I surprised myself by accompanying my friend Susan to The Seasoned Vegan up in Harlem on the corner of St. Nicholas and 113th Street. We laughed about it because cruising a vegan restaurant is rarely my first thought. It turned out to be not only good but crowded (in a good way), energized, and really fun. Once we were out on the street, we felt invigorated, sort of like after seeing a good play.
On the inside, another group of diners was celebrating a birthday. Well, the staff - maybe 6 people - came out with a tiny candlelit cake, then launched into the Happy Birthday chorus of Stevie Wonder's homage to Martin Luther King! I was blown away! They danced. They sang. It went on and on. They found a groove. They stuck with it!
Same thing with the food. I had a Harlem Chopped Cheeseburger, it was very good, and I would order it again. A real, street version Chopped Cheese is something you can’t get in a real restaurant; you need to go into one of those joints called ‘Gourmet Deli’, or some place like that, and it will probably be way uptown, or maybe in Brooklyn or Queens.
Here's a really 'white' take on chopped cheese. By the way, a chopped cheese is a real New York sandwich. And here is a charming video about 'Love what you do", featuring the staff of the restaurant. Here is a new review in the NY Times. No reservations. Take-out is available. Menu.
Find your way with 304 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
The White Clam Sauce linguine is classic. So much is served that what can’t be eaten on the spot can be taken home and easily reheated the next day,
by
At the "American Legion Post 398" in New York City I get to hear jazz played the old fashioned way, Harlem in the '30s, '40s and '50s...
by
"A Great Day in Harlem" is an important photo of 58 jazz greats taken in 1958 in NYC. The building on 126th Street where it was taken is still there...
by
The 13-mile Hudson River Greenway in NYC, which begins at the George Washington Bridge, is the most heavily used bike trail in the USA...
by
"New Plaza Cinema" in NYC has one mission: to show independent, foreign and classic films. It is run by a grassroots group; how long will it survive?
by
"Manny's Bistro" is a French bistro in my neighborhood in New York. Susan & I prefer to sit at the bar, which makes us belong & contribute to the scene...
by
"The Elevated Acre" is in the middle of the Financial District in NYC, but you would never see it when passing by - this park is hidden above street level!
by
John's Pizza is situated inside a former tabernacle with a domed stain glass ceiling about 50 feet above, and ‘sliced’ into 8 sections, just like a pizza.
by
On Broad Street stands a bronze sculpture named Fearless Girl which exudes bravery, pride and strength but not, according to the artist, 'defiance'...
by
The space functions day to day as a bright and modern-looking upscale deli and on certain evenings, it doubles as a performance space for stand-up comics.
by
It’s all free, on a first-come, first-served basis. You'll get a life jacket, a paddle, a 'kayak', and a locker, for a session of approximately 20 minutes.
by
"Amsterdam Billiards" in New York has a nice bar, nice service and soft couches. It's a well-known place to play (and watch!) billiards, darts, foosball...
by
304 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 304 Insider Tips