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Melba's New York Tripadvisor Reviews
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26 Reviews
0 Replys |
Harlem classic
Made the trip uptown while my nephew was visiting from Pittsburgh. Melba's is an unassuming neighborhood joint where you are made to feel at home from the moment you enter the door. We enjoyed the famous chicken and waffles, Jamaican oxtails and perfectly cooked fish. Highly recommend!!
Be the first to ReplyDisappointed
It seems that Melbas had a off night mac and cheese was dry, the potato salad was old from being left out and the fish was under cooked. Lets leave it at that.
Be the first to ReplyNever Again!!!
Never again!!! I took my daughters yo NY for their 1st time to the Macy's parade and to spend a few days in the big apple. I wanted this Thanksgiving to be special and something different. We choose Melba's for our Thanksgiving meal. There was a special menu that day that came with a choice of an appetizer, a main entree, 2 sides and dessert. There was no price listed on the menu. Our total came to $308.00!!! What?? It certainly wasn't worth that much. My daughter told the waitress no cranberry sauce and it was visible that they forgot and just scraped it off of the turkey on her plate because it was residue still there. It took nearly 35 minutes for us to even get the appetizers, the food was delicious but the dessert didn't taste homemade at all. We tossed them in the trash. The waitress added a $47.50 gratuity to the bill for a party of 3!!! We left feeling taken advantage of. The next day we visited Amy Ruth's and the soul food was delicious and served hot and quickly. The total was less than $100. We left feeling great! My recommendation is if you visit Melba's and there are no prices listed find out how much it's going to cost first. NEVER AGAIN!!! Shameful!
Be the first to ReplyWe Were Very Disappointed
We expected good results based on the review from "The View". The atmosphere is nothing to write home about but the staff was welcoming. The food came out so fast we thought it was a fast-food restaurant. We had fried chicken, fish, greens, mac n cheese, potato salad and coleslaw. No cornbread. EVERYTHING was mediocre.
Be the first to ReplyGood food and good vibes!
Me and a friend decided to try Melba’s last minute on a Saturday evening. We made a reservation and got in right away. Our server Kenny was very cordial and helpful. The food and atmosphere were both great. I’d definitely recommend.
Be the first to ReplyLiz trip
We visited after this place was highly recommended by some friends. Being a soul food restaurant owner and great cook I extend grace and acknowledge everyone has different expectations and taste buds. I was very pleased on a previous visit with the short beef ribs yams and greens so I did a repeat. This time was underwhelming to say the least. Hubby had the fried chicken potato salad and greens He enjoyed it. Everybody has an off day so I’ll leave it there. Was kinda expensive but I understand it’s a tourist city and I was on vacation. I’ll probably give it another try. The staff we encountered were very nice and professional but never checked on us or offered refills. Go by and try for yourself if no than to support a legend in Harlem. You might just like it.
Be the first to ReplyDisappointing
Over priced, over salted and over rated! We were excited to go and. Expected an amazing meal. What we got was over salted food. Some of the food was good but the whole experience was marred by an unfriendly hostess and a lack of cleanliness. There is better soul food we will try next time.
Be the first to ReplyAt least the food was good!
The food was good the service sucked! the waiter with red glasses had an attitude, never told us his name and was rude. The people taking reservations were terrible also.
Be the first to ReplyFamily trip to NYC. Must eat here.
As you walk in they are so hospitable & willing to serve you. Brought our family there and everything was amazing. Will definitely be back.
Be the first to ReplyFood and song for the soul
On holiday from the UK. We were on a walking tour and our guide took us to this restaurant after many hours of walking, we were not disappointed. We had to wait a few minutes for a table meanwhile a large party were celebrating 2 birthdays, the staff sang them Happy Birthday, their voices sounded like a gospel choir, we will never forget it. Staff were very friendly, our food was amazing, my husband had ribs and me fried chicken and mac and cheese, I had food to take home as well.
Be the first to ReplyDisappointed
I just wasted $35 at Melba restaurant, buying the chicken &waffle with salte spinach, SPINACH WAS SALTY, CHICKEN WAS DRY AND STALE, PLUS SMALL.not again.
Be the first to ReplyNot what we expected
We went with very high expectations, having read such good reviews. We imagined generous southern cooking and a warm welcome. What can I say? It was a let down. The portions were quite small for this type of restaurant, and though the food was tasty, it was nothing special. The service was rather indifferent, and we were advised against ordering more than we did, even though we pointed out that we were rather hungry after having walked through Central Park! All in all this is not a place we will be revisiting.
Be the first to ReplySome things great
On the recommendation of our waiter we ordered the beef short rib sliders. Delicious and if I come back will get these! We got an iced tea, white chicken with eggnog waffles, melbas bbq turkey meatloaf (ok), red velvet cake and carrot cake.
Be the first to ReplyVisiting
The worst experience. I made a reservation and it was not honored. They were back up which my party was told it would be 30 minutes which was understandable but it became over 30 minutes. Please note they were seating walk-ins over the patrons that made a reservation. That in my opinion is not exceptable which I will not be back nor my family as your customer service is rated poorly.
Be the first to ReplyWorst way to start our trip!
Flew in for a few days from Florida and couldn’t wait to eat at melbas based on reviews and just overall buzz through the years ..soon as we landed we headed there we had made reservations lucky we did bcz it was packed - we got seated immediately which was a great sign hopes were high!! 😊 there was no AC inside the restaurant…it was almost 90degrees in NYC …our server showed up maybe at about 10 minutes …by that time my husband had went to the bar to place drink orders he got back after 25 minutes and said no one had been able yo take care of him bcz the bar tenders were taking orders outside … … we ordered fried shrimp crab cakes and hot wings … shrimp were excellent , crab cake was terrible very doughy and had no crab, the wings were basically fried with hot sauce pour on top not even mixed the hot sauce was on like 2 out of the 5 wings … jar Hotsauce which also tasted terrible , … entree was fried snapper , fried chicken collards and Mac and cheese —- fried chicken was ok but 2 pieces only , fried fish was extremely greasy 3 of us ordered it and none finished it ; and it was a piece the size of my palm (trust me that’s not big) … locals sitting next to us started chatting and said since the pandemic service has been declining , she said usually they have the AC off and may turn it on for Saturday which is when a lot of tourist show up ! We were very dissatisfied even if the service isn’t great we can look past that due to shortages after the pandemic - but to be a famous soul food place your food has to be up to par, that’s non negotiable ! They should take less people and take the time to cook the food properly you can’t be packed and not be equipped to handle large crowds …. They have to do better 🗽🍎😩
Be the first to ReplyAWESOME IN EVERY WAY!
This was my first visit to NYC from Baltimore, MD in over 20 years. This time I brought my husband and granddaughter! First the location is excellent as it’s only about two blocks from the subway. The outdoor seating was ample and very nice since there were booths that were covered as well as tables that were not and it was on the side of the building so you weren’t in direct sun. I had made a reservation a few days before going and I was allowed to reserve outdoor seating as well. When We arrived I went inside to let the host know we were there and they had us on the schedule. The two people I first met and I’m sorry that I didn’t get their names because they were professional and friendly were a slim built young lady and a tall slim man with braids. We were seated immediately and offered a choice of booth or table. Our reservation was for 1:00 pm on June 7 by the way. Our waiter appeared and brought a paper with a QR code on it. We didn’t know what to do with that. And he returned and explained that we could use our phones to see the menu with the QR code. We weren’t familiar so he showed us how and we placed our order. Drinks came out promptly as well as food. I believe our waiters name was DUQUAN. I’m not sure of the spelling. He was very pleasant and explained and answered any questions we had. I had the fried chicken dark meat with waffle and strawberry butter. The waffle was melt in your mouth delicious!!! The fried chicken leg was fried to perfection —crispy outside and seasoned and moist inside. No need to add salt or pepper!!! My husband had the shrimp dish and we both ordered the collard greens. He said his shrimp were delicious and they were a good size. The sides were large and the greens were tender and well seasoned. My granddaughter had the mac and cheese entree. It was so super cheesy and marvelous!!! My only regret is that I could not get the oxtails only because I had no more room in my belly!!!! We were constantly checked on by all staff members including an older gentleman whose name I don’t know as well as the first two people I met inside when I first got there!!! I WAS SO IMPRESSED!!! Finally. the bathroom was very clean! BE SURE TO PUT THIS RESTAURANT ON YOUR LIST WHEN VISITING NYC!!!! My review is all PROS and I had no CONS! If I could rate them more than 10 stars I would!
Be the first to ReplyLively & friendly restaurant
Very lively & friendly restaurant run by American African. Love the ambience & the friendly crowd. Love the southern fried chicken & eggnog waffle. The beef rib was super tender , it is a must try. They have unique cocktails too, the Strawberry Hennessy was very special . We came here during Mother’s Day & I was given a stalk of red rose. :)
Be the first to ReplyDinner and a stroll
A friend recommended that I try Melba’s during my visit. So happy she did. We loved it. Very close to our hotel and my family we were visiting in Harlem. We arrived about 3pm so no big lunch crowd. I’m a restaurant owner so I try and go after lunch when dining during the day. We were greeted and seated and drink orders taken. Server took food order and food returned quickly. My niece had the fried chicken breast quarter with garlic potatoes and macaroni and cheese. She said the mac and cheese almost topped mine and that’s saying something. I ordered the red wine braised short ribs with collard greens and ASAP yams. Ribs were fork tender and greens had a little spicy bite. Yams were very good too. We both enjoyed our meals and the portions were very nice. Definitely recommend them if in the area.
Be the first to ReplyMelba’s…THE FOOD IS EXCELLENT and so were the STAFF,
This was a girls trip to New York City and we saw the story of Melbas restaurant on the news And decided when we got to New York City Melbas would be the place to go for our soul food-dinner! They did not disappoint, the food was amazing! And it was comforting to know that everyone in the restaurant was vaccinated! So we began our order… Fried chicken, catfish, shrimp, collard greens, macaroni and cheese and yams! And let me tell you when I say the collar greens were on point they were on point we were salivating at the taste of the collar greens! Everything was so good all the girls enjoyed the food! When the staff found out we were from Las Vegas and the reason why we came in free shots were delivered to our table. Then they found out we were here celebrating my 70th birthday and brought out a candle and sang happy birthday to me Stevie wonder style. We danced, we sang we met other people in the restaurant who loved the energy of our table and we just had a great time! Check out the photos it says everything! A special shout out to MEL (The blonde with the Spock ears) made our night extra special (so sweet) and she made some hella cocktails too! Don’t miss out on going to Melbas you won’t be disappointed! I see some reviews commenting on service, no cornbread, making comments on how they themselves make cornbread… seriously people everyone is doing their best to come out of the pandemic. Hardworking people with no other agenda but to make the food on the menu. Take a chill pill people enjoy the good things and leave the whining at home. Trust me the Fried Chicken and Collards will make up for any small inconvenience. And for us there were none! If we are ever back in NYC we will be back and we are telling all our friends about MELBA’s!
Be the first to ReplyNo Cornbread?
Well, I went to Melba’s for dinner with a friend while visiting Harlem from Alabama. I ordered beef short ribs and my friend ordered sautéed shrimp. I also ordered collards. We ask the waitress for cornbread and was told they didn’t sell it. Why? Because the owner, Melba, stopped selling it! She didn’t like the crumbs! I’ve been making cornbread for over 45 years and know if it crumbles excessively, it’s because it’s not made right. The manager came to the table after the waitress told him we asked for cornbread. He became very offensive! But us southern girls handled it! He offered sweet potato pie as a peace offering but we declined it. My friend ordered the yams and was not impressed. I must say, the short ribs were decent but over priced!
Be the first to ReplyExcellent Food but Service Needs Improvement
I ordered the chicken wings with collard greens and mac and cheese. My wife had the cat fish with waffle fries and mac and cheese. I also had the sweet potato pie. I thought the food was excellent, especially the cat fish, which my wife shared with me. However, the service needs improvement. First, they don't seem very organized. When we arrived, we asked for outdoor seating. We were told that we would have to wait. After about ten minutes, we struck up a conversation with a worker. She told us that we need to put our name on a waiting list. I thought this should have been told to us by the person who initially told us to wait. I think the person who failed to tell us was the owner. After we sat down, it took a very long time for someone to come over to take our order. We didn't mind because we were not in a rush but one thing did bother me, it was that the couple seated next to us, came in at least ten minutes after we were seated and their order was taken before ours. Finally, after we asked for our bill, the person we told us about the waiting list, informed us that she needed our table. We didn't have a problem with that request either, except we were waiting on them to bring us our bill. I thought she should have inquired before telling us that she needed us to vacate the table. After we paid, I had an unfinish drink and before I could finish the drink, we were told again that they need our table.
Be the first to ReplyVaccine Celebration for Life!
Loved my lunch at Melbas -the place I chose to celebrate my first vaccine shot! I’m 69 and so glad now. dressed up for the big event with symbolic meaningful accessories.
While the inside looks cozy, I wanted the sunny outside, and to watch the Harlem street action. Had the fried catfish, collard greens and Tres Mac & cheese, with pineapple coconut cake for dessert. To help my celebration, I added a Rum Punch, which magically got better as the meal progressed.
Now,, anyone who knows me knows I don’t order mac&cheese —because I’m always disappointed. Wow! The best! Fabulous !! For the texture (not too mushy Macaroni), the three cheeses! And the little flecks of red pepper (just enough heat to wipe away boring). Collard greens get their complex layers of flavor partly from the smoked turkey! See that? Instead of bacon! Healthy and delicious. The twin best part (besides Mac&Cheese) was the cake— I’ve came home and started researching the cake so I can try my hand at it.
On April 9, I have my second vaccine. Can’t wait to celebrate life, the future, at Melbas.
Mostly Great
1/29/2021 - We got take out for Restaurant Week and although this establishment is a little over 12 miles away we wanted to support during this time of Covid! Every one got something different, My husband got Fried Chicken Wings with Eggnog Waffles accompanied with strawberry butter (which he didn't like the butter). He also ordered the Fried Catfish, Sautee Spinach and Low Country Collard Greens. My husband really enjoyed all of these dishes ( I tasted the fish it was great!). My son ordered the Smothered Chicken with sides of Tres Mac and Cheese and Roasted Garlic Yukon Gold Mashed Potato. I asked him how everything was and all he could say was "where does this wonderful flavor come from?" Lastly, I too ordered the Dark Meat Smothered Chicken, Low Country Collard Greens and Tres Mac and Cheese with Mama's Potato Salad Everything was very flavorful and very tasty with the exception of the Potato Salad (I had to doctor it up and it still was just ok). Each meal came with a slice of Carrot Cake which only my husband ate because it had nuts and icing! All in all I would return but with a little hesitation.
Be the first to Replygreat food experience
Wanted a great soul food experience in Harlem and Melba’s delivered. Visited with another couple while spending some days in the city before a cruise and this was definitely one of our memorable meals. We each had something different and everyone loved their meal (Chicken and Waffles, Turkey Meatloaf, Salmon and Short Ribs). Server gave us great directions that shortened our walk back to a subway stop!
Be the first to ReplyChurch leadership brunch meeting was a huge success!
The staff was attentive and the food was amazingly scrumptious!!! We had a family-style brunch that was sensational! We will definitely do it again!!
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