Harlem Cafe

Okay have attended again last week and had a better expereience - was served quickly and the quiche with salad and chips was great. So, have to give it a higher rating than the one I previous offered.

To follow up on my last review, I went back to Harlem Cafe last Wednesday with a friend. Once again the service was brilliant from everybody, food was great, atmosphere was great, coffee was great. The place is just great. I made a slight idiot of myself by knocking the milk over :( but they were all very nice about it and the waiter made a joke of it which actually did put me at ease.  Once we finished (2 Hours later) we asked the manager if they were opened at night, she said not at the moment but they have applied for their late licence, so fingers crossed they get it as I would only be too happy to go back at night time as well.

Can’t fault the place one bit & my friend seemed to enjoy it just as much.

Look forward to going back next week again! :)

OK, after reading all these ‘great’ comments, i went back to Harlem Cafe,(my first experience wasn’t great, and i vowed, never again, but thought i would put it down to the cafe just being new!) On our arrival, we went in sat at a table, there was only 2free, both of which were not cleaned!, nevertheless, i thought they are busy i’ll give them a chance!  BUSY was exactly what they were, chatting about what they were doing at the weekend, i could have even told u what one of them was going to wear….all this while she was cleaning our table taking over to the other girl cleaning the other table!  So after she dusted some crumbs onto my lap, she said ‘what can i get you?’ to which i replyed ‘a menu would be great!’, after throwing me a look she handed us 2 menus and walked away, without taking a drinks order!

When she returned, we placed our order.  Our food was placed on the table 15mins later, which i thought was fine, but we hadn’t recieved our coffee’s. i got the waitresses attention, and explained the situation, for which she apoligised.  Food looked great well presented, but my partners was wrong, again we had to call the waitress over who took his food and said she would change it.  When i was finishing my wrap my partners food appeared, and worse than that she actually lifted my plate, and my partner hadn’t even begun to eat his! Paid for our food which was fine for a cafe, even though the coffe isn’t up to standards, and left. while this was going on i overheard the person infront of us stating that she had a hair in her food, so that was the nail in the coffin for me, i will never set foot in Harlem Cafe again, i’d prefer to starve.

The friendliest staff in town!It’s true that service was bit disorganised (yet always super friendly!) at the start but I didn’t mind at all. After all setting up a new business would be stressful for everyone out there. The important thing though is that they have improved 100% and service has become very efficient. I love the friendly, cosy and almost homely athmosphere infused with a real freshness that the decor and music add to the place. The coffee and the home-made food are great (especially the bread). All in all it’s a very welcoming café in which I love spending afternoons drinking coffee and reading a book on one of their comfortable leather sofas. Thumbs up from me!!

After reading the reviews on the site I was a bit worried that “Harlem Cafe” wouldn’t live up to it’s predecessors, “Wild Willy’s Steakhouse” & “Larry Piano’s Bar”.

After visiting Harlem today am VERY happy to say this is the best place I’ve ever eaten in.  I went in with my sister & my niece (who is only 8 months old)& sat down near the door (Just in case my niece decided to scream the place down & we could make a quick escape! She never ever does but we just decided to play it safe anyway!) Once we sat down this lovely lady (Who was dressed different from the other staff, think she may have been the floor manager but am not sure)  came up to us and said, “Hello & welcome, are you ok sitting up here” We replied yes but then she said, “We have a lovely table down the back, come on and follow me and we will seat you better” So we followed her and we went down the back where there was these 2 lovely leather sofas (You sat down on them and you just melted into them!)Minutes later I noticed the menus on the desk where you pay, so I went up to get two, the lady saw me and said, “oh please, let me take them off you, I will bring these over to you” She did and then asked if we wanted a drink while we decided want we wanted to eat.

My sister just ordered a coke and I ordered a plain coffee. She saw my niece sitting on the sofa (Loving it because it was so comfy!) and then started talking away and asking questions about her, which I thought was really nice of her.  A couple of minutes later the coke and coffee arrived which was brought to us by a waiter, she started to talk away and started talking to my wee niece and playing with her etc… (Which again, I thought was really nice as did my sister) She took our order which was two club sandwiches, we waited 10/15 minutes before they came which I was totally fine about, I hate food being served on double quick time, I would rather chat and relax before getting food down my mouth.  Between this time my wee niece was dancing to the music playing which brought over another waiter who talked to her/us, she also seen the flowers the floor manager was setting up and the floor manager seen this and came over and again started talking to her/us.

I also noticed the floor manager (If that was her job, apologies if not!)talking to the people that was there on their own which I thought was really nice of her.

So the service was the best I have ever received so ZERO complaints.

The food was gorgeous, I know it was only a club sandwich but it was the best one I have ever had (& not to sound snobby but I’ve eaten club sandwiches in 5 start hotels and they weren’t as nice as Harmelms) The bread was fresh as was everything that was in it, the mayo was to die for & we got chips on the side which where lovely also. My sister agreed 100%

The coffee was fine, I know some people complained about the coffee but it tasted fine to me.

The price was £17 and so many penny’s, it is slightly dearer than most places but this doesn’t bother me in the slightest as the service & the niceness of the staff well for made up any queries I would have with the price.

The staff (especially the floor manager lady) the music, the feel, the decor & the food were all absolutely fantastic & anytime I get the chance I will be going back to Harlem Cafe (As will my sister who thought it was equally fantastic)

In fact am going back next week with two of my friends and I can’t wait.

I can’t praise this place enough, it reeks of awesomeness & I hope and pray that it’s a success and stays around unlike it’s predecessors.

Andrew.

(P.S - It’s the type of place I would love to work in!)

definately the best all day fry ever!!lovely coffee lovely helpful staff great decor and surroundings free newspapers—what more do people want?? cant wait to go back!

paid £3 for a large latte which I think is way over-priced. it wasn’t even the best of coffee at all. Charlie’s Coffee Shop in Bradbury place serves large lattes for £2.20 and they are delicious!!!

Me and Becca loved it. We were served by Fay(e?) the owner who was absolutely charming, and very attentive. Any other staff that came over were equally as smiley and friendly too! We only had coffee, toast and pavlova but all was yummy and the atmosphere and decor is great. Read the reviews by all means, but go - and make up your own mind. I think this place is a grower, and hopefully - a stayer!x

The internet is wrong, Harlem is great.

Went here for the first time this lunchtime, despite being wary of poor reviews I gave it the benefit of the doubt.

I have to say I was very impressed. Decor is great, we were promptly served, waitress was very attentive and I had a massive chicken Wrap and sald with drink for £6.

I’ll be back.

Harlem was a real experience which will take me back to eat there again.It was a busy lunch time with groups of people enjoying the choices of home-made food and the short wait for my order to arrive was no problem. The amazing photo’s on the wall, the fantastic choice of seats and tables made it a real ‘Harlem Experience’ with the help of Billie Holiday singing in the background, I could have sat-on all afternoon. Staff were interested and helpful and certainly made a miserable wet day in Belfast seem alot happier!!

As usual a great cafe being slated!! I had fantastic food, Very attentive service and delish coffee. Belfast’s hottest new place!!

We ordered our coffees at the counter and they took a while to be brought to our table. They only brought one spoon. I finished my coffee way before my companion did and the waiter took my cup away, which is rude.

It’s a nice looking place and we might give it another go, but the staff really need to improve the service.

Been a few times and am yet to be impressed - I also felt the staff avoided taking your order - not a great start as would love something to do well here.

Returned yesterday to the same poor service and disinterested staff. Won’t be back.

Poor show. Staff did their best job to avoid taking our order. Had to go to counter to ask after 10mins. She rolled her eyes and came down to the table.

Coffee wasn’t great. Asked for americano but it tasted like a filter.

Atmosphere and general setting was quite nice until the fire alarm went off.

Staff didn’t seem too fussed. Went about their business as normal. It kept going for about 20mins, so we decided to leave. Staff didn’t even say sorry for the alarm.

Poor service, okish food/drink.

Might not bother again.

epic venue/ interior…great coffee and food… just opened so bit of a mix up with the service! will deff be back..

Food out of this world, service great staff very helpful.

Interior beautiful, very relaxing. A gem in the making, so different from the bog standard cafes in belfast!!

Service awful! Decor tasefull! Coffee good! Food average!

Very obvious that this was a rush job, that was opened too quick! Don’t think i would stop in again!

Bit slow on it noticing we’d arrived & taking our order, small selection of drinks, no card machine and a slight mix-up with our resident vegetarians order. Although, we did hit the lunchtime rush and the place has literally just opened, happy to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Still a little rough around the edges, will try again in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed, has the potential to be a great spot.

Bit disappointed with Harlem. Impressed with the decor, nice seating, lots of photos of American legends on the walls, but the service wasn’t great.

We were sitting around for a while waiting to order. Wasn’t obvious if you ordered at til or were waited on. Menu was hard to read. Some of the food and drinks got mixed up when they eventually came.

I went for stew, which was £5. But you can get the same round the corner at Snax for £4 and you’re served a lot quicker.

Looks like a nice place to lounge around with a coffee though. In fairness they’ve just opened so might be worth another visit down the line. Didn’t seem like they were ready to open yet.

Rating:

-Select- 5 Absolutely fantastic! The best there is. 4 Very good, recommended. 3 Good, I liked it. 2 Expected better. 1 Awful! Stay clear.

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Review: Tips: How was the service or product? Were the staff friendly? Was the environment clean? And would you recommend it?