There's no place like home at Spaha Soul! The owner, Artist, is a hell of a host -- he shows so much love, care, realness, and comfort to ALL his guests. BYOB is a plus! Why spend $45+ for drinks when you can buy your own bottle(s) for the same price? Artist sets the perfect ambiance and music for people to vibe to, and he tailors it for any occasion -- especially a lovely date night. My husband agrees he doesn't get SOUL food like he does here. We taste the LOVE! I highly recommend everything on the menu. My personal favorites are the fried chicken, pork chop with a side of mac and cheese, vegan collard greens, and cornbread. Last night, I tried the Stuchi (steak and crabmeat roulade with a tasty Cajun roux) -- a unique, elevated dish I'll be thinking about all summer. We also loved the crab cakes (real crab!), ceviche spring roll, and watermelon salad! Thank you, Artist -- we love Spaha Soul read more

Ordered gumbo yesterday. It was decent, but not great. The rice was a bit mushy, and the flavor was lacking depth. It was just an average dish. Wouldn't rush to have it again. read more

This place is special because of how the food is cooked and served. Went with the chef's kiss. I believe it was 5 maybe 6 course. Didn't get to try the collars green egg rolls. The flavors that comes out that kitchen are top notch. What through me off was the first course was the most amazing corn bread ever. Not all the time the chef comes out and explains In full detail what you are about to experience. Quality spot. Support local business read more

Hi Artist, thank you for always treating us as friends when John and I come eat. We love the food and the overall vibe. Thanks for the great conversation and we'll see you again soon! read more

A lovely and intimate soul food dinner tonight in Spanish Harlem catching up with my friend. We ordered the baked chicken, pork chop, mashed sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, and collard greens. Artist also baked us cornbread. Everything was fresh, homemade, and delicious. The hospitality was wonderful, we enjoyed conversing with the owner. It really does feel like you're eating at someone's home. read more

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SpaHa Soul reminds me of the wonderful, semi-secret feeling homemade storefront theaters, restaurants, and shops that flourished in the 90s... I live in East Harlem and we don't lack for solid soul food options, but ye gods. One of the tastiest meals I've had in a long time. The sweet potato in particular was a bit of heaven. We appreciated the live music, provided by Emmett, a recent grad of LaGuardia HS and Oberlin. I loved getting to chat with Artist about his time in Mexico City and Tepoztlán. He has lived an interesting life, and I look forwrd to hearing more. This is most definitely a slow food set up and well worth the wait. (The taper candle on our table was a puddle of wax by the time we left.) Go when you have time to really savor the food and the company. A very special place. read more

Simply amazing! Me and my husband finally had a night out without the kids and were looking for something different to eat. We headed to East Harlem with no real plans. We both agreed on this restaurant and parked the car (free street parking...woot woot). After seeing how small the restaurant was inside I was worried we wouldn't be able to get a table. Lucky for us they had a table available. The level of service here is seriously astounding. When we arrived we were the only ones there for a while. We felt like we were being treated to our own private chefs table. Everything on the menu sounded amazing but we decided to do the chefs menu and let him do his thing. He asked us what we enjoy and went to the kitchen to prepare our dinner. Every dish he prepared was delicious. The live music was an added bonus. Regi is the resident musician there. His singing voice was the perfect addition to an already amazing experience. Make sure to make a reservation. The chef let us know he usually doesn't accept walk-ins which makes perfect sense when you see the effort he puts into each dish. This is a byob place so bring your favorite drinks or you can order from nearby East River Wine & Spirits and have it delivered. read more

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WOOHOOOO! Loveeeee this place :D Came here recently with a friend and we had a blast eating at this cute restaurant. If you're looking for a cozy spot for an intimate dinner with a date or catching up with close friends, highly recommend checking out Spaha. Owned and operated by the one and only chef/server/cashier, Artist definitely brings the charm when it comes to eating some delicious soul food. Things to note: Reservations - highly recommend making a reservation before coming here since the restaurant is pretty small. Just make a quick call and you'll get a text for confirmation. Food Options: You can either pick a la carte on the food or go with the pre-fix menu. Prices are fairly reasonable for the hugeee portion of food + the yummy quality. Wine: BYOB! It's $5 corkage fee per person or if you forget, ask Artist for a recommendation. We tried a red cab and it was delishhhh with our food. :) Food Itself: Absolutely yum yum yum. My friend and I opted to pick different dishes vs the pre fix meal due to timing, but it was a great experience. Tried the following items: chicken = juicy and with the perfect crisp. Pork chops = tender and so savory with the seasoning. Sides: everything was on point from the mac and cheese, spiced yams, collards and the corned bread just slayyyyys with its buttery goodness. Didn't have room for dessert but oh boy, everything was worth it. The experience: expect to spend at least 1.5hr-2hrs here. Food is made to order and with some patience, it's worth the wait for the meal. :) in addition, got the opportunity to listen to some live music which was quite the treat. Love the warm hospitality from Artist, who made this dining experience a fun one. Finally - payment options here are either cash (there's an atm nearby) or using the various payment apps (venmo/cash app/zelle). If I visit NY again, definitely will stop by here again for food :) read more

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I've heard it said that not all southern food is soul food; soul food touches the soul. When you go to SpaHa, prepare your soul for a bear hug. SpaHa is my favorite restaurant in New York. Calling it just a restaurant doesn't do it justice. SpaHa deserves a love letter more than a review. But this is Yelp, afterall. See, it's not just that the food is immaculate. The seasonings on the fried chicken stay in your nose and on your tongue for days. The surfing porkchop (which may or may not be named after me) is a delight. And it's so plentiful, it feels miraculous. Somehow I can stuff myself and still take a stack of leftovers with me for tomorrow. Artist (the owner/operator/chef extraordinaire) has cultivated something special. When the food comes out (preceded by a powerful, mouth-watering aroma) it doesn't feel like "service" at a restaurant. It feels like hospitality. Like you're the welcome guest of an impossibly cool and generous host. When friends or family come to visit--people I truly love--I take them to SpaHa. We're guaranteed to leave with full bellies, takeout containers, and hearts. read more

This place is incredible! We had a private dinner here with 20+ people and the space was cozy and welcoming. The owner is a total gem and he cooked one of the most incredible meals I have ever had. The rosemary fried chicken was a standout dish for me, but I loved everything he made. The cornbread was the best I've ever had by far. This was a very special experience and I highly recommend it. We will be back! read more

What an incredible meal! We got the chef's table meal and were simply delighted! The only problem was too much delicious food. The chef was a real sweetie too. If I loved here it would be my favorite place to take people for birthday, etc. Such a nice intimate vibe. read more

Make sure to call ahead and verify that they're open. Just walked several blocks to leave disappointed and still hungry read more

SpaHa Soul and Bone Broth - Front of restaurant - Soul Food Near Me - New York, New York

Great food great atmosphere amazingly nice owner. I wrote my first review October 2013 and have gone to this place more times than I can count. I have come at least 100 times since. Located at 118&2, Spaha Soul brought a great little restaurant to East Harlem neighborhood. Owned by Artist T, he greets you with a hearty hello as you listen to the amazing music (often live) that creates a wonderful atmosphere. I am so happy to have this restaurant with amazing people I meet every time I ja Things you must know: 1) Call ahead and let the proprietor know you are coming. It is a small place so this lets him have a table for you and fresh food from the market too 2) There is a huge variety on the menu for all food types: 'regular/traditional', vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, paleo, etc. 3) Sunday is brunch/limited menu only 4) The food is fresh-orders daily and isn't made until you order it. 5) BYOB BUT BUT if you want to drink based on what you order, there is a great place that delivers (and around the corner). Artist hands you his phone with the number programmed in to place your personal wine order. There is a corkage fee 6) Delivery is not guaranteed-choose pick-up or dine in 7) Not sure what you want to eat? Talk it out with him! 8) Can you say deal? Ask what the nightly pre fixe is. The owner and proprietor, Artist, makes the food from the heart. Definitely a gem for the area!g read more

What a delightful place! Small little place, almost hard to find even when looking. You walk into what reminded me of a hybrid of a African tribal + Haitian voodoo+ Williamsburg hipster. Dimly lit with numerous candles and a delightful new age jazz overhead, you are greeted by a cozy room, with a welcome home sort of feel. The lounge ambience is matched by the owner/chef/waiter's inviting energy. He welcomed us in like family and sensitively cared for us throughout. For example, he asked us about any food allergies and when he learned about a corn allergy, he made up a batch of fresh oil to fry things in just to protect his customer. The menu had a handful of protein options, most notably chicken which he would cook up in several different ways. Also a slew of sides all $7. There was also a prix fixed menu that looked fabulous for $45. Finally the place was BYOB. Everything was truly homecooked and delicious. Each flavor profile was well thought out and appreciated. I went out with four people and our total bill with tax and tip was just a little over $100 which included entrees and sides. I got the fried chicken and Mac and cheese which was all incredible. Also snuck some tastes of grits and cheese which was equally scrumptious. Everyone at my table had nothing but compliments. I will WARN that it took about an hour to get our food and the place was mostly empty. This did not bother me as I was with great company in a great space. And my sense was he put extra TLC into our dishes since he wasn't busy. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone wanting an east Harlem soul food delight. read more

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This restaurant was recommended by a coworker and it did not disappoint! We had the corn bread, chicken, pork chops, mac and cheese, greens, and shrimp and grits. We loved everything! Everything is cooked to order so, we patient and sit back and drink your BYOB wine. Thursday night has live music and it was truly a great time with the music. Artist is the owner and the chef and his hospitality was TOP notch. I hate I only got one picture but, I was too busy eating and forgot to snap for the Yelp! read more

SpaHa Soul and Bone Broth - Live music - Soul Food Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is amazing. Home is the first word that comes to mind. Most chefs open restaurants with the intention of making it an extension of their home/kitchen/dining room, but SpaHa actually executes it. Chef Artist has the greatest hands on approach and the service matches the food. My GOD!!!! I literally closed my eyes and danced the entire meal because it was sooooo good. As a vegetarian, I was easily accommodated without making any modifications to the options presented to me (that's rare). It's amazing soul food (without feeling extremely heavy), BYOB, good background music, cozy atmosphere, clean and beautiful washroom. I can't wait to return. P.S. There's an ancestral altar as soon as you walk in and Chef allowed me to leave an offering as I was so moved by his food to do so. This wasn't just great food, it felt like a pilgrimage. It felt like home. 11/10 would recommend. read more

I really, really want to give this place more stars but they make it so hard to. We were a party of 11 and ended up having the entire place to ourselves for Sunday brunch. Tiny but super artistic spot with great vibes. BYOB which is always a plus. The owner/chef Artist is super nice and accommodating. He really put in hard work to try and keep everyone satisfied. Great personality. We were given the choice of a pre fix brunch menu, which included cheesy eggs, caprese salad, cheesy grits, red velvet waffles/pancakes, and choice of meat (fried chicken, chop, shrimp). The regular menu included a chicken basket, a version of surf and turf (called Rob's), salmon cakes, and side of mac and cheese, yams, and collard green. Artist went into great detail about how each dish is made and even let us mix and match everything which was awesome. However, into the not so great things. We were told our food would be out in 30-45 minutes. Definitely took over an hour. Once food started coming out, everything did not come out together. Things came out so staggered and disorganized that some people were done eating their food before others even got theirs. A lot of people were missing sides or dishes that they had ordered. One person ordered the pre fix brunch and only received the shrimp and grits (missing 3 items). I ordered red velvet pancakes and got 3 while my friend ordered the same and only got one. Another had the same order and was told they had ran out of pancake/waffle batter (she was given an order of cornbread and wasn't charged but still). Many of us ordered the fried chicken because we were told it marinated for 24 hours. Definitely didn't taste like that. Nice crisp but otherwise disappointing. Mac and cheese was bland. Red velvet pancakes were good but drenched in syrup (would have preferred they put the syrup on the side for each customer to pour themselves). Grits weren't that great. Cheesy eggs were ok. Collard greens were the best, I must say. Concept here is good but execution needs to be fixed. If large parties can't be handled then they shouldn't be accepted or more chefs/staff should be hired to help out. It's unacceptable to run out of food, even if everything is bought locally everyday. Everyone's meals should be brought out together so everyone can eat together in a timely manner (overall we spent about 4 hours here for brunch, mainly waiting on food). If this isn't feasible, some appetizers should be brought out first for customers to enjoy while all entrees are being prepared. This place has potential but still had a long way to go. read more

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This is an amazing soul food spot. Service is phenomenal and food is incredibly amazing. This one man show is worth stopping by and eating his home style comfort food. Chef cooks, owns and serves his home cooking. It's like going to grandmas house for dinner. Love the ambiance setting and extremely friendly Chef Artist!!! read more

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Woowwwwww!!!! What. can . I . say!!!! If you want to feel like you're in your families kitchen eating a home cooked meal , then here is where you need to be! The service, the attention to detail, the ambience was all impeccable. Not to mention , they are BYOB!!!!!! BOYB!!!!! once again, BYOB!!!! I love that you can bring your own bottle of wine and enjoy all that this place has to offer. The owner comes out to greet you which is so hospitable and the food is amazing! Let me be clear, this isn't a microwave and serve place.. your meal is cooked on the spot so be patient because when it does arrive you'll be so grateful that you finally found a place that feels like home. Thank you! Can't wait to come back!! read more

SpaHa Soul and Bone Broth - complimentary watermelon - Soul Food Near Me - New York, New York

I had the most amazing experience at SpaHa Soul last weekend! I stumbled upon this place because this was one of the few restaurants that take dinner reservations in the area. Turns out this place is by reservation only because each dish is made to order by the owner and chef Artist. The authentic Southern comfort-style food tasted like each dish was made with love and care, but what I really enjoyed was the hospitality. Artist really went out of his way to make me feel like an honored guest in his home. I'm so glad I found this hidden gem! Definitely one of the most intimate experiences I've ever had in NYC read more

SpaHa Soul and Bone Broth - Chicken Basket with Mac & Cheese and Braised Collard Greens - Soul Food Near Me - New York, New York

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Hmm I feel bad about giving this place a three, yet lots of things I'm looking for in a better restaurants were simply missing here... Food. Ok so if you opt for the soul food menu, be careful, they might skip what you said and simply bring whatever onto the table. To me, food was cooked more like family-style, so nothing quite special there - I felt like I could cook everything over there. As I am only an mediocre chef myself, I would only give an average rating in terms of flavor. Service. Hmm this was a hard one. So the owner and waitress were really nice, always came out and checked on us. To be honest, it felt to me was like an excuse for the late-come food. I really don't like waiting for my food for an hour, for whatever reason. Some other misses: dessert! Where were my desserts? Was very disappointed when the waitress came out and told us that they did not carry anything. Ok so this place was BYOB, so wine drinks might appreciate; for me (a non-drinker), it would not help. read more

SpaHa Soul and Bone Broth - Pork chop. - Soul Food Near Me - New York, New York

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SpaHa soul is a labor of love and a must-try. But only if I like you. If I don't like you, please stay below 96th Street, or East of the River, or north of Pelham. Now that that's out of the way... Mea maxima culpa for not visiting this gem sooner. After just celebrating my 28th lap around the sun just weeks ago in NOLA, I could just about self-flagellate for getting this old without tasting real gumbo. I love the fact that this impressive and intimate spot is BYOB and serves such high quality, thoughtfully prepared cuisine. (Shoutout to Riverside Wines, which delivers vino from around the corner.) The cornbread is like you're being served an entire traditional Sicilian polenta cake. Fluffy in the middle, slightly brown on top and mildly sweet throughout. I am looking forward to toasting the leftover half tomorrow and enjoying it with butter and espresso. My gumbo had star power. It was surprisingly herbaceous and bright. I also tasted something unexpected, like citrus or lemongrass. Fat pieces of fresh shrimp and juicy andouille almost were backup singers to this otherworldly broth. The pork chop was nearly as good, tender and flavorful with an almost compote-like dollop of black beans. Both entrees came with the last bit of dirty rice of the day -- which I didn't mind one bit. Chef Artist Thornton was also kind enough to come over with a serving of macaroni and cheese, which we would have devoured had we not already been stuffed. Yes. If you have read this far and truly appreciate good conversation, good wine and lovingly prepared neighborhood cuisine, please visit. Just call ahead and let Artist know! read more

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I really wanted to give this place five stars, so I'll start with the pros. It's a cute little cafe with four tables nestled in East Harlem, which I wouldn't have found if not for Yelp! The owner, Artist, was really kind and made me feel right at home. He told us that it was BYOB and to holler if we needed anything. He is the only person working! He started us off with cornbread, which was really soft and moist, that it did not need any butter. We ordered the buttermilk fried chicken with mac&cheese and mash potatoes. The fried chicken was very juicy and tender. The mash was to die for. It contained hints of cheddar cheese which was really the icing on top. The Mac & cheese was okay.. Not bad.... So, now you're probably wondering why I only gave it three stars... Well, I bought a yelp deal for $9 which entitled us to $18 worth of food. Our total was 22.30 including tax and a 15% gratuity, which means I would've owed him $4.30. I told him I had a yelp deal and he took it and told me I owed him $9.80??? I asked him why? He said "yelp tax". I wasn't going to argue with him in front of all his customers so I let it go but I'm still upset that he wasn't doing honest business. Basically, it was as if i didn't buy the deal. I was def going to go back, but after that mishap-- I don't know anymore. read more

Went here with my wife for the first time today. Super chill and comfy ambiance. Felt like I was in a relatives living room. The food is freshly prepared and immensely delicious. It's BYOB, so we sipped a bit while listening to the awesome soul playlist as we awaited our meal. The owner and chef, Artist, is an amazing host and even better chef. My wife and I will definitely be back. I've been to quite a few soul spots in East and West Harlem, but SpaHa is currently my fave, hands down. read more

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So, I stopped by here approximately 8 weeks ago with a friend of mine, who enjoys accompanying me on these food adventures. I kept telling him about the overwhelmingly positive reviews about this place and I really had been dying to give it a try, but lived on west 108th at the time and really was struggling to get my butt over to East Harlem somehow. Also, Lolo's is closer. Anyway, I would give five stars based on the quality of the food and the fact that this lovely, little establishment is BYOB. However, as many Yelpers before me have written, the service is unbearably slow. And for that reason, I brought the overall experience to a 4 (but would truly round it out at 3.5). While the owner/chef/artist, Artis, was very amicable and came out to introduce himself, he also seemed frazzled despite the fact that my friend and I were the only patrons in the restaurant, at that time. I understand that they are working in a super small kitchen space and that it is difficult to make meals to order when everything is done from scratch in that workspace. That said, I also would have appreciated maybe more accurate estimates of when the food would be ready, but enjoyed our conversation in the meantime. My friend and I arrived, sat at a table, and ordered the same meal. I believe it was called "The Betty" and included fried chicken breast, garlic mashed potatoes with gravy, candied yams, silver dollar cornbread pancakes and collard greens. We were told that because everything is made fresh and to order, etc. that it would take approximately 35 minutes and Artis recommended that we walk over to the closest liquor store and grab our beverage. We bought two bottles of wine and returned to the restaurant. We were able to store the extra bottle in the restaurant refrigerator, which was great and returned with what should have been 20 minutes before our food was out. Now, this is a tiny place, with just three small tables and NO AIR CONDITIONING. It was extremely hot that day and the tap water here is not served iced, so we were sweating like no tomorrow when we returned from the liquor store, had no cold beverages and could feel the heat from the open kitchen. We kept receiving updates on our food long after it should have been digested, and ultimately waited a total of about 75 minutes from time we ordered to the time we took our first bites of our entrees. We had some complimentary watermelon slices to munch on, but the updates were not accurate. He kept saying, "Food'll be out any minute", "10 more minutes" and we'd wait an eternity. With these things in mind, it's hard to believe that I rated them so highly, but I cleaned every crumb of food and drop of gravy off of that plate and so did my friend! It was the most delicious, well-done, perfectly seasoned meal and it wanted for nothing. I was impressed with the other things on the chef's menu, which has more to offer than just a traditional Southern menu, but given the wait time, I think all future visits would have to be takeout and I would call at the time they open, to pick it up at closing! Seriously, great food,wonderful people, but if they could somehow put a little more pep in the kitchen step (and purchase a fan or two) I would trek over to 1st Ave more often. Overall, delicious. And that cornbread was...well, the entire meal was everything. read more

SpaHa Soul and Bone Broth - fried chicken, collards, yams, cornbread pancakes all smothered in gravy...yasss - Soul Food Near Me - New York, New York

Enjoyed this unique, intimate, and friendly new spot here in East Harlem; the food is interesting and tasty. The chef, Artist, was accessible and engaging. He has cheffed in Europe and Latin America, but his starting point is US soul food. He does a good job with it. My meal was classic soul food, with the collard greens, Mac and cheese, and crispy chicken breast, but not leaving you over-stuffed. The bean soup to start was delicate and healthy, the red velvet cake and cream to finish was delicious. read more

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Here's a cautionary tail of a gem of a restaurant with terrible fried chicken. The chef/owner Artist was great- he accommodated our group of 8 and it became more like an intimate meal because we essentially took up the whole place and had it to ourselves (and we had a nice relaxed brunch, no rush to turn tables). Artist took his time with us and went through the menu, also telling us his backstory, the history of the restaurant and vision for the future. You can tell he is passionate about food and community. The place is humble and feels you've got a friend cooking a meal for you. The food overall was pretty good, so why the 3 stars? Artist introduced himself by saying "I drink beer and fry chicken. That's what I do." So, that gave me supreme confidence in his chicken frying abilities, and since he said he got fresh chickens from the local butchers (viveros) I HAD to order it. I was so into it- someone who knows they do something well, has a quality product, and keeps it simple. I was sure he had it in the bag. Well, that was a mistake. The chicken was bland, tough, not crispy but somehow burnt in areas, and breading patchy. It just wasn't right. Maybe he needed to drink less beer? Or more? Whatever the case is, the chicken downright sucked. Two of us at the table ordered it, and both of us took a few bites and left the rest of it untouched. I ended up eating from everyone else's plates (the grits were great, scrambled eggs delicious, and red velvet pancakes yummy). If I had ordered anything else I would have given 4 stars. Taking one off because it is pretty limited- we had to go get stuff at the bodega if we wanted snacks while we waited (it was a one man show, no help in the back) or if we wanted anything to drink other than water or tea. I would return, as everything else was really good and the group enjoyed the dishes. Just no fried chicken. read more

The chef is truly focused on delivering excellent food in a warm atmosphere and it shows. I enjoyed an excellent date here and the chef was even able to creatively make something off the menu to accommodate my dates special needs. The chicken is as savory as one would expect and I had a nice crunch--the best hot sauce I have ever enjoyed added the perfect touch. The side dishes of Mac and collard greens were the perfect complement to the poultry and the portions are extremely generous for the price point. I was thrilled with the personable service I received and can't wait to go back soon read more

SpaHa Soul and Bone Broth - Soul Food Near Me - New York, New York

I love this quaint spot for Brunch. Food is cooked to your order. Annnnnnd its BYOB. How much more could you ask for??? I had the Red velvet pancakes with cheesy eggs and salad..Very tasty. Friendly staff and awesome host Kwaku! read more

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When the owner is the chef, the waiter, the kindest person in the place and shops for fresh ingredients everyday so every dish is custom made to order you know you're in an amazing place. Artist (do it all owner) is one of the most genuine people I've ever met and a truly astounding chef. He whipped up a dish for me that met my dietary restrictions even though it wasn't on the menu. Will bring everyone I know here. Make sure to make a reservation!!!!! read more

I was celebrating a double event: Mother's Day and my daughter's 21st Birthday, and wanted a nice place to take them both. I saw the reviews online and decided to support the business. Thankfully, I was able to book a 7:30 p.m. reservation. The place is quaint and that made it more charming than other places. It was a very comfortable atmosphere. Thorton, provided the right amount of attention without appearing to be smothering. And the food......delicious. The cornbread was still warm when it cam to us and my wife, children and I enjoyed the menu to the fullest. Pork Chops, Baked and Fried Chicken, Yams, Collard Greens, Macaroni & Cheese were all delivered in healthy portions to us all. I actually had to force myself to stop eating everything at one sitting because I was committed into taking some in for work the next day. It is really like going to a relative's house for Sunday dinner. And I would like to add that Thorton appreciated my humor when I booked the reservation under the name "Denzel Obama" If I have to give one complaint: I live in Queens and wished it was closer to me. read more

This places isn't your regular restaurant. It's a one of a kind spot that some might pass up . But need to try. The owner is super friendly and down to earth . He's your waiter & host . The menu is written on a blackboard in the front. Food is made fresh once you order it . It's bring your own liquor! Would for sure go back !!! read more

SpaHa Soul and Bone Broth - Soul Food Near Me - New York, New York

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I have to admit, SpaHa Soul and Bone Broth was remarkable. Can't wait to try every single thing off the menu here. I think Stuffed Pork Chop is a must to order for every one. Staff is really friendly and will certainly help you with everything. I'm certainly visiting here soon. read more

The best meal I've had in years! Delicious doesn't begin to describe the food. Fresh ingredients, expertly prepared with love. Just so good! Toss in a wonderful host/chef, a charming space and you have your next favorite spot. read more

The owner kept our deposit without providing the service. Changed my commentary to 1 star for now since the owner don't want to refund our deposit of 560$... Best East Harlem restaurant ! The owner and the place is amazing ! read more

What can I say. A beautifully black-owner space with attentive owners and great food! The Sea Bass was so most and the collards...flavorful minus the meat; definitely a plus for a vegetarian like myself. Great energy and accommodating! Love LOve LOVE!!! Will def be back again! read more

SpaHa Soul is ALWAYS great. I only wish I could stop by more often. It's a small spot so make sure to call in your reservations. Great atmosphere, great food, bring a bottle of wine and relax as your food is always cooked fresh to order and definitely worth the wait! read more

Been meaning to try this place for a while and finally got to this weekend. We walked in and there were only 4 tables seated, but we were immediately told that the food would take about 20-30 minutes after we ordered because everything is made from scratch. Okay fair enough. They don't have menus, just a board that had 3 proteins and 2 sides and cornbread + a $50 pre-fix. Little to choose from, but okay. We went with the pork chops and cornbread and mac and cheese. We waited literally an hour and a half after ordering and still no food on our table. No one else was eating either. Everyone was talking about it. We kept asking and the waitress had no idea when it would be ready. We were so insanely hungry at this point we were about ready to walk out. 25 minutes later the food came out. Unbelievable! The food was pretty great. Pork chops were very juicy. Cornbread was amazing. Mac and cheese was okay. Would skip that. Sides were $7 and up and small. Overpriced. Proteins were properly priced at $8-12. When we were done we asked for the check and again waited another half an hour to settle the bill! We were there for hours! Crazy. Won't be going back anytime soon unless I have 4 hours to kill... **If you're the owner and reading this, get it together guys! I want this place to work out. East Harlem needs it! I've been in the restaurant business my whole life and I can promise this place will fail if you don't figure it out asap! Best of luck read more

I am very sorry to not have a better experience to report because the owner was reasonably friendly and I would like to see a healthy stylish restaurant do well in the area. I really wanted to love it. Yet I gotta be true in my Yelp review. To be fair, it was a couple months ago ---and it probably has improved a lot since I went there as I got the impression itbis a new business. I saw through the windows when walking by recently and the art on the walls has definitely improved..... .......so maybe you want to check it out for yourself and make up your own mind? I personally will not be back though. Maybe I was there on an off day. I don't want to harm anyone. So I hope this helps as constructive feedback. Here goes: Highlights: Location, concept, thoughtfully styled interior with original artwork, nice mosaic sculpture of a torso on the bar, lots of seating, a modern business using Applepay, not a chain restaurant (support local businesses!) Lowlights: I was told how wonderful certain menu items were but then when I tried to order them, was told they weren't available? Wha-??? Ok. I agreed to substitutions in my multi-item carryout order but it took a verrry verrrry long time --- even when these were standard menu items and I was the only one there. So while waiting I asked for something to drink when he came to the front for a second but he said there were also no beverages for sale. Double wha-???? I accepted lukewarm tap water but cringed as I noticed while I drank that the cup was quite dirty looking, ew, so I did a spit-take and settled in for an interminable thirsty wait...... the owner was in the back apparently cooking the food and there was NO ONE else working or dining in the restaurant, in early evening. Hmmm. Meanwhile I noticed wet-looking stains in the center of the fabric seat of the chair next to me and also another chair nearby too so I decided to stand. Double ewwww. I spied something hairy-looking on the floor under another chair (did I mention ew? ) To be fair, the rest of the floor was otherwise clean though! Still I was rapidly losing my appetite. So I regretted the order a little even before it came out. I considered cancelling but he was cooking already and I want to help struggling new businesses so of course I was going to pay for what I ordered, I wasnt going to run out on my bill !! I perused the art and decor to kill time while waiting. The large wall paintings were all variations on a single theme and it appeared to be impressions of close-up genitalia. It wasn't obvious right away and I'm pretty sure many people have looked at those paintings without noticing what they were! Yet since I did notice,as subject matter it felt distasteful to be surrounded by that in a dining establishment. I am sex-positive but still. Triple wha-??? So I decided to close eyes and think positive thoughts, ignoring the surroundings. I prayed I was in for a pleasant surprise with the food. And the guy was there working on his own too. I felt bad for him. I did think of complaining but he was in the back cooking until he brought it out. I decided to just be a good sport, pay and leave quickly. Then there was a problem with the iPad used for billing so that ended up not going quickly but I was finally able to pay and leave! Five minutes later when I opened the food up, I saw it wasn't packed as a meal; each part of the meal was packaged separately in a paper drinking cup with a lid. So it appeared like I had ordered several coffees? These vertical shapes didnt stay upright in the bag and spilled. One was unseasoned vegetable that had been boiled into lifeless submission and left swimming in about 3/4 cup of water....it had not been drained. One was literally just a couple tablespoons worth of food smeared all over along the sides of the cup like a violent kitchen accident or the remains after somebody had already eaten? Another item was stone cold and smelled wrong. I could go on but I am not a bully. Let's just say this was a profoundly and unifyingly unpalatable meal. Found it all appalling. The fact that anybody would serve this to a polite paying customer disturbed me, I couldnt bring myself to swallow. Tossed it all with zero regret and happily went hungry instead. Probably he was just going through some stress or the real cook did not show up for work that day or something, I just don't know. I bet the place is normally great and don't want to ruin anyone but I must confess I tossed this entire meal and preferred wasting the money rather than consume it. It was that unappetizing. Mind you I had waited a long while and was the ONLY customer at the time. It should have been an excellent effort. Sorry to have to shred it but my hope is that this was a flukey exception for this restsurant. I wish the management luck. read more

The chef/ owner?, artist was very professional and accommodating. He explained every item on the menu that night. The decoration was real nice and the selection of music was pleasant. Best of all, the food was great. Definitely going again. read more