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We started with a couple "snacks" and both were a good size and tasty. The entrees were also very good. The atmosphere was great and very lively for a wed. night without being too noisy. I think prices were slightly high but not outrageous based on the food quality and decor. Will return.

My food was great. I had the helga meatballs. Service was quick and friendly. Very attentive staff. I really enjoyed my meal.

As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by friendly staff and there was a great, diverse crowd at the bar. The cornbread totally rocks although the tomato jam was a bit watery and lacking in flavor. Also lacking in flavor were the side of pickles which were not actually pickled or seasoned at all; the yardbird which had a nice crunch but also no seasoning or flavor except for its side of pickles and hot sauce which were the saving grace of the dish; the cowpeas also had no seasoning or flavor and sadly, there was not even a hint of truffles in the truffle fries, although they were well seasoned. At these prices, the kitchen needs to learn how to season the food properly. Oh, and the market salad had so little dressing that three of us had to ask for more dressing on the side. We want to come back. We like this place and we like the vibe, we just need to like the food.

I have just enjoyed an enjoyable Easter Brunch at the Red Rooster. The place was packed and two deep at the bar. I was waiting for the party of nine and the hostess showed me to a place at the bar. My party came in and we were seated immediately. The atmosphere was friendly and lively which was partly responsible by the live music. The fare is nouveau cuisine and very good. All and all we enjoyed ourselves and left with good vibes. I will definitely go back.

The upshot: if you are going to charge based on your reputation, you'd better cook to meet expectations. There were certain parts of the meal that were perfect. The pickles that accompany the fried chicken, the marrow that comes with the steak, the chocolate malt tart with red velvet ice cream (be still, my heart). But the chicken ("yard bird") itself? Bland. The side of pickles was underpickled. Little things that, on a menu that spare (and, especially for the neighborhood, $$$), should be sparkling and spot-on. The atmosphere is beautiful and charming. The people are pretty. The service was great. If I'm going to spend that kind of money, the food needs to be better.

I moved to Harlem pretty recently, and I have fun checking out new restaurants. I want SO badly to like the food at Red Rooster more. The place has great energy. The drinks are solid (though you have to be very patient on a crowded night--I have waited almost 20 minutes for a drink), the staff is friendly, and the crowd is diverse and well-heeled. BUT, the food is just lackluster. The crab cake is a total disappointment--too much filler and doesn't taste bright or fresh. The catfish is good, but came lukewarm and somewhat soggy overall (soft catfish over mushy veg, etc.). I do really like the mac 'n greens, and I enjoyed the dirty rice and shrimp as well--good flavor and satisfying. I just feel like, for the price point, especially in this neighborhood, it should really be better. Stay at it Red Rooster--I keep coming back and crossing my fingers!

My hubby took me for my birthday dinner, since I'd just finished Chef Samuelsson's autobiography, Yes, Chef, and was completely enchanted by his amazing life story. I was in love with the place from the minute we drove by looking for a spot - the outside facade and glance in to the hoppin' bar area were so inviting - especially on a flurrying, freezing night. Walking in confirmed my initial "like" with fantastic, warm colors, a live Jazz band (Sunday night!) and a warm, friendly hostess (is this NYC or not!!??). We sat for a bit looking around at the rest of the patrons - everyone was just so attractive and not-too-trendy, and the waitstaff all the same, it was a pleasure. I can't say enough about at atmosphere - I didn't stop smiling over it the whole time. Unfortunately, our seats were moved after a few minutes to push tables together for a table that ended up not being used, but the staff was nice enough to remedy that with a free order of the scrumptions, chewy-with-crunchy-outside, steaming-warm cornbread. We skipped the overpriced drink menu, and dove into the food, starting with the dirty rice and shrimp appetizer. I adored the unique mix of spices, crunch, sweet raisins, and cool yogurt. It was unlike any flavors I've had, so very hard to describe. The one sour note was that my husband got some kind of pepper or something massively hot, and was gulping water and eating the rest of the cornbread to recover (and he can do hot). Something must've been left in after cooking. For entrees, he had the salmon with citrus sauce and long beans, which he loved, and he isn't always thrilled with salmon, so that was nice. I found the peanuts+citrus a bit unusual for me to reconcile. I had his grandmother Helga's swedish meatballs, and they were perfect - so homey and rich, with wonderfully sweet, tangy lingonberries, refreshing pickles, and a side of immediate-transport-to-sweden (I imagine) potatoes with cream and dill. I was very happy, and he loved mine, as well. As a side we had the roasted squash with fried sage. It was, for some reason, just okay. Nothing special, we didn't even eat that much of it. The best part was the pureed pumpkin with pumpkin seeds. For dessert I voted for the rice pudding, which was a very interesting take, with cold, thick rice pudding, heavenly pineapple in rum, and crumbled macaroons (that part I didn't love). Really enjoyed overall, and a nice lightly-sweet finish to the evening.