Whether you’re trying to impress that hottie on your arm, it’s a first date, anniversary or your dining solo, we’ve gathered up West Harlem’s Go-To locals with pretty awesome deals.

Jado Sushi

Perfect for a first date or just a romantic dinner for two, the ambiance, food, wine list and service makes this place a sure hit. Jado Sushi is offering a Valentine’s Pre-Fix (3 Courses for $50) with complementary amuse bouche.

 

Le Monde

Oui, Oui Just love this little taste of France, and with their V-Day special menu including vanilla & raspberry mouse, lobster, filet mignon and pouched salmon at a shocking price of $45 for one or $85 for two, you bet your bottom dollar we’ll be there sans date or not!

La Condesa

With it’s cozy atmosphere and Traditional Mexican dishes this V-day spot is intimate and on point, Enjoy their pre-fix (3 Course menu) that you’re guaranteed to love, plus BYOB for that extra special bottle poppin experience!

Massawa

To die for!  Yep… It’s going down at Masawa on Valentine’s Day with lots of intimate eating (with your hands) and honey wine! This is a spot for laughing and getting to know each other all over again. Always good prices with plates that need to be shared.

This week the blog Harlem Gal shared a story about BiteScore. It’s a quick and easy way of learning what grade a restaurant received in the City. For examples she used Maison Harlem and Red Rooster. Both passed with flying colors. Read more. It’s a nifty story.

Tiffany Tay Jan 16, 2013 12:30 PM

Here’s a question we get time and again: where can I take a date for good food without breaking the bank? And can I do it without looking like a cheapskate?

The short answer: eat out with a strategy. Get ramen. Visit well-dressed ethnic restaurants. Try pizza. Eat at neighborhood joints beyond your own. As for the longer answer, well, here are 40 restaurants across the city we recommend for date-worthy meals, no matter what kind of date you’re looking for.

To help you sort through them all, we’ve made a flow chart breaking down the best spots for the type of date you’re looking for. Not every restaurant and not every type of date, but a guide to get you started. See all the recommendations in the slideshow above or jump to a restaurant below. And tell us in the comments: what is your favorite first date restaurants?

Manhattan

• Coppelia (Chelsea)
• Co. (Chelsea)
• Red Egg (Chinatown)
• Shanghai 456 (Chinatown)
• Exchange Alley (East Village)
• Graffiti (East Village)
• Bobwhite (East Village)
• Caracas Arepas Bar (East Village)
• Awash (East Village & Morningside)
• Motorino (East Village)
• Bianca (East Village)
• Zabb Elee (East Village)
• Han Joo (East Village)
• Prima (East Village)
• Gazala Place (Hell’s Kitchen & UWS)
• ‘inoteca (Lower East Side)
• Yunnan Kitchen (Lower East Side)
• Franchia (Midtown East)
• Sip Sak (Midtown East)
• Café China (Midtown East)
• Bamiyan (Murray Hill)
• Anjappar (Murray Hill)
• Salvation Taco (Murray Hill)
• Tequileria Maya (Upper East Side)
• Laut (Union Square)
• Jin Ramen (West Harlem)
• Murray’s Cheese Bar (West Village)
• Barraca (West Village)
• Otto (West Village)

Yes, Restaurant Week is coming back in January. This is a great opportunity for NYC residents, tourists and visitors to sample great food after the holidays. And the association want you to remember that we also have great food to offer. Bring your friends, family and colleagues to member sites.

The owner of Lot 125 Maritza Rodriguez and her sister at their holiday wine tasting. What was soooo special about the event was the ham. Jamón ibérico (Spanish: [xaˈmon iˈβeɾiko]; “Iberian ham”, also called pata negra [ˈpata ˈneɣɾa]; “black hoof”) is a type of cured ham produced mostly in Spain, but also in some Portuguese regions where it is called presunto ibérico (Portuguese: [pɾɨˈzũtu iˈβɛɾiku]). According to Spain’s  Denominacion de Origen rules on food products, the jamón ibérico may be made from black Iberian pigs, or cross-bred pigs as long as they are at least 75% ibérico.

And in 2013, Lot125 will host intimate wine tastings for small groups in their new tasting room. It’s all about the experience.

Support for this holiday promotion was made possible by Manhattan CB9 & Councilwoman Inez Dickens

Nussbaum & Wu

2897 Broadway

(212) 280-5344

Mini Black and White    $1.25

Lg. black and White      $2.75

 Gift Sets:

Mini b/w cookies $15.95

Assorted cookies $17.95

Holiday pies:

Apple, Pumpkin, Pecan

1 for $15

2 for $25

2012 Winter Wonderland in West Harlem with local restaurants –

 Shop*Dine*Celebrate the holidays Uptown in West Harlem, NYC!

For the entire month of December 2012, New York shoppers can take advantage of special promotions at participating retail stores and restaurants in West Harlem.

 On December 12, 2012 at 5:30 pm at West Harlem Piers Park: 125th St. and Marginal, The West Harlem Food and Beverage Association will join elected officials and the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation in hosting the annual ‘Holiday on the Hudson Tree Lighting’ which officially lights the Christmas tree and kick off holiday events in West Harlem.

Guests and Patrons will relish in the holiday promotions at establishments such as Café One, The Chipped Cup, Coffee & Victuals, Chokolat Patissere, Community Restaurant, Dinosaur Bar-b-que, Harlem Public Gastropub, Harlem Wine Gallery, Havana Central, Hudson River Café, J’s Petit Cacao, Jin Ramen, LeMonde, Lot125, Massawa, Nussbaum & Wu, Riverside Church/Pasha Events, Toast, Tonalli and Trufa while enjoying the unveiling ceremony. Holiday menus, showcasing the diversity of cuisine from around the world in uptown NYC, will also debut for the season; where patrons will enjoy sumptuous dishes and drinks like themed holiday cakes, Belgian hot chocolate and eggnog coquito.

 The 2012 tree will be synonymous with the holidays in New York City. The holiday promotions will also offer exciting activities such as gospel music in partnership with Dinosaur Bar-b-que restaurant, shoppers purchasing merchandise at a participating uptown restaurant and special treats!

 “We wanted to reward holiday shoppers for coming uptown by giving them an incentive to stick around and try one of our great dining venues,” said Savona Bailey, Representative of West Harlem Food & Beverage Association.

 Historically and architecturally, West Harlem is one of New York City’s richest and most diverse neighborhoods. The development of the area in the past few years welcoming eateries, bars, etc. is exciting and allowing the area to evolve with the city.

 For additional information about the holiday promotion, please visit http://www.whfba.biz/.

The scene at Harlem Public

Opening a craft-beer bar of sophisticated imports may seem like the best of ideas in a ritzy corner in West Village or a trendy avenue in Park Slope.

A riskier proposition, though, is putting such an upscale place in Upper Manhattan. But owner Jay Janawsky, who opened a similar bar in the Bronx four years ago, said it was almost a no-brainer.

“It’s high risk and high reward,” Mr. Janawsky said. “I love being the first person to do something.”

If you’re hungry, try the eccentric peanut-butter burger ($11.95), slathered in peanut butter and covered with brown sugar bacon and New York cheddar. Dipping chips in pork-belly queso and guacamole ($8.95) is a weirdly delicious appetizer. Harlem Public also offers deep-fried avocados or pierogies for $7.95.

The bar has several cozy touches that reflect its neighborhood, including wooden pews from a nearby church in the corner and photographs of the area adorning the walls. The photos look like they are a century old, but were actually taken in August, translated to black-and-white and framed to appear historic. A homemade mosaic that spells Harlem Public hangs above the bar.

“It’s the kind of neighborhood place designed to kick back, put a smile on your face and unwind,” Mr. Janawsky said.

—Josh Dawsey

Harlem Public, 3612 Broadway, near West 149th Street; open Monday through Thursday between 3 p.m. and 2 a.m., Friday between 3 p.m. and 4 a.m., Saturday between noon and 4 a.m. and Sunday between noon and 2 a.m.; (212) 939-9404.

A version of this article appeared October 24, 2012, on page A24 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Upscale Option Uptown.

The four members that were selected for Savor the Season Uptown! included LeMonde, Dinosaur Bar-b-que, Jin Ramen and Harlem Public. All of our members did an outstanding job and made West Harlem proud. A total of nine restaurants and two bakeries were involved with Harlem’s first professional food tasting event that was organized by curator Savona Bailey-McClain, Executive Director of the West Harlem Art Fund and organizer of the West Harlem Food & Beverage Association.

Havana Central evokes the 1950s golden era of Cuba, capturing Havana’s heyday as the world’s most tantalizing playground through its festive ambiance, vibrant décor and mouth-watering food. Executive Chef Stanley Licairac’s traditional dishes like Vaca Frita, Ropa Vieja and Arroz con Pollo are an unmistakable celebration of Cuban cuisine. The cocktail list includes signature sips like Mojitos and Sangrias; its wine list is filled with Latin American favorites.  Lunch and dinner are served daily, brunch is available on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit www.havanacentral.com.