Upper West Siders will expedition to Bushwick for Italian at Roman’s. West Villagers will cantankerous the adding borders to allow at Momofuku. And if Marcus Samuelsson has his way, locals and visitors akin will accomplish the accessible adventure up to Lenox Avenue and 125th Street for abundance food, anxiously crafted affair and balmy accommodation at his latest venture, Red Rooster Harlem, aperture this week.
“You charge somebody to alpha the conversation,” says Samuelsson. “You’re in the best active burghal in the world, there are abundant agreeing bodies that think, ‘Hey, I appetite to go on an experience.’ There are abundant bodies that appetite to go on a journey.”
This adventure aboriginal appeared in the December 14, 2010 affair of WWD. Subscribe Today.
The adventure he’s alms them is article of a time trip. Taking its name from the acclaimed Forties Harlem Red Rooster joint, frequented by the brand of Nat King Cole and James Baldwin, Samuelsson, who lives in the neighborhood, looked to abbreviate both the area’s acclaimed history and its current, growing action in his cafe-style boîte.
“If you’re activity to blow Harlem, you accept responsibilities to actualize article that looks three ways: back, accepted and forward,” explains Samuelsson. “It starts with, ‘Hey, adhere out. And no dress code. Come, appear as you are. If you appetite to dress up, perfect, we acceptable that.’ It’s adulatory individuality.”
LOCATION: Right abreast the 125th Street stop on the 2 and 3 trains, Red Rooster is a block abroad from the Museum of Harlem and the Apollo Theater. Stalwarts Sylvia’s and Lenox Lounge are aloof about the corner.
ATMOSPHERE: All amber, cream, bittersweet and amber tones, the all-embracing amplitude captures the blush palette of the surrounding buildings. An undulating, ample mahogany, white oak and copper-top 20-seat bar greets guests, who can accept to achieve there or angle at one of the high-top common tables. A walnut antechamber mirror reclaimed from a bounded brownstone anchors the hostess area, while Bisazza bottle tiles add a comfortable blow to the floor. The 76-seat dining allowance is comprised of caramel covering banquettes akin with aggressive braiding piping; aberrant freestanding tables, and an accessible kitchen affected by a atramentous and white clear bank architecture bond motifs with aliment recipes. Works by a host of revolving artists such as Kara Walker, Ming Smith, Lauren Finn, Sanford Biggers and Lorna Simpson beautify the walls.
FOOD: Samuelsson describes his cuisine as “the adventure of American abundance aliment through my eyes and the eyes of Harlem.” Translation? Everything from shrimp ‘n’ grits and absurd chicken, to Helga’s Swedish meatballs (Samuelsson’s grandmother’s recipe) and adolescent and hamachi tacos, overseen by controlling chef Andrea Bergquist. Red Rooster will alpha off confined banquet only, and afterwards aggrandize to an all-day card from breakfast and brunch, to late-night offerings.
DRINKS: Looking to the aboriginal Red Rooster’s cocktail legacy, there will be specialty bourbon and whisky-based cocktails, artisanal calm beers and a anxiously edited wine list. A alternative of house-infused bourbon circuit out the group.
EXTRA CREDIT: Samuelsson is putting the finishing touches on a bench lounge, to accessible afterwards the new year, with a abstracted bar, alive performances and a mix of avant-garde and best accoutrement to accumulate the black going. An amid bench amplitude will be accessible for clandestine parties.
Red Rooster Harlem310 Lenox Avenue, New York212.792.9001; redroosterharlem.com
