Melbas Reviews

Food was delicious & tasty, as homemade soul food should be.

Had a wonderful time at Melba. The food was great. The only thing stopping me from giving five stars is the heating system was messed up on this day. I will be back though.

The host was very nice he was patient and very kind with my party the food was delicious

I ve been to Melba s once before for brunch. I tried their fried chicken and it was great - flavorful, juicy and filling. So based on that I decided to order the Southern fried chicken dinner with two sides - I got Mac & cheese and collard greens. I was completely disappointed! The portions were small especially for the price I paid (and tipped although it was just a pick up order). The Mac & cheese tasted as if the cheese had gone bad as there was a sharp, nauseating taste to it. The fried chicken and greens were tasteless. I was excited for this dinner and severely let down. I don t know what happened this time around (maybe they stopped giving the same care to making their food during the quarantine) but it was not the same quality of food I had a few months ago. Will be steering clear of this place from now on. Sad.

What I ordered: Caesar salad with salmon and a side of Mac and cheese. What I sampled from my friends plates (in addition to my meal): dark meat fried chicken, collard greens. What I think: Mac and cheese was incredible - perfect mix of crisp and creamy. Salmon was fantastic - cooked absolutely perfectly. I don t usually like collard greens, but these were incredibly tasty. Seems like there s some maple syrup in there...? Whatever it was, I need the recipe. I would absolutely recommend Melba s for a casual, friendly, perfectly southern, delicious meal.

Food was great and hot it also came quickly. Only thing I don't like a lot of stocks in my greens.

The sides are expensive, but the food was good. The chicken could use more herbs and spices. Mac and cheese... yum yum. Service, FANTASTIC!!! The service makes the food even tastier

Great, personable service and the food is always a delight!!

Food is fair. Atmosphere is extremely comfy, cozy, but noisy. Like the live music on Tuesdays. I would make a point of visiting there.

Cool ambiance (great artwork on walls); delicious comfort food; excellent customer service. Good R&B music but a little too loud for my taste. Will definitely go back.

Excellent service. The food was alright. Overall good experience.

I LOVE the food and Champ the bartender is AWESOME!!!!

Excellent food and service in a cozy atmosphere.

I had the Southern Chicken and EggNog Waffles. The venue is small, but the wait wasn't long and our brunch was satisfyingly intimate.

Food was delicious.The chicken, grits,pancakes,catfish and salmon cakes also the coconut cake all delicious. . I just celebrated my birthday at Sunday Brunch. Melba , her staff and my cousins all sang to me. Thank you Melba, good luck with your new book. Your staff was very nice, friendly and professional.

Great ambiance and a great place to feel comfortable if dining alone. While I chose the Mac and cheese my companion chose a larger meal, and left nothing but the bones..lol.. When I visit Harlem again, I hope to find my way back to Melba's..... RUTH, from D.C.

My family and I visited Melba's during our vacation to NYC in August 2018. I specifically selected Melba's after reading that the owner had family ties in the Lowcountry of South Carolina which is where my family is from. It appeared that a menu I read online also referenced some Lowcountry inspired dishes so it just seemed that this restaurant would be a great option to please my large family.
We came in for brunch on a Sunday and was immediately seated. The restaurant is small but a large table was already set up for us. The staff and manager were very nice and accomodating!! The food did not take long to come to the table. The portions were good size. The sides however are way overpriced. It was like $5.00 for a half link of sausage. That's hilarious. I ordered the popular waffle and chicken dish. Not sure if it was just the wrong morning to order the eggnog waffles, but there was nothing unique about the waffles. I tried hard to distinguish a difference in taste between the eggnog waffles and just regular waffles I've had before, but I couldn't. The fried chicken was average but seemed just a bit overcooked. After taking a consensus from my family, all thought that their dishes was just okay. One thing that was great however was the music. Great vibe! Overall, I think that the brunch was average as far as food quality. But on another trip to NYC, I would love to come back to Melba's to try their dinner menu. I think that would hit closer to home for my me.

The food was cold and waiting 45 minutes before getting my drink was unacceptable! It was a very bad experience and I won't be going back!

Great breakfast with mom in NY but tables crowed to each other

Very snooty and uppity vibe. Food is good, but it doesn't have that homie southern charm. That you get from a soul food restaurant

A great way to spend a Wednesday evening. The old-school R&B vibe and the delicious chicken and waffles, iced tea lemonade, and coconut layer cake made for a lovely combination.

I also wanted to thank the manager for making up for a slightly bumpy beginning to our meal, as it shows that great service is a priority. Needless to say, I will be returning to this Black-owned restaurant in the future.

love the $5 happy hour. The cat fish is the best. Wish happy hour was in the entire restaurant and not only at the bar.

Happy to experience a bustling Black-owned business. Wings and waffles were on point.

The food was amazing! Everything I tasted had an essence of love and devoting to presenting an amazing product. I gave it four out of five stars because there were some things that need a little more TLC! The drinks were good and strong, which is great, not the issue! The issue are the one's that aren't as popular don't have the finesse as the others that are always ordered. Maybe removing them off the menu or have more training on them would be nice. When they give us a time frame, I don't think they included there RSVP group into the time and we had to wait an additional 20 minutes from the 45 minute time we were given. Maybe over predict on time then under would be better. Care of the restuarant is another sight that required attention. The turnover in the restaurant is major and everyone who works in the building has a hand in great satisfaction to customer service. However, if they can have one person who is dedicated to wiping/drying floors, bathroom maintenance and assist employees when they spill or drop items, would make the restaurant above top notch! Paying attention to those small details would do wonders to show the care of the business. Let's not forget the food is AMAZING!!!

Brian was my server last night & I must say I was highly impressed ! See you next time

Server was kind, food was great and facility had great decor and was very clean. Definitely will revisit in the future

Service has definitely gotten worse..... i used to love this place

Brunch was fantastic. We had to wait for a seat it was that desired. Melba's is a great taste of Harlem. Mimosas were everything. Pancakes fluffy and sweet. The smothered chicken was so addictive and tender. Try the eggnog waffles.

Great fried chicken Mac n cheese and cocktails. Great find and will be back.

The 2 for 1 happy hour deal is literally 2 for 1 person. The 2 for one can t be done between 2 people. $9 onion rings were not worth it.

The food and service was excellent. I had the catfish fingers appetizer, fried chicken with spinach and potato salad entree, and pound cake a la mode for dessert. I will definitely be back to try other items on the menu.

Nice atmosphere, food was good, fried shrimps, sweet potatoes, crab cakes, calamari and potato salad, but the macaroni and cheese was way to cheesy for me and pasta was to soft... drinks were slaming. I will go back it's not my 1st rodeo.

The French toast was delightful, the fried chicken missed the mark for me but I d definitely give it another try. My friends really enjoyed their meals (chicken & waffles) and cocktails!

SO SO GOOD! Authentic, delicious food - we picked up takeout and it was still hot and held up well. Fried chicken and short ribs are must trys. Can t wait to come back!

Came here for dessert and we got to meet Melba the restaurant owner that has been featured on the Food Network. She was very friendly and seemed passionate about her business and took the time to chat with us after we finished our dessert. I ordered the red velvet cake and my friend ordered the sweet potato pie. Must say I loved the sweet potato pie and I wish I had ordered the pie instead of the cake. The red velvet cake was not bad but it just was not very sweet. The desserts are homemade and both desserts came out warm! Overall, it was a fun place to grab desserts and would definitely return to actually try the food or have drinks with friends. The atmosphere is very warm and cozy and its a nice space to relax and have a comfortable meal. Good experience but I would just order something different the next time I return.

This was my second time to Melbas s. The outdoor dining set up was perfect. There are chairs and tables on each side of the sidewalk and also in the street which is blocked off. There are also booths available however you have to reserve the booths it s first come first serve. There are many seats so the wait isn t long to be seated. Our waiter Brian was absolutely superb. He was so professional, attentive, and friendly. There is a QR Code for you to scan to view the menu. There are two restrooms in the restaurant you must wear your mask when entering the restaurant. The food was delicious. Everyone in my party enjoyed their food. Your food comes out in a bag in to go trays with utensils inside as well as condiments. What really tipped it off a member of our party was celebrating a birthday and the staff surprised her by singing Happy Birthday to her. I will definitely be back. I m thinking about the food already. I forgot to take pictures before we started eating please excuse the eaten food. If you re looking for some feet soul food Melba s is the place.

Nice decor, prices are ok. Good looking people inside, I like it.

Ample portions, just right. Great combinations Catfish and waffles with strawberry butter. Yes, yes, yes! I'll have what she's having good. Rarely-offered in most restaraunts, the wild Salmon was cooked to perfection. Soul food can be healthy. Crowded and festive. Sit in the main dining room for maximum atmosphere.

Best fried chicken I've ever had. Was part of a chicken and waffles dish.

inexpensive, well seasoned food but not salty. average wait time, small space though

Very good food and amazing service. The atmosphere was also modern and romantic. However, they should probably question the dress code of some of their customers. It takes away from the romance and experience. I witnessed men wearing sweatpants and way too casual gym clothes.

I had lunch here about a week or so ago...I ordered the Charleston shrimp, fried chicken, side of Mac n cheese and yams...honestly I only enjoyed the shrimp. I wish I ordered more of that.
Overall the meal was mediocre but I definitely need more of the shrimp.

Better than expected!

I'm so busy I rarely have time to write reviews. And you know what they say- usually folks write something if it's really bad or really wow. I was really impressed! The service was top notch- even better than I received at fancy restaurants. Food and drinks came out quick and delicious. You can be sure I'll be going there again.

My second home, great food, staff, drinks always a great experience.

This was a first for me. OMG...If you're looking for incredible tasting food and fantastic service, you need to look no further. I was so impressed by the quality and taste of the food. The Executive Chef, Keith, came out just to see how we felt about the food. We could not stop ranting and raving about the food and service.

Brian was our server and what an awesome person!!!! Talk about a great personality!!!!

Mike the GM was equally great and came over to check on us numerous times. These people really care.

We will absolutely be back for more!!!!!

Best southern food spot in Harlem... Wish draft beer otherwise great!

Omg the food is legit amazing. If your looking for some good Black Amerman comfort food come to Melbas. Via Uber Eats, I ordered the eggnog waffles, salmon, bbq turkey meatloaf, mac and cheese with potato salad. Their red velvet is delicious too.They offer delicious medium to large sized portions. Also, everything was packaged well.

So mad I forgot to take pics of the food. Just a reason to return to this place! Great customer service and they made the outdoor dining experience as convenient as they could. Food was great

Rich,My waiter was a cool guy,Salmon was delicious,Macaroni and candied yams were good too.

Best chicken and waffles in the neighborhood. Good vibe too.

Yummy chicken and waffles, we picked up and enjoyed a picnic in central park that is only a couple of blocks away.

Nice cozy atmosphere dim lighting with music and the Short Ribs were falling off the bone . Our server was attentive..

A very nice and cozy location. The service was great and the food arrived quickly. I only gave it 4 stars because I feel the food was overrated. I expected a better flavor personally but that's just my opinion. Certainly worth checking out though.

Love the mac n cheese.. overall great soul food restaurant.

Goodness gracious! Melba's is the place to be if you want some truly amazing chicken and waffles. If you love chicken and waffles, go here immediately. If you're never had chicken and waffles, go here immediately. If you hate chicken and waffles, go here immediately and have your mind changed. The chicken is moist, and the waffles are crispy. The flavors mix in such a way that you feel as though you have left your body and gone to some new plane of existence, a plane where the world tastes better. Go to Melba's. I don't know how many other ways I can say it. Just go. Eat chicken and waffles there.

Went here for the 1st time last week with my Wife. Brunch was great. Chicken N Waffles was great. Our server was good also. Made us her Special Fruit Punch Mix tht was great. Will b returning...

Really nice atmosphere the food was really good the waiting staff was excellent I would definitely go back

Great service, great atmosphere. Everything was delish except crab cake.

Wonderful atmosphere the food was delish had the chicken and waffles! !!

Great food, amazing service! All food was hot and fresh and served with a smile. I will def be back when I come back to Harlem!

Great music, excellent food and very reasonable prices.

You must go on a Tuesday night for great entertainment and food; it will uplift your week.

Food is great! I had eggnog waffle and chicken. My bff and I shared a dish of salmon croquet with grits. Mmmmmm

I didn't eat have a dinner, but I had an appetizer and dessert. They were both delicious. The bathroom was clean and neat, which is why it deserves 6 stars. The staff was incredible as well. Going back soon

Best Soul Fool Dinner and Brunch!!! I will be returning very soon!

Just went there Sunday our server was nice and welcoming. It's loud when it's a lot of people but it's a good type of loud. Cheddar grits were amazing.

Great chicken and waffles. Always packed but I love the ambience. This is what is missing at Amy Ruth s.

First I would like to say that my star rating in no way reflects the quality of the food served at Melba s. Anytime I ve ordered, the food was delicious!

I support local black businesses especial in the current COVID-19 pandemic because we need each other in order to get through this, well, maybe merchants don t need us, because on one particular day I chose to order takeout.

When I arrived I saw a banner outside that said curbside pickup. I called to tell the waiter that I was outside and asked if the order was ready. She said yes, and I told her I was parked outside. She said we don t come outside. That was weird because that s not what the banner said. It clearly states curbside pickup (a lot of restaurants do this, classy ones). She said how am I going to take your payment if I come outside, baffled by her attitude and obvious ignorance to restauranting post COVID... I just decided to go in and pick it up.

Once in, she walked over and handed me the food and said, okay . I grabbed the bag and was about to exit and she said you didn t pay for that . I apologized and said When you didn t prompt me to I assume I had paid online. Sorry. She then looked square at me and said I m not even going to say anything to you. She walked back to the register, swiped my card and said I don t know what s going on with you, I m not even going to say anything to you.

I was so confused because, I simply made a mistake. She was the epitome of a b word. And that s exactly what I wrote on the merchant copy of my credit card receipt.

Do you know this woman ran after me outside of the restaurant and taunted me, saying thank you and come again. Then later called my phone and told me that if I returned she would have me arrested.

She literally did this. Melba s and that waitstaff should be ashamed!

This place is small. Unless you have a reservation or get there early you will definitely have to wait. Their food is so yummy and worth the wait. The staff is very attentive and friendly. Can't wait to return.