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Home > Restaurants > Melba's

All Reader Reviews of...

Melba's

300 W. 114th St., New York, NY, 10026
at Frederick Douglass Blvd.
212-864-7777

7.0 "Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10		 Write Your Own Review
80% Would you go back?
60% Would you take a date?
33% Would you take kids?
50% Would you go on business?
80% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 6.6
Service: 6.4
Décor: 7.8
Value: 7.0
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  • Showing reviews 1 through 5 of 5

Melba's is an elegant and delicious experience.

valgb from 10035 | Posted on 10/8/09

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? (NA)
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 8
Service: 8
Décor: 9
Value: 9

After Melba's was recommended to us, we visited for brunch and have returned several times with friends and never waited more than ten minutes to be seated. I had the eggnog waffles- delectable with strawberry butter, no need for the maple syrup, but only after selecting the fabulous sweet potato pancakes the first two times at Melba's. The tres mac (mac and cheese) is to die for. Melba is a great, warm hostess who offered to serve our late-arriving friends even after the kitchen had officially closed between brunch and dinner. The atmosphere and decor are classic, elegant Harlem and we will be regulars as long as Melba's is there for us to enjoy.

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2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

has soul food lost it's soul?

toastie73 from 10462 | Posted on 10/8/09

Overall Rating: 5 (Mixed Reviews)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 4
Service: 4
Décor: 5
Value: 5

I recently dined at Melba's. Though the food was good enough, I can remember a time where the expectation of a soul food meal was to transport you back to your grandmothers table! regardless of who's coming to dinner, I wish Harlem "comfort food" dines, would put the real comfort back! However, though the food would not draw me back! the entertainment on tuesday is worth the trip!

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5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Great Brunch

Orin212 from 10026 | Posted on 7/25/09

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? (NA)
Would you go on business? (NA)
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 8
Service: 8
Décor: 8
Value: 9

A friend and I went to Melba's on a rainy Sunday for brunch. We didn't have to wait to be seated, which I'm not sure is the usual. Anyway, the food was delicious and filling. Don't fill up in the biscuits, they were delicious, because you will need room for the main dishes.

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6 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Overrated Restaurant featured on Food Network

jwmclm from 13601 | Posted on 3/14/08

Overall Rating: 4 (Not Recommended)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 4
Service: 3
Décor: 8
Value: 3

My wife and I saw this restaurant featured on Food Network and decided to give it a try. We've eaten at a few soul and southern restaurants in New York City before this experience. For starters we had to wait 1.5 hours as priority seating was given to people with reservations. The waffles were decent although not the rave as Bobby Flay's show "Throwdown" played them up to be. The fried chicken was bland and proportion sizes were small. The signature chicken and waffle dish was modest in its food proportions, did not include any side items and cost more than $13. The owner Melba was friendly and offered our two boys some ice cream aftewards but didn't deliver on her promise after waiting a while. If interested in southern style soul cuisine I strongly recommend Amy Ruths on the corner of 116th and Lennox Ave which has delicious fried chicken and sides with prices to match the food proportions.

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23 out of 32 people found this review helpful.

Prime Harlem Hot Spot!

KeysserSoze from 10031 | Posted on 1/5/07

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 9
Service: 9
Décor: 9
Value: 9

This is a chic, cozy restaurant. The decor is perfect. You even got your own DJ there from 7PM spinning the good stuff. We got in at 6:30 and by 7PM the place was packed. The bar area was full as well. They've got Mojitos...awesome mojitos! Chuck full of mint leaves (best I've had in a long time). The signature drinks are a bit on the expensive side, but with the Happy Hour deal and all they came out to $6 a pop. I had a second mojito free! I had a Po' Boy Catfish sandwich with spicy fries. Amazing with the chipotle mayo! My date had the fried calamari. She loved it! Everything was enjoyable including our waiter. He couldn't have been more courteous, professional, and above all knowledgable of the menu.

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107 out of 178 people found this review helpful.

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