The place to be for good eats to the average New York resident and tourists alike is Harlem, no matter what folks say. Smart chefs and foodies are venturing into Harlem to please their taste buds. In the past it was soul food, now during the food boom it’s places like 5 & Diamond on 112th and Frederick Douglas Blvd., (to the locals 8th Avenue). When is good time to go, from 5:30pm-7:00pm on Tuesdays – Fridays for the $5 menu, which is perfect for noshing while out enjoying anytime of the year.
Food blogger DMANBURGER enjoyed the “loud and exciting menu, complete with a mouth-watering fat-back burger….” Chef/Owner Ryan Skeen, of such restaurants as Resto,The General Greene, Irving Mill and Allen and Delancey, teamed with local Harlemer’s Lia San Filippo and Selene Martinez to open 5 and Diamond.
Folks can sit in the window seat and be surrounded by a modern Japanese-esque style decor with antique style steel bay windows. The eatery has a sleek counter bar where customers can order from the bar menu.
DMANBURGER also mentioned that the Pat Lafrieda burger, was perfected by Skeen at his last venture, and is carefully constructed with a 60%/30% blend of beef cheek, b
avette and pork fat back-which is ground on-site daily. This “heart stopper” was a gorgeous, 6 oz creation slathered with luscious white cheddar cheese, fresh homemade vinegar dill pickles, red onion and lettuce-all stacked on a char-soft potato bun. I started with a tasting of the Buttermilk Biscuits with creamy-fruity homemade apple butter, which were divine. The Shrimp and Grits Hush puppies followed, with smoked paprika aioli-these “puppies” were crispy and delectably fantastic ! The Yogurt Granola with plump strawberries and blackberries was fresh and delightful. After this bevy of pleasure it was burger time, the pork-beef beast arrived open-faced with duck fat fried home fries in tow. I carefully stacked the green leafy lettuce and crunchy dill pickles into a towering impressive looking sandwich. The first bite was juicy and bloody, pork fat back ran over my hands as my eyes rolled back in my head, my thought was, ” These guys are onto something here ! ” The burger flavor was salty, robust and aromatic, accented by the tartness of the vinegar dills and a buttery potato bun. The fries however, were not my favorite, tasting kind of stale and greasy. The 5 and Diamond burger was definitely one of my favorites in the city, for the hearty eaters there is a Texas Burger version with fried egg and bacon that sparked my interest too-maybe next time.
5 and Diamond, is worth the trip North, so if you’re the type that thinks that there’s no treasures above 59th Street, slip on your loafers and grab a taxi to Harlem. The bad element that was once part of this hood, is transforming into young urban yupsters with an appetite for Noveau chic cuisine. The tasting menu that showcases Sea Urchin,Seafood Tagliatelle, Rabbit and Ratatouille Sausage Spaetzle, Duo of Lamb and Spiced glazed Doughnuts is a steal at $50 with wine pairing $85.00. Thank-you to Chef David Santos and Ryan Skeen for making my brunch-”a spa experience for my mouth”.
5 & Diamond Harlem
2072 Frederick Douglass Boulevard
New York, NY 10026
646.684.4662
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