October 20, 2024 I ordered take out yesterday at 6:30 ish. I was shocked how bad the food was. I paid 36.00 for oxtails potato salad and greens. I've eaten at this restaurant a few times. I'm not sure if take out is different but I cannot believe I spend two much for bad food. Salty tasteless potato salad. Rough oxtail pieces. I was shocked since they've always been very tender and the greens well, very salty. Does anyone taste the food? I won't be back. I traveled from outside of the boroughs for this. Very disappointing experience. Melba's has seriously gotten very comfortable taking our money for mediocre food. read more

I had the pleasure of eating here yesterday and it was a wonderful experience. I went on a date and we both had the fried chicken, she had the dark meat and I had the white meat. The food was pretty good! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the waitstaff was pleasing, especially the guy at the door. One thing that made my afternoon was that Melba was seated at table behind us and she actually spoke to us. She asked where we were from...I'm in the Bx and my date was from Philly. We're already trying to meet up and go there soon. Melba, you were very personable and very approachable...thank you. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Fried chicken, rice & peas with collard greens. Dark meat, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes. - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

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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Food and service was absolutely delicious. The chicken and waffles were so good. I see why Melba beat Bobby Flay! I will definitely be back. read more

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Had lunch at Melba's food was delicious and music was right on time. A peaceful atmosphere and service was great. Must go back again, and I hear reservations are required read more

I came over the weekend with some friends. 2 of the 3 enjoyed the food, but the service was very poor. It wasn't even that busy yet. -The Southern Fried Chicken, the rice & peas wasn't good. Didn't even look appealing. -We saw our waitress once, she took our order & was gone the rest of the evening. Never even asked to see how we were doing until we were ready to leave. -Nobody offered to refill our waters at all. -The waiting staff rushes ahead of the customers when the customer should have the right of way. It's the little things that make the experience that much better. They don't know what they're doing. read more

Food was good and tasty. Pretty crowded and loud. Getting a table took a little longer even with a reservation.

Customer Service is Amazing! The Food is well seasoned and very satisfying to your stomach! My waitress Maya was Amazingly friendly. But, You could use a Fan in the outdoor part of the Restaurant I was a bit Stuffy. My only complaint if you wanna call it a complaint is when Management is giving instructions or directives towards the Staff. Deliverance is very important! The way she spoke to the Young Man carrying the ice back and fourth was unacceptable. That's no way to speak to anyone while doing Business. But overall I had an exceptional time. PS I think Stephaine was the Bartender Drinks were right on time. Thank You All 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

Food was good I had the ox tail with yam, collard greens & potato salad. The service was good music was a good vibes definitely get reservations. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Momma's Potato Salad - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

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Came to Melba's during restaurant week and got the $45 special. The service was good and the greens and the Mac and cheese were as well, but the chicken was old dry and stale. Wasted my time calories and money. read more

Melba's Restaurant - Old dry stale chicken breast. - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

My first time dining while on vacation! The food, atmosphere and service was top tier. Definitely a neighborhood gem! read more

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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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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 visited Melba's 08/25/2024 along with a male friend. Let's start with my waiter he was on point and the best, kind, friendly and accurate. The food was amazing, we both had the fried chicken (white meat), sautéed spinach and Mac and cheese. The chicken was crispy, spinach creamy and the Mac and cheese was cheesy just how my mom makes it. The food was nice and hot when served. The environment was comfy and home like! I will be visiting again for sure! Thank you staff at Melba's! read more

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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Amazing food and great vibes!! Highly recommended!! Heard of this place all the way in Los Angeles do we HAD to try it! So glad we did!! Enjoy! read more

Was leaving grand central and decided to try Melba's. I was excited to try this. I ordered the fried chicken, collards greens and sweet yams. There was some confusion because the person taking my order gave me sweet potato fries instead of the yams as I had asked for. the sweet potato fries were very lackluster. they lacked crispiness and flavor.The collard greens were okay but lacked a depth of flavor . I have had better. The chicken was overcooked and really had no flavor. The chicken was so dry, I was glad I had lemonade to help wash it down. I was hoping that this was going to be better than it was. I definitely would not order from here again. read more

My cousins were talking up Melba's so much and it did not disappoint. I got the catfish which was delicious but I tasted my sister's fried chicken and that was even better. The mac and cheese is one of the best I've ever had that doesn't have a crunch topping and the collard greens paired perfectly. I don't usually talk about music but they music they were playing made me so happy while eating. After every song they played, I thought it's been awhile since I've heard this and I'm going to add it to a playlist. The staff was kind and was super chill about taking a picture of my group. They made sure we great lighting which was super appreciated! read more

Melba's Restaurant - Country Catfish Creamy Trs Mac & Cheese Low Country Collard Greens - Southern Near Me - New York, New York

Service,, food was DELICIOUS!!! Great vibe and atmosphere! Fried chicken was the best!

I came hungry!! So I usually order the egg roll for appetizers and chicken and waffle for the meal. This time I stepped out and went adventurous, ordered the Mac and cheese. The egg roll was delicious, chicken was hot like it just came out the fryer. The waffle with the strawberry butter delicious. The Mac n cheese was more like cheese and Mac. The cheese was over bearing for me personally. Overall Melba's never disappoints. Server was professional, courteous, and attentive. The ambience is nice. A little tight but hey, they trying to accommodate as many as they can in a timely fashion, for that I appreciate it. read more

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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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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

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

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

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

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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Food and service were excellent! Had the Chicken and Waffles which melted in your mouth! Portions were generous and atmosphere was perfect.

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

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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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

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

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

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

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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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

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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