Belle Harlem

Belle Harlem Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into someone’s private kitchen when you enter intimate Belle Harlem in uptown’s burgeoning restaurant row. Harlem residents and husband-and-wife team Darryl and Melissa Burnette have created an open kitchen setting to share their vision of Southern classics with French, Italian, Moroccan and Asian influences. The feeling is joyous and informal as the 12 guests seated around a communal table are privy to the cooking experience and interact with their hosts.

Likes: The interaction with the chef and his wife make for a very personal, relaxed dinner.
Dislikes: Plates can be very small, given the price.

Food & Drinks: Menus vary seasonally with a small-plate selection designed for sharing that might include mac and cheese spring rolls, escargot and foie gras crostini to start, followed by filet mignon and Cornish game hen. Desserts are riffs on American favorites with catchy names like Bon Appletart or 24 Carrot. In keeping with the frequent menu changes, the restaurant offers a short, variable list of boutique wines.