The food was subpar as was the ambiance. The waitress we had was doing her best and was accommodating. The chicken and waffles were inedible, fritters were heavily breaded and drinks were forgettable. Overall the experience was underwhelming!
Charity S.
Never been and randomly stopped to have a quick drink and snack around 4p on a weekday. There were at least 4-5 ppl working and we were the only ones there. We each had one drink and shared one order of HH sliders. The ambience was okay...nothing like the pictures. Drinks and food were decent but the service was pretty awful from waiting an exorbitant amount of time to get a glass of Prosecco and a Cosmopolitan, asking for water twice in a 20 mins span from two different people and then getting attitude when I brought the empty water glasses to the bar to be filled...then the wrong order comes out and being questioned about something we didn't accept because we did not order it. Thankfully, we arrived in time for HH because if we paid their dinner prices, it would have been insult to injury. We were there for over an hour and it wasn't until they picked up on what I thought was masked frustration, when suddenly their friendly vibe went into overdrive. I can't imagine how long we would have been there if we weren't the only table I was in the service industry for quite a while and am always patient and understanding but there was no good reason for this bad experience. I also always tip 20%++. They received 15% which is the lowest of the low on my gratuity scale. Such an unnecessary disappointment.
Armando M.
My first visit to Harlem surprised me because I assumed the storied neighborhood would be fully gentrified, like Brooklyn. But no. Harlem is still majority African American and dotted with black owned businesses. It was a relief to see that this community has not been displaced and in fact has developed on a trajectory befitting of its rich African American roots. The Renaissance restaurant is a fine example of a Harlem business that is authentic, independent, and reflective of the community it serves. All that aside, the food and service is fantastic. The braised short ribs were perfect and the serving was generous, like a mother's love. The octopus appetizer was delicious. I would go back just for that. Warm atmosphere and warmer service with a family sensibility. Harlem is indeed reborn and when you dine at the Renaissance, you feel as though you're at the heart of its reawakening.
Mildred S.
The roasted chicken was wonderful! The Lasagna was prepared differently! than what the person had imagined it! Seemed, more like a vegetable soup! The chicken sandwich was not very good. The serve was good, and friendly! They had a full bar!
Latasha D.
I had a great time and Renaissance Harlem. The food was amazing, drinks, and vibes were amazing. Our server Valentine kept the drinks coming and was very attentive. I attended the ladies night that's held on Wednesdays. I will be returning and it's great that this restaurant is right in my neiborhood.
Rawdon T.
I came here on a Sunday night, date with my lovely girlfriend since the weather is beginning to get nicer, and this spot has been on the list for a few weeks. When we entered the restaurant, it was a very warm and cozy place. We were promptly greeted by bartender offered us a look at the drink menu so we can begin our night. I got the feeling good cocktail and skipped the appetizers. The menu was not overwhelmingly large, but they were many options that I wanted to try. I finally settled on the hanger state with Rosemary potatoes and string beans. The aroma from the cocktail was intoxicating and so was the drink as it was beautifully crafted with no skimping on the alcohol. The presentation of the entrée was magnificent, the food smells good and it was seasoned really well, a few moments after taking the photo my plate was empty. During my time at the restaurant, the bartender was very attentive, and the music was definitely a nice touch to the night. I would definitely love to come back here and try some more of the cocktails and maybe something else off of the menu. I had a wonderful time.
Kirk K.
The food was top notch. I ordered the whole branzino--yummy! The service was phenomenal too. I highly recommend this restaurant.
Keturah S.
Heads up, this place is not to be confused with the hotel! Wanted to put that out there since it can be easily confused. We went for Wednesday night bottomless drinks deal. It includes two appetizers. My review of the food is based on appetizers we had, as we did not order entrees.Here's what I liked - the calamari! Might want to get extra if you have a larger party. The hot sauce for it is delicious! (Calamari is not included in the deal) I also really enjoyed the wings. The people next to us said they really liked the octopus. My drink was delicious. The Bissap Martini! My friends also agreed that it was so good! Also had the truffle macaroni and I would skip it next time. It was more similar to a boxed macaroni than the southern baked style.I liked the music and it wasn't too loud. The restroom was clean, but unfortunately there is only one of them and when you are having bottomless drinks...you get the picture. The venue is on the smaller side, either make a reservation or get there early. It started filling up after 7PM.Very, very nice staff. However, service is slow and some of our drinks were forgotten, however they made up for it through extending our bottomless a bit. I'm all about good customer service and if a restaurant works to fix things, they're all good in my book.Valentine was super nice and engaging. And the restaurant had a total friendly atmosphere. People were just happy and dancing to the music on mild Harlem night. I don't get uptown often, but this was worth the trip.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Fried Calamari, Chicken Wings
Kathy X.
Came here for a holiday party. I also returned a few months later with a friend for dinner. The interior was festively decorated with pretty lights and colors. Our group was seated in a large booth. We had a 2 course menu to order from. For my appetizer, I chose the Chicken Dumplings. The filling also had spinach, ginger salad, and came with an irresistibly tasty soy ginger vinaigrette. The dumplings were lightly fried to a perfect crisp, and the filling was well seasoned with bold flavor. I also got to try the Carrot Ginger Soup, which was warm, hearty, and the carrot, as well as ginger taste shone through. I decided to try the Grilled Hanger Steak, which came with rosemary potatoes, pearl onions, carrots, and radishes. The steak was just okay, but pretty succulent. I had just gotten back from a trip to Brazil and Argentina, so I think in comparison, I wasn't impressed by the meat. I did enjoy the vegetable medley, especially the potatoes. Also tasted the Grilled Salmon with baby vegetables, served with lemongrass coconut sauce, and I preferred that entree. The salmon was wonderfully tender, flaky, and the accompanying sauce worked well. The second time I dined here, my friend and I shared the Truffle Fries. This was delightfully crunchy and real truffle taste. For my main course, I ordered the Rack of Lamb, which was served with potato gratin and spinach. There were only 2 Lamb Chops, but they were huge and thick. They were wonderfully tender, juicy, and full of savory yumminess. There were layers of tasty potatoes. The spinach was decent, but I'm not really a fan of this vegetable. I had a taste of my friend's Marinated Chicken and jollof rice. That jollof rice was irresistibly crispy and had plenty of aromatic spices throughout. Service was pretty good. It was a bit of a slow start, but the waitress was friendly and took care of our large group. The second visit, our waiter was really friendly and attentive.
john kent
Came on a Wednesday night for the 90 minute bottomless drinks and 2 app special. The Dj had a great mix and the food and drinks were great. With the weather getting nice, this is going to be a good place to go.
Me and my friends had a great time. The music was good and the people are so nice and friendly. The owner Valentine was great. He made sure me and my friends was good all night. The price was good. I went on a Wednesday, ladies night. The drinks was amazing along with the food. I had a good time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Mac and Cheese, Fish, Chicken Wings
Michelle Brown
This is my first time experiencing Renaissance Harlem.. Everything was great. The manager Valentine was amazing very attentive and professional. My friends and I will be back soon Thank You for a great time!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Mac and Cheese, Fish, Chicken Wings, Seafood
John Mexx
Delicious food and nice service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish
Adrienne Beard
We were a party of three. Arrived about 9:30 pm, on a Tuesday, desiring a light meal. We very much enjoyed the atmosphere and music! The wait service was below average and the food was entirely unacceptable!The Mac and cheese with lobster looked and tasted like box mac and cheese with overcooked lobster pieces. The chicken dumplings looked and tasted like store bought frozen potstickers, and the cod fritters were disappointing, to say the least.As for our cocktails, one was way too strong, another, way too weak. Needless to say, it was our first and last time there.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kathy F.
Very disappointed with the food. Friends and I dined here following a great program at the Schomburg library, March 4th. Was looking for a Black owned establishment, and decided to stop at this venue. Ordered drinks, appetizers and one entre. Nothing was tasty. This includes the steak, chicken dumplings and what was passed as cod fish fritters. Overpriced food and drinks is the reality. Yet one should expect more. Save your money.
The food was subpar as was the ambiance. The waitress we had was doing her best and was accommodating. The chicken and waffles were inedible, fritters were heavily breaded and drinks were forgettable. Overall the experience was underwhelming!
Never been and randomly stopped to have a quick drink and snack around 4p on a weekday. There were at least 4-5 ppl working and we were the only ones there. We each had one drink and shared one order of HH sliders. The ambience was okay...nothing like the pictures. Drinks and food were decent but the service was pretty awful from waiting an exorbitant amount of time to get a glass of Prosecco and a Cosmopolitan, asking for water twice in a 20 mins span from two different people and then getting attitude when I brought the empty water glasses to the bar to be filled...then the wrong order comes out and being questioned about something we didn't accept because we did not order it. Thankfully, we arrived in time for HH because if we paid their dinner prices, it would have been insult to injury. We were there for over an hour and it wasn't until they picked up on what I thought was masked frustration, when suddenly their friendly vibe went into overdrive. I can't imagine how long we would have been there if we weren't the only table I was in the service industry for quite a while and am always patient and understanding but there was no good reason for this bad experience. I also always tip 20%++. They received 15% which is the lowest of the low on my gratuity scale. Such an unnecessary disappointment.
My first visit to Harlem surprised me because I assumed the storied neighborhood would be fully gentrified, like Brooklyn. But no. Harlem is still majority African American and dotted with black owned businesses. It was a relief to see that this community has not been displaced and in fact has developed on a trajectory befitting of its rich African American roots. The Renaissance restaurant is a fine example of a Harlem business that is authentic, independent, and reflective of the community it serves. All that aside, the food and service is fantastic. The braised short ribs were perfect and the serving was generous, like a mother's love. The octopus appetizer was delicious. I would go back just for that. Warm atmosphere and warmer service with a family sensibility. Harlem is indeed reborn and when you dine at the Renaissance, you feel as though you're at the heart of its reawakening.
The roasted chicken was wonderful! The Lasagna was prepared differently! than what the person had imagined it! Seemed, more like a vegetable soup! The chicken sandwich was not very good. The serve was good, and friendly! They had a full bar!
I had a great time and Renaissance Harlem. The food was amazing, drinks, and vibes were amazing. Our server Valentine kept the drinks coming and was very attentive. I attended the ladies night that's held on Wednesdays. I will be returning and it's great that this restaurant is right in my neiborhood.
I came here on a Sunday night, date with my lovely girlfriend since the weather is beginning to get nicer, and this spot has been on the list for a few weeks. When we entered the restaurant, it was a very warm and cozy place. We were promptly greeted by bartender offered us a look at the drink menu so we can begin our night. I got the feeling good cocktail and skipped the appetizers. The menu was not overwhelmingly large, but they were many options that I wanted to try. I finally settled on the hanger state with Rosemary potatoes and string beans. The aroma from the cocktail was intoxicating and so was the drink as it was beautifully crafted with no skimping on the alcohol. The presentation of the entrée was magnificent, the food smells good and it was seasoned really well, a few moments after taking the photo my plate was empty. During my time at the restaurant, the bartender was very attentive, and the music was definitely a nice touch to the night. I would definitely love to come back here and try some more of the cocktails and maybe something else off of the menu. I had a wonderful time.
The food was top notch. I ordered the whole branzino--yummy! The service was phenomenal too. I highly recommend this restaurant.
Heads up, this place is not to be confused with the hotel! Wanted to put that out there since it can be easily confused. We went for Wednesday night bottomless drinks deal. It includes two appetizers. My review of the food is based on appetizers we had, as we did not order entrees.Here's what I liked - the calamari! Might want to get extra if you have a larger party. The hot sauce for it is delicious! (Calamari is not included in the deal) I also really enjoyed the wings. The people next to us said they really liked the octopus. My drink was delicious. The Bissap Martini! My friends also agreed that it was so good! Also had the truffle macaroni and I would skip it next time. It was more similar to a boxed macaroni than the southern baked style.I liked the music and it wasn't too loud. The restroom was clean, but unfortunately there is only one of them and when you are having bottomless drinks...you get the picture. The venue is on the smaller side, either make a reservation or get there early. It started filling up after 7PM.Very, very nice staff. However, service is slow and some of our drinks were forgotten, however they made up for it through extending our bottomless a bit. I'm all about good customer service and if a restaurant works to fix things, they're all good in my book.Valentine was super nice and engaging. And the restaurant had a total friendly atmosphere. People were just happy and dancing to the music on mild Harlem night. I don't get uptown often, but this was worth the trip.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Fried Calamari, Chicken Wings
Came here for a holiday party. I also returned a few months later with a friend for dinner. The interior was festively decorated with pretty lights and colors. Our group was seated in a large booth. We had a 2 course menu to order from. For my appetizer, I chose the Chicken Dumplings. The filling also had spinach, ginger salad, and came with an irresistibly tasty soy ginger vinaigrette. The dumplings were lightly fried to a perfect crisp, and the filling was well seasoned with bold flavor. I also got to try the Carrot Ginger Soup, which was warm, hearty, and the carrot, as well as ginger taste shone through. I decided to try the Grilled Hanger Steak, which came with rosemary potatoes, pearl onions, carrots, and radishes. The steak was just okay, but pretty succulent. I had just gotten back from a trip to Brazil and Argentina, so I think in comparison, I wasn't impressed by the meat. I did enjoy the vegetable medley, especially the potatoes. Also tasted the Grilled Salmon with baby vegetables, served with lemongrass coconut sauce, and I preferred that entree. The salmon was wonderfully tender, flaky, and the accompanying sauce worked well. The second time I dined here, my friend and I shared the Truffle Fries. This was delightfully crunchy and real truffle taste. For my main course, I ordered the Rack of Lamb, which was served with potato gratin and spinach. There were only 2 Lamb Chops, but they were huge and thick. They were wonderfully tender, juicy, and full of savory yumminess. There were layers of tasty potatoes. The spinach was decent, but I'm not really a fan of this vegetable. I had a taste of my friend's Marinated Chicken and jollof rice. That jollof rice was irresistibly crispy and had plenty of aromatic spices throughout. Service was pretty good. It was a bit of a slow start, but the waitress was friendly and took care of our large group. The second visit, our waiter was really friendly and attentive.
Came on a Wednesday night for the 90 minute bottomless drinks and 2 app special. The Dj had a great mix and the food and drinks were great. With the weather getting nice, this is going to be a good place to go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Me and my friends had a great time. The music was good and the people are so nice and friendly. The owner Valentine was great. He made sure me and my friends was good all night. The price was good. I went on a Wednesday, ladies night. The drinks was amazing along with the food. I had a good time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Mac and Cheese, Fish, Chicken Wings
This is my first time experiencing Renaissance Harlem.. Everything was great. The manager Valentine was amazing very attentive and professional. My friends and I will be back soon Thank You for a great time!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Mac and Cheese, Fish, Chicken Wings, Seafood
Delicious food and nice service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish
We were a party of three. Arrived about 9:30 pm, on a Tuesday, desiring a light meal. We very much enjoyed the atmosphere and music! The wait service was below average and the food was entirely unacceptable!The Mac and cheese with lobster looked and tasted like box mac and cheese with overcooked lobster pieces. The chicken dumplings looked and tasted like store bought frozen potstickers, and the cod fritters were disappointing, to say the least.As for our cocktails, one was way too strong, another, way too weak. Needless to say, it was our first and last time there.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Very disappointed with the food. Friends and I dined here following a great program at the Schomburg library, March 4th. Was looking for a Black owned establishment, and decided to stop at this venue. Ordered drinks, appetizers and one entre. Nothing was tasty. This includes the steak, chicken dumplings and what was passed as cod fish fritters. Overpriced food and drinks is the reality. Yet one should expect more. Save your money.