From the homemade sweets of Mondel Chocolates to the mouth-watering soul food of Doug E’s Chicken and Waff les, Morningside Heights and Harlem are home to an eclectic patchwork of restaurants and shops, together forming a local retail scene as varied as its patrons.
Local restaurants serve fare from across the globe, though recently only the fittest have survived the recession’s Darwinian wipeout. Some family shops have been around for decades and are still going strong: the Hungarian Pastry Shop, Symposium and its flaming cheese, the classic milkshakes and fries of Tom’s Restaurant, and V&T’s pizzeria.
Newer restaurants have also weathered the economic downturn, surviving primarily off hungry college students who would rather empty their wallets at local businesses than eat another meal at John Jay. A number of these shops accept Flex, the dollar-for-dollar student account program accessed through Columbia University IDs.
Students can use Flex to dine at Nussbaum & Wu, a popular quick stop for a bagel or sandwich; Sip, a tiny Amsterdam hole-in-the-wall café; Chipotle, the constantly packed burrito chain; Mill Korean Restaurant, serving noodles and stir-fry in a cozy shop decked out in Korean decor; or Community Food & Juice, a healthy and relatively pricey restaurant (though it has yet to reopen after a massive fire last semester).
Campo, an Italian bar and restaurant that frequently hosts parties for student groups, also began to accept Flex in the spring. And the Heights, a popular drinks and tapas bar, continues to accept Flex. But be warned: Students cannot use their points to buy alcohol.
For adventurous eaters not at the behest of Flex, there is an abundance of options within walking distance of campus. An ambitious diner can spend a whole year in the neighborhood never eating at the same place twice. From the Caribbean tastes of Strictly Roots and the West-African dishes at Koryoe in Harlem to local favorites such as Vine Sushi & Sake, Royal Kabab & Curry, Taqueria La Fonda, and Roti Roll, the portions are plenty.
On the retail front, many smaller businesses have recently said their goodbyes to the neighborhood, including JAS market, Fotorush—and most dramatically—Morningside Bookshop, which generated the loudest community outcry.
But in contradiction to this recession’s halted development, the massive three-block Columbus Square project from 97th to 100th streets on Columbus Avenue is producing many new storefronts. The freshly opened Whole Foods market on the corner of 97th Street—the first in Upper Manhattan—will accept Flex. Also on the way to Columbus Square are TJ Maxx, Border’s, Modell’s, Michael’s Art Store, and Crumb’s Bakery.
Plus, an Urban Outfitters is headed for the historic location of the Metro Theater on Broadway between 99 and 100th.
Some locals are skeptical of this large influx of retail in a primarily residential area. But in a few months time, students at Columbia will be able to take a short walk south to what some are calling a large outdoor mall.
View an interactive map of Morningside Heights eateries accepting Flex
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