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Harlem Underground
Category: Restaurants Cajun/Creole Cajun/Creole [Edit]
745 Queen St WToronto, ON M6J 1G1
Neighbourhoods: Niagara, West Queen West, Trinity Bellwoods
(416) 366-4743
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
49 reviews for Harlem Underground
Review Highlights
"must try: any meal with the fried chicken."
(in 23 reviews)
"...the Harlem sandwich with black forest ham, jerk chicken and..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...by Chipolte-corriander-lime maple syrup, which brought the..."
(in 6 reviews)
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49 reviews in English
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Review from Biz D.
Medicine Hat, AB
1/23/2012
Chicken. And. Waffles. What else do you need to know: everything I've ever had was delicious and the portions are deceptively filling.
ALSO: Jerk Meatloaf. Heaven. -
Review from Keziah T.
Toronto, ON
12/20/2011
Others are so critical stating that "UMMM this is not real down-home Southern/Soul Food" - NO SH** SHERLOCK. Let me remind you degenerates and over-the-top wannabe food critiques that we are in Toronto and not in Alabama and we at least should be thankful that we can get something at least as close to the real thing. Just saying.
I absolutely love this place! Food was amazing and the staff (he said he was the manager, the guy that served us) was amazing. My friend's phone was dying so he lend us his charger (wow. thanks).
We ordered the Bacon Macaroni and Cheese, Fried Chicken dinner and Chicken and Waffles. They were good. I mean, I've tasted better but it was actually really good. No negative opinions about this place at all. I'm definitely coming back. -
Review from Emily H.
11/13/2011
You know those blind dates you get set up for? Your date shows up, she's kind of pretty, has a nice body and a decent smile? Then you get talking and find out she shares your fave colour and music, and you think "alright! this might be it!" Chatting continues and then you find out she's totally whack in serious matters like politics, food, and humour and she has crappy bedside manners? That be Harlem Underground.
After reading some great Yelp reviews, I trekked out to Queen West and was greeted by a funky atmosphere and a super friendly, chill server. The menus were hip (like a record) and the content sounded delicious.
Fast forward 20 minutes of waiting for food (and being tempted by the mac-and-cheese at the table next to me in the meantime, and thus ordering one for myself), I finally met the Nice Lady (aka my wrap). The first bite was delicious but it got progressively worse as I couldnt find the other ingredients such as plantain, and all I could taste was the goat cheese. Bleh, Too much for me! My girlfriend got the Harlem sandwich with black forest ham, jerk chicken and havarti. I thought this was deeeelicious (minus the triple decker bread) but she found the spice of the jerk chicken too much. So, all you Weak Spices, stay away. Lastly, please don't be a fool like me and get suckered into the mac-and-cheese. You could probably make a better KD.
Shit really went downhill after this as the swarm of fruitflies over us became unbearable as we waited 20 or so minutes for our server. Such a sweet guy, but a really untimely smoke break.
Too bad. It all started so good. Maybe will try again some other time when fruitflies go extinct.
Atmosphere - 4/5 if it werent for the flies. minus a billion points.
Service - 2.5/5
Food - 2.5/5
Price - 5/5Listed in: 30 Day November Challenge!
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Review from Shahrouz S.
North York, ON
2/4/2012
Went on a Saturday for a late lunch and was able to get the southern fried chicken and waffles from the dinner menu (they were very nice to let me :-P). Loved it. Good service. Good ambiance. We enjoyed the spring rolls as a starter as well. The wife had the chicken curry and was quite satisfied.
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Review from Kin B.
Toronto, ON
1/26/2012
Overall very disappointing. The owner needs to hire a serious chef with talent. Only a complete idiot would like chicken drenched in half a bottle of BBQ sauce!
As well, hire server staff who are reasonable and engaged in their job. Our waitress was in the twilight zone or on dope.
Give this half-baked place a miss. -
Review from Linda M.
11/1/2011
After reading the reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect from my dining groups latest selection. I love southern soul food, and the menu looked amazing, but it sounded like so many people had had only okay experiences.
Luckily, that wasn't the case for me.
I wasn't starving when I arrived, so I decided that I'd order from the appetizers list. I chose the Cajun smoked side ribs, since they came with rice and collard greens - the more things I get to try, the happier I am! The other choices at the table were the fried chicken, the jerk meatloaf, quesadillas, spring rolls, and mac n cheese. I also ordered a side of fried okra. I've never tried okra before, so I figured I should take advantage of the opportunity when it was only $5.
My order was definitely not an appetizer. I got about 6 meaty ribs, a ton of rice, and lots of greens. For $10.95, I was already happy. I was even happier when I started eating. The ribs were delicious. The sauce wasn't sweet (luckily, since I hate that), but it wasn't really spicy either. The word that came to mind was tangy. The rice and collard greens weren't anything special but they made a good accompaniment. And I loved the okra! Apparently it can be slimy if not prepared properly, but there wasn't a bit of "slime" to this dish. They were breaded and deep fried and served with a creamy sauce with a bit of a kick. It actually reminded me of asparagus, which I love.
Everyone else seemed very happy with their meals as well. Everything was very generous (4 pieces of fried chicken, 3 big slices of meatloaf, etc), especially since the price point was very reasonable.
The service was good, he checked on us without hovering, and had no problems with splitting the bill or packing up the leftovers that almost everyone had.
All in all, really good food, very generous for the price point, good service - I would definitely go back!Listed in: November's 30 in 30, Dining group!
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Review from Tony T.
Toronto, ON
10/17/2011
Meh...
Montreal Smoked Meat sandwich was seriously lacking... clearly the dude in the kitchen has never actually eaten a smoked meat sandwich in Montreal...
Fish and Chips however... amazing. -
Review from Jason P.
Toronto, ON
1/22/2012
Looked better on paper than it tasted
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Review from Mel C.
9/16/2011
First off, let me say that I've been to both Harlem restaurants and there is a big discrepancy between the two restaurants. The one on Queen St W is much better than the one on Richmond St for some reason.
I came here for lunch and I knew exactly what I wanted to order since I read through the menu online the night before.
I got deep fried pickles which was made well in my opinion because I know it's hard to keep the batter on the pickles.
I've never had cornbread before and I wasn't disappointed at all. It was sweet and moist.
The mac-n-cheese was not amazing. I don't understand why it's considered a must have item according to many blogs and reviews. Personally I prefer KD's mac-n-cheese.
The main entree I got was the Harlem sandwich with sweet potato fries. If you read the description on the menu, it may put you off but I guarantee you that the combination of all the layers was delicious. I think about the sandwich from time to time and if only the restaurant wasn't so far away from where I live, I would go there more often. The sweet potato fries was nice and crispy too!Listed in: Failproof Restaurants
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Review from Linds B.
Updated - 11/24/2011
The Coconut Fettucine from Irie is still on the menu at both Harlem and Harlem Underground. Yayyyyy!!!! Coconut Fettucine is one of the best things I have ever eaten. Ever.
Listed in: Good for Groups
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/6/2011
Always a good time, and one of my favorite patios in the city! (Although I'll admit, I still miss… Read more »
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Review from Kate H.
York, ON
8/31/2011
I really wanted to like this place. I love southern/creole food.
We were here for a party with 12-14 people. Everyone arrived at 8:30, with the birthday boy coming in at 9.
Only drinks were offered until he had arrived and said all his hellos (which took time.) It would have been a great opportunity for them to up-sell some apps while we were waiting, but no one offered (or was available) to take a food order until nearly 9:30 PM. Everyone noticed this.
Drinks are very expensive - cocktails especially.
I paid nearly $20 for my jambalya which was quite tasty - I like a lot of spice - and the sausage and meats were cooked really nicely. It was piping hot (I always notice this.) But to be fair - this is essentially a casserole dish - and $20 felt pretty steep. The portions were massive and most people at our long table didn't come close to finishing their food. Reduce the price, reduce the portion, reduce the pure waste. Half my bowl was empty - and I am a GOOD eater.
There was a man playing an out-of-tune upright piano and playing covers. He was working hard to be accommodating (asking people what they'd like to hear before he started playing) but he was too loud, and to be frank, not very good - so we were all yelling at each other across the table.
We had to leave slightly earlier than others, and so asked the server to split out our two entrees and four drinks. This took 10-15 minutes and she was clearly upset about being asked to do this. Both my partner and I have been servers in fine dining restaurants. This. Is. Not. Hard. Or time consuming. I have absolutely no patience for servers who act like the sky is falling every time you ask them to split a cheque. Especially when all the meals have been auto-grat'd 20%!!
This reaction in combination with the lacklustre service to that point was sort of the last straw and we likely won't return - and keep going to Southern Accent instead. Most of the people we were with were not impressed by the service.
I understand it can be challenging to wait on large parties, but an experienced staff will recognize this ahead of time when the reservation is made, and have sufficient support in place. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
8/16/2011
Love, Love, Love!
Very good service, low key vibe, tasty food.
4 of us ate here recently on a busy Saturday night, the place was packed and we didn't have a reservation but they found a place for us in the back. So glad they did. Our service was great (even tho the guy was mega busy with tables).
I had fried chicken and mac and cheese (way to big to finish) and sinfully good.
Everyone enjoyed the meal. Beware, some things are a bit on the spicy side...might be useful to ask before you order. -
Review from Danielle F.
Toronto, ON
4/22/2011
Open late but not too busy! As a matter of fact at 10 on a Wednesday, we were the only ones there. This seemed to piss off the server.He was probably looking forward to closing early and therefore was not in the friendliest of moods.
I had the jambalaya with chicken, catfish, shrimp and spicy Italian sausage. First of all, turn up the lights- I can't see what I'm eating! Secondly, it wasn't just the sausage that was hot. The dish was piping hot and mouth-scorchingly spicy. I don't know how I even put so much of it back. I had a decent sized portion of leftovers for the next day. My favourite bites were the ones with just the rice and delicious sauce. Tastes of the mac and cheese as well as the fettuccine were great and made me wish I hadn't ordered such a feisty dish.
There are a still a lot of things I want to try on the menu! -
Review from Alana C.
4/11/2011
I liked it there! It is a cute, little place with tons of personality. Our server was quite nice and very quick with drinks. The food did take forever to come out (as some people here have mentioned) but I didn't really mind all that much.
I went for the Jerk Chicken Quesadillas and I was not disappointed. They were PIPING hot when they came out. My only complaint is that they were dripping grease down my hand; however, this is a creole/southern joint and I feel that is to be expected.
These people know how to spice things up and I'd definitely like to return and sample the other menu items. The only other issue I had that wasn't food related was that jazz band. GAWD, they were loud and took random breaks without warning that led to an abundance of extreme loud talking! But aside from that, a good time! -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
My friend and I arrived at Harlem Underground for lunch around 11 am, and there was only one waitress serving all the tables. We were horrified to be informed that lunch was only served after 12 pm, since nothing on the brunch menu really appealed to us. Luckily, the kitchen obliged to serve us items from the lunch menu, so we're pretty happy about the service.
Sides are mostly ordered à la carte here, so we got a whole bunch of them to supplement our meal. First up, deep fried pickles, served with zesty scallion mayonnaise. Unfortunately, the batter didn't really adhere to the pickles and fell off really easily, so this was a difficult snack to maneuver. The mayo dip was also a little runny for my liking.
Next came the Harlem cornbread, which was an absolute delight! Mildly sweet, dense and moist, the cornbread was perfect with the salted butter. I loved the savoury and sweet combination, and the salt in the butter really brought out that innate sweetness in the cornbread.
I've read many positive reviews on Harlem's mac-n-cheese, but this one didn't exactly live up to my expectations. In fact, it tasted like Kraft dinner. By the time I was having my second spoonful, I already felt like I was in a food coma.
And the winner of the day goes to...the Harlem: A grilled three layer sammy of black forest ham, jerk chicken salad, avocado, mango mayo and jalapeño Havarti on a challah toast. When this sandwich arrived, I almost gasped in awe- the portion was huge! I'd seen a picture of this sandwich on Harlem's website, and that sandwich looked a lot tinier than this one. I loved the combination of the different textures and flavours of each ingredient. The avocado (my favourite) added a perfect layer of creaminess to this delectable concoction. The best part? The sandwich came with sweet potato fries, which I love, love, love! The intense, sweet flavour of the yam really shone through the fries.
We left extremely full and satisfied, and I even felt slightly dizzy from all that deep fried goodness! I'll definitely be coming back again for their famous fried chicken!Listed in: Comfort Food
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Review from Derek L.
Oakville, ON
4/27/2011
I might be a bit ignorant in this regard, but I expected all the service staff here to be black. But we got a french (I think ) server, who happened to be really friendly.
Another thing I was expecting was that this place would actually be underground, but it's not... with the exception of the bathrooms.
Okay so overall...
- food was okay, price was fair - not overly expensive like many restaurants in TO
- service was good, but they did not offer separate bills for our party (10+ ppl)
- nothing on tap, beer in bottles only - which is fine
I would come back, and next time I'm going to try the friend chicken and waffles!
Derek -
Review from Shiona R.
Toronto, ON
7/11/2011
I normally go to the east side Harlem as its closer to me but I thought Id try the other harlem instead. I preferred the food here, same menu but better presentation and the patio area pretty nice.
Cornbread, southern fried chicken, sweet potato fries, rice and pea...basic food but cooked very well, always the sign of a good place in my opinion! -
Review from arcadian B.
Richmond Hill, ON
6/17/2011
Was here on a beautiful thursday afternoon for lunch and there was absolutely nobody in there at all
I was pondering why but it soon came to my realization when I saw the prices and quality of food...looking at $10 plus for lunch meals
Ordered the catfish salad and roasted jerk chicken sandwich
If you can't take too much salt then stay away from the catfish
It was soooooo salty that I had 3 glasses of water
The chicken sandwich was not bad but it was definitely not a jerk chicken taste, rather a Swiss chalet roasted chicken
Overall If your looking for Cajun food then stay away from this place -
Review from Jeremy V.
Toronto, ON
6/18/2011
Came here on a recent warm evening to enjoy the patio and have a casual dinner. For the quality of food this place is definitely overpriced. Drinks are too. $9 for a cocktail? $6 for a bottle of Red Stripe?!? Generally the food is bland and unexciting. For a place that has so much cuisine to draw on (creole, Caribbean) it really falls flat.
Jerk chicken should be face-meltingly hot - I don't mind if you Canadian-ize the dish but at least keep it somewhat hot. It was more like chicken with sweet BBQ sauce on it. -
Review from Tara A.
4/12/2011
Harlem = Amazing Brunch. I walk by Harlem everyday on my way into work and never thought too much of it... That is until I walked by on a Sunday morning and saw someone enjoying brunch and thought to myself... "Hmmm... That looks delightful". I then proceeded to rally the brunch troops and head to Harlem for some grub. I couldn't be more impressed with their menu. It's simple and simply delicious. I have the Harlem Mash up. The portions aren't too overwhelming as sometimes I find restaurants like to bombard their plates with too many hash browns.
The menus are on old records which give new life to an otherwise dust collector. (I say that though I have a record player and love them oh so much.. But let's be honest).
The coffee keeps flowing and the music is awesome. . You won't regret going to Harlem. -
Review from Lauren M.
Hrmm....
I really liked the atmosphere at Harlem, lovely dark little place with cool decor. Bathrooms downstairs were a nice surprise. Outside patio looked great (too bad it's November). The service was excellent.
What failed to impress me was the food. Don't get me wrong, it was OK, but I think I had high expectations after several yelpers raved.
I went against my intuition and ordered the fried chicken & waffle combo as I was told I would regret not ordering it. I'm not much of a fried chicken fan to begin with so I should have stuck to my guns.
The waffle was just meh. Plain waffle, a bit dry. It came with some chipotle lime maple syrup stuff on the side but no butter. (Pancakes & waffles should have butter, non?) The chicken was good to look at, nicely battered with what looked like a cornflake batter. I thought it was bland though - where's the kick? No hint of spicyness or saltiness. The dish was served with a side salad topped with some fruits. Overall, an OK meal but not something I'd order again.Listed in: Picky Eaters
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Review from Jo M.
Toronto, ON
1/18/2011 1 photo
I've been to their other restaurant on Adelaide St and that experience was great. Can't say the same for this place. The service was really good, our waitress was super nice and attentive, despite it being a busy night and she was the only one working the floor. Two of us ordered the fried chicken, sides of red beans & rice, and collard greens. They give you three pieces of fried chicken with a small side of coleslaw, along with two little samples of gravy and a honey-chipotle sauce (i think that's what it was). The honey sauce didn't do much for me, I would have rather had a bigger helping of gravy. The chicken was a bit over-done for both of us. I'm thinking it could have been made earlier then re-fried quickly before serving? Who knows. The red beans and rice wasn't that tasty. The rice was too plain. Maybe the whole thing was too plain.
I may try their other location again, but as for the Underground...only if someone else is paying.
UPDATE: after having red beans & rice in NOLA I'd have to say Harlem's version is not even close to the real thing. -
Review from Alice T.
1/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really wanted to like this place, I really did. I love southern food and I wish there was more of it in the great white north.
Overall I'd say the food was ok, the fried chicken was probably the best of the lot and because there aren't many great friend chicken places in Toronto, I may come back just for that. It did seem like it was fried, then refried when ordered because it was a bit greasy. But compared to the rest of the meal it was the highlight.
The sweet potato biscuits so were tiny which made them dry and hard to eat. The mac and cheese seemed like it was covered in cheese whiz. The beans and rice was ok, the bbq chicken had a good sauce but wasn't anything special and the service was pretty slow.
We went on a Sunday night, and there were 2 servers that also tended the bar so it was difficult to get their attention.
I'd still like to try the Richmond location mostly because I'm still hoping for a good southern food option in Toronto. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
11/13/2010 5 photos
Harlem Underground sure makes me feel like transferring from a nice Autumn afternoon to a dungeon that is dark and only source of light is from the window on the far end of the dining room.
- Southern Fried Chicken & Waffle With a Chipolte-corriander-lime maple syrup ($11.95)
I am no friend of fried chickens doesn't how good you make it sounded I really cannot order fried chicken without guilt and lie about my experience. I am so glad that someone nice willing to share his with me. 1 piece is all I need... I have to say it is not bad, I do love the syrup that comes with it. Yes Yes I know deep fried chicken is the way to go to preserve all the moisture inside the chicken.
The Waffle I found them dry, and I love freshly made off the iron waffle... and this is really disappointing for me!
- Harlem Benny Poached eggs, chili-garlic greens, atop a sausage and grits flap jack along with cheesy hollandaise ($10.95)
The eggs were cooked perfectly... but sausage and grits flapjack.. I really don't taste much.. more like a soggy doughy pancake?? The chili-garlic greens in between are ok. I find this dish needs a little more kick to it... maybe some Southern hot pepper sauce will help to spice it up?
Thanks for our fellow yelpers making this Sunday brunch memorable.. It is not all about food... is who you are eating or sharing with!! +1 starListed in: A Day in Trinity-Niagara!, Weekend Brunchs in GTA!
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Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
11/8/2010 2 photos
Walking past those 2 tied-up Curtains that is their passage to the dining space, I wanted to give those things a big TUG and see what prizes I won. Sitting near the Kitchen meant that the Cook nodded me Goodbye as I looked through the pass. The back is a Garage Bar space that is suitable for a Garage Band I guess to perform for private events.
I heard from the Yelpers in attendance that the Bathroom was nice. I guess that might be the Underground part of Harlem Underground. Staff make it a point that you get both the Brunch & Lunch Menu during this Sunday Noon hour.
Harlem Benny($10.95) had some good segments done well especially the perfectly Poached Egg oozing Yolkiness. Classic Hollandaise with some Cheese. The Garlic Collards didn't bring much to the show and made the Sausage Pancake below soggy. Not my first pick for Brunch item as nothing really popped out of all its parts. 2.5 *Star*
Southern Fried Chicken & Waffle($11.95) where the Chipotle-Corriander-Lime Maple Syrup was the highlight and I pretty much only tasted Maple Syrup although I physically see Chili Seeds as well. Waffles, Salad, Fruits are regular Brunch items nothing unique in that sense so I was really looking for the Fried Chicken to make this dish.
It does provide a Crunchy Battered Skin a la Extra Crispy Double Battered at KFC, just slightly less so. What it lacked was the umami savoury Marinade although I did taste a hint but not enough. Another point is that the Flour is where the seasoning can be compounded. I just felt that it wasn't seasoned well enough and it could have been JUICIER especially when it's fried to order.
I guess I'm used to extremely well Seasoned/Marinaded Fried Chicken from my personal background. This meal there was nothing aweful and everything was A-OK but I guess much like Lauren, I had a bit more expectation since indie Fried Chicken is rare in Toronto. Also when I last smelled something delicious at Harlem East.Listed in: 2.5 **Stars**, Southern Fried
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Review from Kim L.
Toronto, ON
9/17/2010
Fried chicken & waffles.
Most unusual combination.
Or not ;)
It was one of those days. And Harlem was just the place for a little soul food. A classic Southern gluttonous experience of finger-licking good.
You've never seen a table so excited to scan a menu. Scan it we did...over and over again. Appetizers: catfish lafayette or bayou baked brie? Entreés: jambalaya or braised short ribs? Sides: mac n' cheese or corn bread? We debated like it was our last meal.
Stand-out dishes:
Catfish Lafayette
(seasoned deep fried morsels of succulent fish w/ a great sweet & hot sauce + jerk scallion mayo)
Cajun Tempura Fried Okra
(part of 2% of population who loves okra. don't care. pair that w. a crispy tempura batter, satisfying!)
Honourable mentions:
Southern Fried Chicken & Waffle with a chipolte-coriander-lime maple syrup
(crackling skin & juicy meat, combined with sweet waffles smothered in syrup...comfort food at its best)
It pains, but unforgettable:
Braised short ribs seared & slow simmered in rich thyme-molasses-scotch bonnet pepper & veg stew
(N enjoyed, but wasn't blown away & it was a little too fatty for our liking)
Fried Plantains
(sticky...in a "hold pls, need to unlock jaw first" kinda way)
Great, casual, easy vibe. Serving Cajun & Creole, Harlem (Underground) is good.
Too good. Once-in-a-quarter-let-it-all-go-good. -
Review from Janna S.
11/10/2010
I came here for brunch with some Yelp friends on Sunday and ordered the (in)famous fried chicken & waffle combo. I don't think I've ever had "real" fried chicken before (KFC doesn't count), so I was curious to try it, and waffles are among my favorite.
My only big complaint was the spicy maple syrup...I just don't think it works for me. I tried it with the chicken AND the waffle, but I quickly asked for some regular syrup, which was far better. This seems like a case of trying to fix something that ain't broken if you ask me. It's worth noting that I have fairly strong feelings about maple syrup, so if you're the sort of person who can take it or leave it you might not care.
I liked the uber-crispiness of the chicken, but I could only eat one piece as I found it incredibly rich. As Lauren M noted, the waffles were a bit dry. I think they needed some fruit or butter, although there was still too much food for me to finish (and I came here as hungry as humanly possible). You might want to consider ordering this combo to share and adding a few sides!
Bathrooms are clean and the service was pleasant and timely. -
Review from Leslie-anne W.
Toronto, ON
After raving about Harlem Underground to people, it pains me to have had a mediocre experience there. We were a group of six hungry diners who were ready to eat. We ordered caesars and red stripes, a round of appetizers, mains and sides. The server was not able to give a recommendation and seemed terribly confused. Our apps came without a hitch, the catfish layfeyette (battered and fried catfish) was moist and well seasoned with two dipping sauces, but the crawfish in chilies was underwhelming and overly finicky for the taste experience.
Our server seemed to stop noticing us at this point, we had difficulty having drink orders fulfilled. When our mains arrived they hadn't remembered to order one of them. The rest of us awkwardly ate our entire meal while our friend waited for almost 20 minutes for his food. There was no profuse apology or rush to get it out once they realized their mistake.
The fried chicken was good enough, but waffles and gravy was stone-cold. The mac n' cheese was bland. The best part of the meal was the coleslaw, which isn't enough for me to want to return.
To top it all off, groups of 6 or more have an automatic tip on the bill - when the main didn't arrive, we expected it to be discounted at the very least and we did not intend on tipping the full amount. After we asked awkwardly, they deducted 50% of the main from the bill. So much drama when all we wanted was some good ol' fried chicken. -
Review from Pai P.
8/22/2010
Catfish Lafayette. Need I say more? "Seasoned deep fried morsels with a duo of sauces: Sweet-n-hot sauce and Jerk-scallion Mayo."
Sooo goood!! I don't normally eat fish but this just hit the spot! A buddy ordered it and I wanted to try it. Delicious! It melts in your mouth kind of good. -
Review from Tong J.
It's a beautiful fall Saturday morning, sunny and warm. I can't think of a better way to start the day with something fried and something sweet, on a nice patio. We decided to give Harlem Underground another chance.
We arrived at the restaurant before 11 am and decided to sit on their quiet, casual, low-key back patio.
A friendly and cheerful waitress greeted us, we quickly ordered 2 servings of the fried chicken and waffles... no need to even look at the menu!
About 20 minutes later, we were staring at 2 white square plates, each filled with 3 pieces of crispy fried chicken, waffle+warm Chipolte-corriander-lime maple syrup and fresh salad+dressing.
The Southern fried chicken was very nicely cooked; crispy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. Accompanied by Chipolte-corriander-lime maple syrup, which brought the fried chicken and lovely waffle together.
Unfortunately the coffee was weak with not much flavor. But, I was enjoying fried chicken too much to let bad coffee ruined my brunch. So, I quickly overlooked it.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/8/2010
We've been to Harlem Underground 4 times with mixed and inconsistent food, hence the 3 stars. The… Read more »
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Review from Diane R.
Toronto, ON
4/5/2010
I wanted to love this place. The location is dear to my heart and the constant turn-over of places at King and Tecumseth has been a sad site to see. Unfortunately, I have little to no hope for Harlem. The best thing I could say about the spot was that the music was fun.
I ordered the blueberry pancakes. Usually I expect some blueberry IN the pancakes, instead all I got was extra-buttery cakes with some blueberry jam on the side. They also came along with my ultimate pet-peeve: fake flavourless maple syrup. We live in Canada, the sugar shacks were just in full force last month. There is NO excuse for cheaping out on maple syrup.
I'd keep on with the whining, but no one's meal was anymore memorable. My recommendation, if you're looking for good greasy spoon, keep heading east to Shanghai Cowgirl. Or for something classy try Rosebud Grill or Czechoski's for some yummy brunch. -
Review from Carmen M.
1/10/2010
Thanksbeto BlogTO, I have found yet *another* stupendously delicious spot in which to gorge on brunch.
The Harlem Underground is housed in the space occupied by the formerly named Irie. Despite having passed Irie about a billion times, it just never looked very inviting, so when I saw that they mixed things up a bit, I thought I'd give it a try. A new interior and a new menu has apparently done wonders for Harlem Underground.
My interest was piqued when I saw that they served "soul food", which I also consider "southern food". Being from the American South, I miss what I consider "home" or "comfort" foods, which would include pretty much everything on the Harlem Underground menu. Their brunch includes such southern delights as Sweet Potato Waffles, Crawfish Etouffee, Frog Legs, and pecan-covered French Toast. I chose the Harlem Benny, which, despite its name, isn't your traditional eggs benedict. Rather, instead of english muffins, HU serves the perfectly cooked poached eggs over a thin sweet potato pancake that's covered with sausage and grits (!). A cheesy hollaindaise is served on the side for dipping or pouring. Also served on the plate was the most delicious side salad EVAR -- baby greens, pear, red and yellow peppers, and pomegranate seeds!
As per usual, I ordered a half order of the French Toast and asked them to surprise me with which one. They were more than accommodating and immediately said "sure, we can do that -- is $2 fair?".
Overal;, the food was fabulous -- very well flavoured, temperature-appropriate, and plentiful. I had a latte with brunch and it was also very good.
Service was exceptional -- friendly, attentive, and not overly "in your face".
I took a glance at the dinner menu and it looked equally appealing. I will definitely go back to the Harlem Underground -- I just hope it's as good the second time around!
Note: there are two locations -- one on Richmond East and this one on Queen West. -
Review from CHAR C.
Toronto, ON
12/22/2011
the frist impression is that it's a cool soul food place. nice for a dinner for two. came here for apps and drinks, they were ok. the mac and cheese was a bit oily for me, but done in a very classic way. the food being served looked HUGE and delicious. will return to check out food. will say that service was great, the piano man comes around to take requests as well.
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Review from Shaz S.
Toronto, ON
6/24/2011 4 Check-ins Here
i planned a birthday at harlem underground. i was a bit apprehensive, wondering how a party of 14 would play out at this place (mainly because of some of the reviews on yelp) but i was extremely pleased.
I called a day ahead to make reservation of 14. i requested the patio and they were pretty flexible with last minute changes and accommodating more/less ppl as required.
the food (especially the fried chicken) was really good, broasted the right amount and huge servings. although many of us enjoying the fried chicken, we weren't too thrilled with any of the side dishes. the mac n cheese, rice with beans and nachos with salsa were mediocre and paled in comparison to the kick ass fried chicken. the waffles were just ok. the food was slightly pricey but huge helpings.
they have a good patio in the back, and some nights they have live jazz musicians. the music wasn't a major focus for us, we were on the patio and really couldn't hear anything, and i don't even remember a live musician actually.
our waitress was KILLER! she was awesome, she handled our large group pretty well, we had friends coming and leaving at different times and she kept up with everyone's orders and drinks. she was friendly and humored everyone.
the downfall was that they don't offer a cash n carry policy for parties of 6 or more. there is only one bill. this was a problem for me since not all of our friends who passed by ate and some of them don't drink. i feel its not fair to charge people alcohol tax etc when they've only ordered an appetizer. i spoke with the manager and he agreed to separate the food bill from the alchohol bill - there was %20 gratuities on both bills.
we had a fun and pleasant time, the food was good, the appetizers and sides were meh, the watress kicked ass. i'd go back for the fried chicken but don't think i would go back if i was organizing a large group since i don't want to be responsible for a large alcohol bill (i don't drink at all) and i'd prefer a place where ppl can just buy their drinks at the bar. but that's just a personal preference - other than that, this place is great for groups!!
around $25 per person (entree plus a drink)
must try: any meal with the fried chicken!!! -
Review from Gord M.
East York, ON
Updated - 5/11/2010
Back again on the weekend to show my brother's heart some abuse.
The good: He was bowled over by the chicken and waffles, I finally tried and love the fish - anything and everything battered here is simply wicked - and The Harlem: Grilled, three layers of black forest ham, jerked chicken salad, avocado, mango mustard & cheese on challah bread. It doesn't read like it works, but it works!
The bad: Hot Crab & Crawfish Dip with chili-garlic toast. Not real crab (probably pollock) and not crawfish (if it looks like shrimp and tastes like shrimp, it's probably shrimp)
My only beef about this place - I can't stop myself from going back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/4/2010
You had me at waffles and gravy.
When I heard that a soul food place was opening up downtown, it… Read more »
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Review from Ricardo M.
Toronto, ON
It doesn't get any better than Harlem underground...
The food, service and drinks (Rum punch) are all to die for. I have tried just about everything on the menu.. and each tim I am pleasantly surprised with combination of flavours and spices, it it honestly an experience like no other.
When friends are in from out of town and want a real local experience this is the #1 place on my list.
Definitely check it out and say Ricardo sent you... -
Review from Claire Y.
Toronto, ON
6/3/2010
Been waiting for a meal at Harlem Underground for quite sometime after reading a few reviews about the place, but it was never open for lunch.
Finally, I persuaded my boyfriend and friend to come try this Southern cuisine place one night.
There had been a couple mistakes with the orders, but they were promptly and politely corrected.
Overall, some of the food was a tad over fatty for such a humid day. However, the flavour fit the atmosphere very well and everything was amazing in taste. I would definitely return and recommend to anybody up for heartwarming meal with friends. -
Review from Tammy Y.
Toronto, ON
1/1/2010
People always seem to be looking for a good restaurant for parties.
Well, look no further. This is your joint. Reasonably priced food, huge variety, top-notch service, moody atmosphere and delicious meals can all be found here. And bonus! There is none of this faux "birthday cake plating fee" to be found here!
I booked the Harlem Underground a couple weeks in advance for a birthday party. I ended up getting a couple of calls from them leading up to the reservation to clear up some confusion (such as... "what time again? which sunday? are you still coming?"), which braced me for a possibly just-as-confusing meal. However, upon arrival, the lovely staff worked their magic to juggle our party of 25+. Everyone's meals came out within the same amount of time, drinks were flowing steadily (as was water), and the servers always had a smile on their face. They spoke passionately about the food and when it came time for it, happily brought the cake out with plates and cutlery, candles blazing. The chef himself even came out to wish the bday boy many happy returns.
Food is great. I tried the hush puppies (fried fish balls) to start - and while it was satisfying, was a little on the bready side. The Bourbon Baby Back ribs were a winner - fleshy, tangy and sweet. If you've never had fried chicken and waffles, try it here. There is just the right amount on the plate and it's a winning combination. The chicken itself was crispy and unbelievably juicy inside - a goal!
With so many yummy things to choose from - I (and the rest of our party) agree that we'll be coming back here for some more southern lovin'. -
Review from Liora I.
Toronto, ON
8/15/2010
Chicken'n waffles have been a long running joke amongst my friends and i was thrilled to find somewhere downtown to try this 'delicacy'...
The portions were huge and the staff was friendly. We ordered frogs legs to start which I could've done without since they themselves kind of tasted like fried chicken.
The chicken was okay: spicy batter, super greasy, but sadly a little over cooked / bordering burnt... served with both gravy and syrup, I always enjoy things that mix salty and sweet. A salad or some sort of fresh garnish would've been appreciated.
I'll give them another shot, but only because I can't think of another place in T.O to fill this soul food craving. -
Review from ritchie c.
Toronto, ON
6/8/2010
I'm a sucker for "soul food", which encompasses anything that's incredibly unhealthy for me soaked in butter, deep fried and served with melted cheese.
The Good:
- Fish and chips tasted incredible. Red striped battered, hot and crispy, cooked to perfection. Probably the best fish and chips I've had in the city so far.
- Fat Carl was AMAZING! Very succulent, juicy, crispy chicken (even better than the stand alone fried chicken), soft bread and a mmmmm factor of 11.
The Okay:
- Pulled pork waffle - exactly as it's described. Not bad but completely pales in comparison to the items above.
- Southern fried chicken and waffles were lacking. The skin was deliciously crispy but the chicken itself was dry on the inside.
- Catfish & Collard Green Soup got mixed reviews at our table, some said it was perfect, others like me thought it could've used more flavour. Still not bad at all.
- Collard Greens tasted good but nothing too memorable
The Bad:
- Mac and cheese had absolutely nothing going for it. Bland, not cheesy enough and let's be honest - if you're not tasting better than instant KD, you're doing something wrong.
I can't remember what else we got, but by the end of it my heart wasn't too pleased with me. Would recommend this place to anyone. Be prepared to eat and breathe heavy afterwards.
