Sugar Hill Bistro (Reported Closed)

Doesn't Recommend

trabay

Joined 8 years ago

NEVER AGAIN. Unless you are a fan of sushi and prefer your seafood raw, STAY AWAY from the LOBSTER! The service leaves a bad taste in your mouth. With gratuity being included with parties of 6 or more there is no need to be efficient. Watch out for the water glasses, unless you prefer the imprint of cheap red lipstick already left behind.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Comforting, classy home cooking in the heart of Harlem.. The Scene
This four-story restaurant sits snugly in a handsomely restored brownstone on the eponymous Harlem hill. The interior is well lit and finely furnished, and filled with attractive local art. Service is friendly but can be quite amateurish, particularly when confronted with the hordes of European tourists that the weekends' gospel brunches draw in abundance.

The Food
This is deeply satisfying home-style Southern cooking: never light, yet somehow subtle in flavor and texture. Timeless dishes, like supple, juicy roasted ribs marinated in Tennessee whiskey, heady chicken-and-sausage jambalaya, and rich, almost-black gumbo, succeed dramatically. Alternative fare, such as delicate olive-dressed trout and a hefty, bunless burger, excels as well. At brunch, excellent fried chops and chicken join the hits from the dinner menu; avoid, however, the uninspired, tough pancakes and French toast. A varying selection of desserts, sadly, also mostly miss the mark: An arid red velvet cake is a particular dud.

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psinnyc

Joined 10 years ago

Sugarhill is Sweet. my b-friend and I stopped by recently for happy hour drinks; the wait staff was very courteous and attentive. The drinks were quite expensive ($6 for a Sugarhill beer), but I was prepared for that. The outdoor patio was very cool, quiet and beautiful.

After we finished our drinks, the waiter invited us to tour the rest of the resturaunt! We will definitely be back for dinner soon.

Also, I have no idea what's up with some other posters' derisive comments about the neighborhood. We live down the block and love our neighborhood, thank you!

Doesn't Recommend

Akalith

Joined 11 years ago

In Need of a Manager. Reading the reviews, we were in for a bumpy ride. You're definitely not in Kansas, Dorothy: the front door is locked - you must be buzzed in. Untrained waiter; drinks the first sign of trouble: "straight up" comes with ice, they're all out of Bloody Marys-- except for appearing on the bill. 3 entrees, all 3 signature potato sides, sold out by 8pm; squash soup, crab cake excellent; salmon, duck, cornish hen, vegetable ravioli, desserts: just fine. Unisex restroom/antique toilet a disaster. If you go with good friends, as we did, you'll still have a wonderful time, memorable for some good and many laughable reasons.

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jazzdiva

Joined 10 years ago

To die for apple pie. I visited The Sugar Hill Bistro 12/14/02 and loved it! I found it to be an elagant yet homey dining experience, with the renovated brownstone evoking the atmospher of the Harlem Renaissance. The Cornish Hen I had that night was scrumptuous and the apple pie was to die for. I had a great server who was prompt and very efficient. I hope they fix the things that have garnered them bad reviews, because I'm so happy to see a restuarant of such elegance and class in the Harlem area.

Doesn't Recommend

poppie

Joined 10 years ago

candid camera?. I have never had a dining experience where the food was so good and the service was so horrible. We had reservations but they sat us in the downstairs lounge without apology. Waited 20 minutes for menus (they ran out) and over an hour until we saw our first appetizer. They ran out of THREE of the items we ordered and had to make us re-order. One of the four guests was brought the wrong entree and they tried to talk him into just eating it instead. We were charged for dishes we never ordered when the bill came. There was some discussion amongst our table that we were actually on candid camera. Way to expensive a restaurant for such silliness. Now, depsite all of this, the food was so good that it was almost worth it. Amazing salads, fish, sweet potatoes......I'd suggest trying them on a non-weekend......

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jandy007

Joined 11 years ago

YUM MAC & CHEESE. What? heading WAY up there for brunch? Tho, it's worth it. i thought it was a bit expansive (approx. $50. for two), but their mac & cheese was YUMMY! their brunch menu had something for everyone. jazz singer had a nice voice + she made us all get up to dance to shake some cals to eat some more. the owner/waiter seem to know many locals + treated some new comers like their old friends. it was a very warm experience. during busy hrs, i recommend that you make a reservation.

Doesn't Recommend

yummyoni

Joined 11 years ago

YUCK!!!. The food was tasteless! I had to put salt and pepper on it to be able to eat even some of it! I waited 35 minutes for an appetizer and the place was empty! There was a nice bartender named Brian I think but the management staff is horrible and they act like they don't want people to ever come back! Don't worry I won't!!!!!!!!!

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flacco

Joined 11 years ago

rose petals. Quite an anachronistic restaurant in the midst of 145th street. I was pleasantly surprised at the comfortable jazzy ambiance and the regal treatment my date and I received. Another couple was apparantly having a special dinner night with rose petals adorning their lavishly decorated table. Being in the same room howerver, our smaller table was also adorned with rose petals. The Escolar and sweet potataoes were fantastic and my only complaint was the bread that was served in the beginning was a tad bit burned. Otherwise a smashing evening with pleasant service. I prefer down town for sure, but would dine here again.