictured is the oxtails, chicken and waffles and turkey meat loaf all were hits! They can get really busy rightfully so but wait staff does aim to please! read more

Melba's Restaurant - Roasted Beet & Arugula Salad A$AP Yams Low Country Collard Greens - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

My wife has been going to Melba's for a long time. Tre Isis and Olay gave her the best treatment. My wife recommends that people that she knows especially business people go to Melba's. She always tells folks that Olay is the best. Good service is paramount to us and is key to any restaurant in NY. The vibe is repeatedly superb. I am writing this review because of all the other options in NY for Soul Food Melba's just has the right vibe. My wife's satisfaction is very important to me. read more

First time at Melbas. It's coronavirus, it happens to be Thursday night of Restaurant Week. I get it, life is different. But this place is not taking proper precautions. Super disorganized and way too many people inside. Tons of packaged food on the bar counter but no one handing them out, so when I walked in there were 5 patrons waiting for food / trying to order. By the time I left, there were close to 15! BTW, the guy in the kitchen had his mask only over his mouth, not over his nose. I don't feel great about this entire experience, and will not be returning as I do not feel they are taking adequate precautions. It's sad, I've been trying to support local businesses, and really wanted to like Melbas. At this point, it doesn't even matter what the food tastes like cause it's not worth getting coronavirus for. read more

We came here as a group of 10 for my mom's birthday after doing an Escape Room up the street. Made a rez so no problem being whisked away to our seats almost as soon as we walked in. The place was bustling for Sunday afternoon brunch, and my nose was sending all kinds of signals to my brain after passing the kitchen to get to our seats. Our table got multiple orders of: 1. Catfish and cheese grits (get this...you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't. Creamy, cheesy buttery grits beneath a piece of perfectly golden fried catfish that sang to me as I ate it) 2. Fried chicken and grits (chicken fried perfectly...caught my aunt sucking the bone. I was like, "Auntie, show some couth!" She then flipped me the bird) 3. Waffles (good, but a little boring. My son ate it without whining so that's a win for me) 4. Red velvet pancakes (moist and fluffy and cake-y) 5. Salmon croquets (just ok) 6. Burger and fries (it was fine...my husband got this because he's the loser who goes to a soul food spot in Harlem and orders a burger smh) Afterwards they honored (10) vouchers that we had for dessert (given to us by the Escape Room) - coconut cake, red velvet cake, and peach cobbler- alllll yummy. Service was amazing and reminded me of why I love to support black owned businesses. We also ordered several pitchers of mimosas and bellinis - champagne was flat in all but after downing the first couple glasses, no one cared. read more

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The food is amazing delicious soul food that's good for the soul.. I had crabcakes collard greens potato salad very delicious.. fried chicken with waffles and very delicious. Everything on their menu is nothing but satisfaction.... if you want good food for your tummy and yummy Melba's Harlem read more

It had been years since I'd last been to Melba's, so I was so pleasantly surprised to see they had expanded, making the space even larger. This may have been done a while ago, but because I hadn't been, I didn't know. Also, Melba was there, wonderfully greeting her guests and speaking about the restaurant to all who asked her questions. And then the food came (quickly too!). Although I recall her speaking about how she was making cleaner soul food (years ago), I wasn't prepared for HOW clean and HOW delicious it would be. So flavorful, but still soul food. It's proof positive that soul food doesn't need to be drowned in sugar or butter for it to taste exceptional. Masterful is the only word I can think of to describe what I experienced. I absolutely cannot wait to go back. read more

My Melba's experience was wonderful! The food was DELICIOUS and our server Olleigh B. was WONDERDUL! She recommended the Spring Rolls and we inhaled them! The next time I visit NYC, I will definitely be back. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Fried chicken with Mac and cheese and A$AP yams. DELICIOUS! - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

How can I say this nicely... overrated. I had heard all about Melba's on tv but damn this place is all hype and no substance. They are known for their chicken and waffles and that dish was not good. Here are the details: They have 2 different options for the chicken and waffles. One had white meat and the other had dark meat. I went with the white meat chicken and waffle for $18.95. The chicken did not taste freshly made and I knew it because it came out a few minutes after ordering. I know that freshly fried chicken takes a little while to fry properly. Learned that on DDD. The breading wasn't crunchy and the meat was dried out. No good. The waffle wasn't bad and had a nice texture to it so that was positive. I liked the strawberry butter that comes with it. It is a small portion for $18.95 and no one likes small portions. My friend ordered the salmon and said it was just ok. The salmon was $25 for small piece of salmon. I could get one of those at whole foods warm section for $10 and probably would have been better. The mac and cheese wasn't great either. It had a layer of cheese on top that was offputting and it tasted bland. I don't know what happened at Melba's but they have to relook at some of their signature dishes. I have had fried chicken all over and that was not in the top 50. This place is all hype and it falls flat. 3 stars is a generous score. read more

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

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