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Located on the corner of West 118^th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, La Bodega 47 Social Club transforms one of Harlem’s fundamental businesses, the standard Latino grocery store, into a trendy rum lounge.

Owner Brian Washington-Palmer, originally from Berkley, Calif., believed Harlem needed a space that would complement the influx of new residents and development of new businesses and apartment complexes, so he transformed his previous Caribbean-Mediterranean restaurant, Native, into La Bodega 47 Social Club last March.

“I overheard a woman once say, ‘What kind of bodega sells brunch?’” said Washington-Palmer with a chuckle. Although building the lounge was a collaborative effort, Washington-Palmer designed the lounge himself.

The dinner and drink menu at La Bodega 47 Social Club is influenced by Latino culture. The dinner menu is divided by “small bowls,” which includes “Brazilian Bread Cheeses,” and “big bowls,” which includes “Arroz Con Pollo.” The social club houses a variety of drinks, but the specialty rum cocktails are the “go to” items on the drink menu. Each specialty cocktail incorporates the lounge’s in-house crafted syrups, including the “Latin Old Fashioned.”

When visiting La Bodega 47 Social Club, expect to walk-into a whimsical setting where one can socialize and unwind after a long day at work. “Every night you’ll run into publicist and a lot of different actors and actresses who come here. It’s a low key spot,” said employee Michael Angelo Levy.

Located on the corner of West 118^th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, La Bodega 47 Social Club transforms one of Harlem’s fundamental businesses, the standard Latino grocery store, into a trendy rum lounge.

Owner Brian Washington-Palmer, originally from Berkley, Calif., believed Harlem needed a space that would complement the influx of new residents and development of new businesses and apartment complexes, so he transformed his previous Caribbean-Mediterranean restaurant, Native, into La Bodega 47 Social Club this past March.

“I overheard a woman once say, ‘What kind of bodega sells brunch?’” said Washington-Palmer with a chuckle. Although building the lounge was a collaborative effort, Washington-Palmer designed the lounge himself.

The dinner and drink menu at La Bodega 47 Social Club is influenced by Latino culture. The dinner menu is divided by “small bowls,” which includes “Brazilian Bread Cheeses,” and “big bowls,” which includes “Arroz Con Pollo.” The social club houses a variety of drinks, but the specialty rum cocktails are the “go to” items on the drink menu. Each specialty cocktail incorporates the lounge’s in-house crafted syrups, including the “Latin Old Fashioned.”

When visiting La Bodega 47 Social Club, expect to walk-into a whimsical setting where one can socialize and unwind after a long day at work. “Every night you’ll run into publicist and a lot of different actors and actresses who come here. It’s a low key spot,” said employee Michael Angelo Levy.

The South meets El Barrio at Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ located on 116^th Street and First Avenue. Harley’s brings forth a new culture of food to the neighborhood, and there are two things I believe keep East Harlem’s residents coming back for more – the El Barrio Apricot Margarita and the restaurant’s detailed décor.

The drink menu is an extensive one, ranging from craft beers to sangria, but one of the most popular cocktails on the menu is the El Barrio Apricot Margarita, as mentioned by Jessica Rosario, the manager who has been at Harley’s since the grand opening in December 2011.  “Out of all the cocktails we have, I feel like the El Barrio Margarita is on the menu to bring attention to the people of El Barrio. Anyone from here will say ‘Oh, an El Barrio Margarita? Let me try it’,” said Rosario. This cocktail manages to establish a connection between East Harlem residents and the relatively new BBQ joint. The El Barrio Apricot Margarita is not limited to apricot, but has a variety of different flavors, including mango, raspberry, passion fruit and strawberry.

One step into Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ transports you to an old saloon down in the South. The southern theme of the restaurant was well thought out and is present throughout the entire space, including the restrooms. At the entrance, patrons are greeted with a full wall of southern state license plates, and as they walk further into the restaurant the theme continues to play out. The southern saloon props at Harley’s include, horse shoes, steer head skulls and a life size horse and carriage.

Harley’s prides itself on authentic smokehouse flavors. The meats are smoked for 18-20 hours in the in-house 1000 pound wood smoker. Louis Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Carolina Brisket Sandwich, Louisiana Jambalaya, are some of many Southern BBQ dishes on Harley’s menu. I have visited Harley’s a number of times since the doors opened to neighborhood residents, and the menu items are not traditional dishes one would usually find in East Harlem. “I think this (Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ) is great for the neighborhood. I feel like a new attraction is good for any neighborhood, especially if it’s out of the norm and unique. If you look around here, there’s only Chinese stores, pizza shops, fast food and Cuchifritos,” said Rosario.

The South meets El Barrio at Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ located on 116^th Street and First Avenue. Harley’s brings forth a new culture of food to the neighborhood, and there are two things I believe keep East Harlem’s residents coming back for more – the El Barrio Apricot Margarita and the restaurant’s detailed décor.

The drink menu is an extensive one, ranging from craft beers to sangria, but one of the most popular cocktails on the menu is the El Barrio Apricot Margarita, as mentioned by Jessica Rosario, the manager who has been at Harley’s since the grand opening in December 2011.  “Out of all the cocktails we have, I feel like the El Barrio Margarita is on the menu to bring attention to the people of El Barrio. Anyone from here will say ‘Oh, an El Barrio Margarita? Let me try it’,” said Rosario. This cocktail manages to establish a connection between East Harlem residents and the relatively new BBQ joint. The El Barrio Apricot Margarita is not limited to apricot, but has a variety of different flavors, including mango, raspberry, passion fruit and strawberry.

One step into Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ transports you to an old saloon down in the South. The southern theme of the restaurant was well thought out and is present throughout the entire space, including the restrooms. At the entrance, patrons are greeted with a full wall of southern state license plates, and as they walk further into the restaurant the theme continues to play out. The southern saloon props at Harley’s include, horse shoes, steer head skulls and a life size horse and carriage.

Harley’s prides itself on authentic smokehouse flavors. The meats are smoked for 18-20 hours in the in-house 1000 pound wood smoker. Louis Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Carolina Brisket Sandwich, Louisiana Jambalaya, are some of many Southern BBQ dishes on Harley’s menu. I have visited Harley’s a number of times since the doors opened to neighborhood residents, and the menu items are not traditional dishes one would usually find in East Harlem. “I think this (Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ) is great for the neighborhood. I feel like a new attraction is good for any neighborhood, especially if it’s out of the norm and unique. If you look around here, there’s only Chinese stores, pizza shops, fast food and Cuchifritos,” said Rosario.

Trufa Restaurant’s store front.

Trufa, located on 140^th Street and Broadway, is the smallest restaurant I have ever dined at. Despite its size, this Italian/New American eatery plays a huge role in the neighborhood’s budding gentrified restaurant scene. Trufa has taken the place of a restaurant that once offered Mexican eats, and currently serves Italian/New American comfort food; including pressed sandwiches, pasta dishes and burgers. On a Sunday afternoon, my boyfriend and I entered this “hole in the wall,” and were greeted with a warm welcome from Corey Havens, manager at Trufa. He directed us to our seats, only one foot away from the entrance, and handed us brunch menus.

Trufa has re-introduced itself to residents four years ago, and is one of many new restaurants that have made its way to Harlem. The owners of the old Mexican restaurant are the same owners of the current revamped space. While plates range anywhere from $7 to $21, the refined appearance and tranquil ambience of Trufa says otherwise. “Harlem needs more upscale restaurants like Trufa,” manager Corey stated. In fact, the majority of the people who visit have seemingly left the restaurant satisfied, as reported in most of Trufa’s customer reviews on Yelp.

Soup and desert specials of the day.

Harlem has a rich history, but many of the incoming restaurants are eliminating, rather than preserving, the neighborhood’s historical culture. Many of the new restaurants in Harlem are built to appeal to an upper class demographic, which is why several of the old businesses are undergoing drastic, physical transformations. “The earth tones and cozy look of Trufa attracts ‘other’ types of crowds,” Corey said, “The older restaurants (in the neighborhood) appeal to less socially high class people.”

As a born and raised Harlem native, I can attest the major differences in the neighborhood compared to five years ago. Being able to enjoy a hearty brunch at a restaurant five minutes away from home still shocks me. Prior to visiting Trufa, I searched for a restaurant that would satisfy my huge pumpkin sweet tooth. My boyfriend suggested Trufa, and while I did not look at their menu, I crossed my fingers hoping they would have pumpkin French toast. Unfortunately, the only seasonal pumpkin dish was the “pumpkin gnocchi” – a dish I never came across at any restaurants I have visited in Harlem. Corey, who was also our waiter for the afternoon, sincerely apologized. I opted for the caramelized banana French toast, added a mimosa to my order and left Trufa completely forgetting my pumpkin cravings.

My Sunday brunch meal.

Ten years ago it would have been difficult to find a restaurant in Harlem that offers a standard brunch. Today, there are a number of restaurants in the neighborhood that have brunch menus. Gentrification has made a strong presence in Harlem, and this is visible through the transformation of Mexican fast food restaurants to fancy Italian/New American eateries. Watch out West Village, Harlem is making its way into New York City’s bustling brunch scene.

Trufa Restaurant’s store front.

Trufa, located on 140^th Street and Broadway, is the smallest restaurant I have ever dined at. Despite its size, this Italian/New American eatery plays a huge role in the neighborhood’s budding gentrified restaurant scene. Trufa has taken the place of a restaurant that once offered Mexican eats, and currently serves Italian/New American comfort food; including pressed sandwiches, pasta dishes and burgers. On a Sunday afternoon, my boyfriend and I entered this “hole in the wall,” and were greeted with a warm welcome from Corey Havens, manager at Trufa. He directed us to our seats, only one foot away from the entrance, and handed us brunch menus.

Trufa has re-introduced itself to residents four years ago, and is one of many new restaurants that have made its way to Harlem. The owners of the old Mexican restaurant are the same owners of the current revamped space. While plates range anywhere from $7 to $21, the refined appearance and tranquil ambience of Trufa says otherwise. “Harlem needs more upscale restaurants like Trufa,” manager Corey stated. In fact, the majority of the people who visit have seemingly left the restaurant satisfied, as reported in most of Trufa’s customer reviews on Yelp.

Soup and desert specials of the day.

Harlem has a rich history, but many of the incoming restaurants are eliminating, rather than preserving, the neighborhood’s historical culture. Many of the new restaurants in Harlem are built to appeal to an upper class demographic, which is why several of the old businesses are undergoing drastic, physical transformations. “The earth tones and cozy look of Trufa attracts ‘other’ types of crowds,” Corey said, “The older restaurants (in the neighborhood) appeal to less socially high class people.”

As a born and raised Harlem native, I can attest the major differences in the neighborhood compared to five years ago. Being able to enjoy a hearty brunch at a restaurant five minutes away from home still shocks me. Prior to visiting Trufa, I searched for a restaurant that would satisfy my huge pumpkin sweet tooth. My boyfriend suggested Trufa, and while I did not look at their menu, I crossed my fingers hoping they would have pumpkin French toast. Unfortunately, the only seasonal pumpkin dish was the “pumpkin gnocchi” – a dish I never came across at any restaurants I have visited in Harlem. Corey, who was also our waiter for the afternoon, sincerely apologized. I opted for the caramelized banana French toast, added a mimosa to my order and left Trufa completely forgetting my pumpkin cravings.

My Sunday brunch meal.

Ten years ago it would have been difficult to find a restaurant in Harlem that offers a standard brunch. Today, there are a number of restaurants in the neighborhood that have brunch menus. Gentrification has made a strong presence in Harlem, and this is visible through the transformation of Mexican fast food restaurants to fancy Italian/New American eateries. Watch out West Village, Harlem is making its way into New York City’s bustling brunch scene.