SoHa restaurants (and food shops)

[Fat Guy]

South-Central Harlem (now being called SoHa by realtors and reporters) has been defined various ways, but all definitions put my address right in the middle of it. Let's call it the area of Harlem bordered by 110th Street (Central Park North) on the south and 123rd Street on the north, Frederick Douglass Boulevard (that's the avenue that would be Central Park West if the park continued north of 110th Street, which corresponds to Eighth Avenue on the Midtown street grid) on the west and Lenox Avenue (which would be Sixth Avenue below the park) on the east.

At the moment the major hub of development from a food standpoint seems to be Frederick Douglass from about 112th to 118th. It feels like every time I walk over there a new restaurant or shop has opened.

I'm just beginning to explore the neighborhood (we moved here in April) and will report back as I hit various places. But I was wondering: does anyone have any guidance for me here?

[IronScrabbleChef]

hey,

as a columbian, I get into that neighborhood quite a bit. I would expand your E/W range to include up to Morningside Avenue on the West. Some hot spots over there are Bier International and 5 & Diamond, as well as Lee Lee's Baked Goods, Amy Ruth's, Melba's, Africa Kine, and Patisserie Des Ambassades.

[Fat Guy]

5 & Diamond, Bier, et al. are on or near Frederick Douglass, not Morningside/Manhattan, aren't they?

[davidkeay]

Yep, 5 & diamond, bier international, and questans are all on Frederick Douglass. It sounds like 5 & Diamond had a lot of trouble pinning down a chef/menu, and I'm not sure what the current state is there.

Have you tried Red Rooster? It's a little further north on lenox, and supposed to be worth a visit. I'm in manhattan valley, and have been far too lazy about exploring what new stuff harlem has to offer... I'm looking forward to hearing about peoples experiences.

I got drinks at the speakeasy-styled place across from bier international a while back... the cocktails were just ok, I wasn't moved the way I am at a place like death & co. They were out of the infused tequila that was supposed to be in my first drink, and forgot the herbsaint in the sazerac my friend got (though the bartender did realize and come back to replace it).

[IronScrabbleChef]

ah ok I forgot that Morningside Park bends west--my perception is just that all those places are 1 street over from the edge of the park on its south side.