Hip in Harlem

Have you ever seen a skier in the middle of Times Square? Most of you are probably thinking "Duh blizzard #1 of 2010." Although it has happened, this is a RARE occurrence just as a trendy restaurant is in Harlem. Kids-this doesn't come around all the time!

     Needless to say, I was excited to go to Red Rooster in Harlem (125th /Lennox). For those of you scared to hit the hundreds, this is close to the train and a short ride from mid-town. Anyways, I was a bit taken-back by the ambiance. Scene: dim lighting, eclectic knick-knacks, large bar, visible kitchen (points for being able to see who is making your food) and the smell of comfort food. Red Rooster is trendy (including the prices) but yet has a homey feeling. I definitely felt like I was downtown and not across the street from Staples. The menu consists of comfort foods like mac n' cheese, grits & shrimp, fried chicken, and Helga's meatballs. Yes, I know the last one is throwing you off, but Chef Marcus Samuelsson grew up in Sweden but has never lost touch of his Ethiopian roots. This brings for a nice combination of foods and spices.

    Now for the important stuff--food! For an appetizer I split the Blue Corn Fish Tacos which were scrumptious but SMALL (Picture two bite-size tacos). So, I was not surprised at the small entree's. I get you are going for the 'trendy' down-town feel, but a girl's got to eat. The mac n' cheese was okay but did not have that typical 'cheesy' taste that one would expect. The greens in the dish were a nice touch though. However, the Sweet Potato Doughnuts with Cinnamon Sugar made up for the rest. Picture Dunkin Donut-sized minis but a light, doughy, warm ball of greatness sprinkled with cinnamon. The dessert came with two dipping choices: lemon sorbet and vanilla cream. The combo of the sweet-potato and cream was a winner!

   Red Rooster is a great spot for anyone living uptown who is looking for a nice, trendy scene with good food and a decent variety. Being the restaurant is extremely new, I feel like it will be better as the hype wears down. Go for the doughnuts and the Sunday brunch with live Gospel music sounds like a nice way to spend a lazy Sunday! If that all fails, go to meet Chef Samuelsson (Top Chef) who personally greets all guests.