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 300 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Color World sets up on the corner of 116th and 2nd Avenue, rain or shine. There they serve beef, pork, goat, oxtail, and chicken for $10 a plate.
By
Their prices are in keeping with the neighborhood: a plate of two eggs, two pancakes, 'home' fried potatoes and your choice of sausages or bacon, is $12.
By
There are three houses not far from each other in NYC of three icons: James Dean, James Baldwin, and Dorothy Parker...
By
"Heckscher Field" in Central Park, New York, is used for softball. Here you can see games played for the Broadway Show League. Celebrity stars may be seen.
By
Among its offerings are a $10 breakfast special and its enormous $15 lunchtime hamburger, a price unobtainable anywhere else within walking distance.
By
This sun soaked park bench is a destination neighborhood residents know, spending time there in observation. It’s one of the more fabulous NYC stages.
By
"Monumental Women" has erected this monument in Central Park, NYC to especially important figures in the United States women's equality movement...
By
"Der Krung" in Hell's Kitchen in New York City is by far my favorite Thai place around. One of the best things about it is the $9.75 lunch special...
By
Visit the newly restored Frick Collection, a Gilded Age treasure with masterpieces by Vermeer and Fragonard, housed in a historic Fifth Avenue mansion.
By
"Apthorp Cleaners" in NYC is different from the dozens of other neighborhood cleaners by its permanent but ever-changing window display of Barbie dolls...
By
Taco toppings include cheese (Cotijam, oaxaca and mozzarella), pineapple, jalapeños and pico de gallo. Norteñas & Cubanos sandwiches are not to be missed.
By
"Dinastia" is a great Cuban-Chinese restaurant in New York City. They definitely make soul food here. Consider the squid and rice: it's always good...
By
300 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 300 Insider Tips