On a blustery Friday night, I took a trek to Harlem .
A coworker of a friend recommended a spot called Melba's. She said it was a great spot with "new-age" soulfood. -Now I know a thing or two about soulfood.-But "new-age" was, I thought, a strange way to describe it. So, I knew I was in for something interesting. A friend and I decided to check it out.
Upon immediately entering the restaurant, "interesting "was the last word I would use to describe it. Pleasantly, it was completely different from what I expected. The place was dimly lit, beautifully decorated, with a mixed crowd of patrons.- I was already pleased. The setting was calm and stylish, as the mood was set with well known R&B jams playing over the stereo. -Obviously, I had discovered the new Friday night spot. We were politely seated by our hostess and began to read over the affordable dinner and drink menu. Our drink of choice, because of the alluring title , was "A rose in Harlem." Upon the first sip of this drink-You taste the fine mixture of liqueur and juices. The taste was almost aromatic- as if it should be the scent of candle. - I could have stopped there; Had a great drink and a good time jamming to the music-but I had food to enjoy. So, we decided on "Melba's Spring Rolls" for an appetizer- or as Melba creatively calls them- "Comfortizers". Barbecue Turkey Meatloaf and Grilled Salmon were ordered for entrees. Collard greens, "tres mac & cheese", roasted garlic mash potatoes, and sauteed spinach were selected as side orders.
Let's just say, Melba's Spring Rolls set the trend for the entire meal. The tasty spring rolls, a unique blend of red rice, black eye peas, and collard greens, hit the spot! The combination of soul food's most honored side dishes in one wrap was amazing. Yet, before we could finish raving about the spring rolls, our entrees and sides were served. The presentation of the food was immaculate. The meats were laid elegantly on top of the sides, and colorful sauce adorned the plates.
The Barbecue Turkey Meatloaf was absolutely savory. The meatloaf was tender, meaty, and seasoned with a rich barbecue sauce. The Grilled Salmon was moist, grilled to perfection, and seasoned thoroughly. Theses entrees did not disappoint ,and neither did the sides. Macaroni and cheese is quite possibly one of my favorite side dishes; and not everyone can get it right. -but Melba's did. The "tres mac & cheese" was cheesy, moist, and was lightly baked. -And lightly baked mac & cheese is always the best. The greens and spinach were richly seasoned and were full of flavor.
As we enjoyed our food, we noticed two women sitting beside us having dinner. And to our surprise, we realized we were sitting next to Melba herself. We eagerly introduced ourselves and complimented her on the dishes. Courteous, sweet, and delightful- cannot fully describe Melba. She did not hesitate to share with us her dreams of opening up a restaurant in her neighborhood, Harlem; and the care and thought she places into her dishes. While getting lost in great conversation, we almost forgot about desert -And to my amazement, the dinner became even better.
Red velvet cake, sweet potato pie, and homemade chocolate ice cream were served. The sweet potato pie was sweet, tasty, and creamy-just the way it should be. The homemade ice cream was absolutely divine.- Like a creamy melted "Hershey's" chocolate bar. I mean, honestly, how often do you get to have homemade chocolate ice cream? Now, let's get to the red velvet cake; which is my favorite desert of all deserts. I have often stated that "the best red velvet cake lives below the Mason Dixon line". -Well Melba's has proved me wrong by bringing the best of a southern classic to Harlem. The cake was buttery, delicious, and the rich icing made it more delectable.It seemed as if with every bite, desert got better and we could not stop raving.
We ended the night at Melba's in a daze. The food was excellent. The ambiance was smooth and entertaining. The staff was courteous, polite, and catered to my needs as a customer. -And Melba gave us a warm hug on our exit. I must say, if "new age" soulfood is savory, elegant , charming, and ends with a hug- then Melba's has definitely taught me something new.
"Melba's" is located @ 300 w. 114th St. New York, NY 10026 at Frederick Douglass Blvd.
