SpaHa Soul

This place was great! My husband and I walked into this place randomly and the owner Art was sitting at a table. He mentioned that he wasn’t open yet and his restaurant is reservation only but then said he would just «feed us.» He was so nice and wonderful and my husband went out to grab some beers since it was BYOB while Art cooked. Art warned us that he cooks everything from scratch and that the food would take about 30 – 45 minutes which we were fine with. We were served fried chicken, string beans, mashed potatoes with cheese, collard greens and dirty rice. The food was great. The chicken was perfectly cooked and the potatoes were creamy and nice and salty. My only complaint was the collards were very greasy. Art was so hospitable, as if we were in his own home. I will definitely be returning with my husband after we make a reservation.

This is a must visit for those interested in visiting a true Spanish Harlem gem. The dinning experience is elevated by the owner/​cook/​waiter/​host Artis, who compliments the made from scratch soul food offerings with a personable personality that welcomes and transports you to his own kitchen where conversation and music are also on the menu.
This place overwhelmed me with its food, but will have me coming back for the company.

Tiny place in Harlem which truly serves HOME COOKED meals, chicken is DELISH!!! The collard greens were a perfect combination of crisp and tender, mac and cheese was cheesy! The chef and owner makes one feel at home. he was great! It’s also BYOB. woohoo!

So, I stopped by here approximately 8 weeks ago with a friend of mine, who enjoys accompanying me on these food adventures. I kept telling him about the overwhelmingly positive reviews about this place and I really had been dying to give it a try, but lived on west 108^th at the time and really was struggling to get my butt over to East Harlem somehow. Also, Lolo’s is closer.
Anyway, I would give five stars based on the quality of the food and the fact that this lovely, little establishment is BYOB. However, as many Unilocalers before me have written, the service is unbearably slow. And for that reason, I brought the overall experience to a 4 (but would truly round it out at 3.5). While the owner/​chef/​artist, Artis, was very amicable and came out to introduce himself, he also seemed frazzled despite the fact that my friend and I were the only patrons in the restaurant, at that time.
I understand that they are working in a super small kitchen space and that it is difficult to make meals to order when everything is done from scratch in that workspace. That said, I also would have appreciated maybe more accurate estimates of when the food would be ready, but enjoyed our conversation in the meantime.
My friend and I arrived, sat at a table, and ordered the same meal. I believe it was called «The Betty» and included fried chicken breast, garlic mashed potatoes with gravy, candied yams, silver dollar cornbread pancakes and collard greens. We were told that because everything is made fresh and to order, etc. that it would take approximately 35 minutes and Artis recommended that we walk over to the closest liquor store and grab our beverage.
We bought two bottles of wine and returned to the restaurant. We were able to store the extra bottle in the restaurant refrigerator, which was great and returned with what should have been 20 minutes before our food was out. Now, this is a tiny place, with just three small tables and NO AIR CONDITIONING. It was extremely hot that day and the tap water here is not served iced, so we were sweating like no tomorrow when we returned from the liquor store, had no cold beverages and could feel the heat from the open kitchen.
We kept receiving updates on our food long after it should have been digested, and ultimately waited a total of about 75 minutes from time we ordered to the time we took our first bites of our entrees. We had some complimentary watermelon slices to munch on, but the updates were not accurate. He kept saying, «Food’ll be out any minute», «10 more minutes» and we’d wait an eternity.
With these things in mind, it’s hard to believe that I rated them so highly, but I cleaned every crumb of food and drop of gravy off of that plate and so did my friend! It was the most delicious, well-​done, perfectly seasoned meal and it wanted for nothing. I was impressed with the other things on the chef’s menu, which has more to offer than just a traditional Southern menu, but given the wait time, I think all future visits would have to be takeout and I would call at the time they open, to pick it up at closing!
Seriously, great food, wonderful people, but if they could somehow put a little more pep in the kitchen step (and purchase a fan or two) I would trek over to 1^st Ave more often. Overall, delicious. And that cornbread was… well, the entire meal was everything.

Amazing, Organic soulfood served in a nice, airy space in Spanish Harlem. It is more like an art gallery displaying Original art for sale. Artist is a creative chef. He mindfully prepares authentic meals that are flavorful, locally sourced and absolutely delicious. If your lucky, local bands will stop by to play music.

I am very sorry to not have a better experience to report because the owner was reasonably friendly and I would like to see a healthy stylish restaurant do well in the area. I really wanted to love it.
Yet I gotta be true in my Unilocal review.
To be fair, it was a couple months ago —and it probably has improved a lot since I went there as I got the impression itbis a new business.
I saw through the windows when walking by recently and the art on the walls has definitely improved…
…so maybe you want to check it out for yourself and make up your own mind? I personally will not be back though.
Maybe I was there on an off day.
I don’t want to harm anyone. So I hope this helps as constructive feedback.
Here goes:
Highlights: Location, concept, thoughtfully styled interior with original artwork, nice mosaic sculpture of a torso on the bar, lots of seating, a modern business using Applepay, not a chain restaurant (support local businesses!)
Lowlights: I was told how wonderful certain menu items were but then when I tried to order them, was told they weren’t available? Wha-​??? Ok.
I agreed to substitutions in my multi-​item carryout order but it took a verrry verrrry long time — even when these were standard menu items and I was the only one there. So while waiting I asked for something to drink when he came to the front for a second but he said there were also no beverages for sale. Double wha-​???
I accepted lukewarm tap water but cringed as I noticed while I drank that the cup was quite dirty looking, ew, so I did a spit-​take and settled in for an interminable thirsty wait… the owner was in the back apparently cooking the food and there was NO ONE else working or dining in the restaurant, in early evening. Hmmm.
Meanwhile I noticed wet-​looking stains in the center of the fabric seat of the chair next to me and also another chair nearby too so I decided to stand. Double ewwww.
I spied something hairy-​looking on the floor under another chair (did I mention ew?) To be fair, the rest of the floor was otherwise clean though!
Still I was rapidly losing my appetite.
So I regretted the order a little even before it came out.
I considered cancelling but he was cooking already and I want to help struggling new businesses so of course I was going to pay for what I ordered, I wasnt going to run out on my bill !!
I perused the art and décor to kill time while waiting. The large wall paintings were all variations on a single theme and it appeared to be impressions of close-​up genitalia. It wasn’t obvious right away and I’m pretty sure many people have looked at those paintings without noticing what they were! Yet since I did notice, as subject matter it felt distasteful to be surrounded by that in a dining establishment. I am sex-​positive but still. Triple wha-​???
So I decided to close eyes and think positive thoughts, ignoring the surroundings. I prayed I was in for a pleasant surprise with the food. And the guy was there working on his own too. I felt bad for him. I did think of complaining but he was in the back cooking until he brought it out. I decided to just be a good sport, pay and leave quickly. Then there was a problem with the iPad used for billing so that ended up not going quickly but I was finally able to pay and leave!
Five minutes later when I opened the food up, I saw it wasn’t packed as a meal; each part of the meal was packaged separately in a paper drinking cup with a lid. So it appeared like I had ordered several coffees? These vertical shapes didnt stay upright in the bag and spilled.
One was unseasoned vegetable that had been boiled into lifeless submission and left swimming in about ¾ cup of water… it had not been drained.
One was literally just a couple tablespoons worth of food smeared all over along the sides of the cup like a violent kitchen accident or the remains after somebody had already eaten?
Another item was stone cold and smelled wrong.
I could go on but I am not a bully. Let’s just say this was a profoundly and unifyingly unpalatable meal. Found it all appalling.
The fact that anybody would serve this to a polite paying customer disturbed me, I couldnt bring myself to swallow. Tossed it all with zero regret and happily went hungry instead.
Probably he was just going through some stress or the real cook did not show up for work that day or something, I just don’t know. I bet the place is normally great
and don’t want to ruin anyone but I must confess I tossed this entire meal and preferred wasting the money rather than consume it. It was that unappetizing.
Mind you I had waited a long while and was the ONLY customer at the time. It should have been an excellent effort. Sorry to have to shred it but my hope is that this was a flukey exception for this restsurant. I wish the management luck.

Great food, Artist the owner, chef, DJ, waitstaff is the nicest guy. Make sure to give him a heads up by calling in advance on weeknights. Can not rate it highly enough! So good

A cozy spot where owners and management actually care about the consumer experience. It just so happened that there was a lovely young lady on guitar taking requests and providing a refreshing dining experience. Byob, low-​key, a definite big up!

Great food great atmosphere amazingly nice owner. I wrote my first review October 2013 and have gone to this place more times than I can count. I have checked in ~20 times via Unilocal,but that is definitely not indicative of how often I come.
Spaha Soul brought a great little restaurant to Pleasant Ave and East Harlem neighborhood. Owned by Artist T, he greets you with a hearty hello as you look around at the art (that rotates) and listen to the amazing music (often live) that creates a wonderful atmosphere.
Things you must know:
1) The food is fresh-​orders daily and isn’t made until you order it.
2) There is a huge variety on the menu for all food types: ‘regular/​traditional’, vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, paleo, etc.
3) Sunday is brunch/​limited menu only
4) RSVPs never hurt because the restaurant is small
5) BYOB BUT BUT if you want to drink based on what you order, there is a great place that delivers (and around the corner). Artist hands you his phone with the number programmed in to place your personal wine order.
6) Delivery is not guaranteed-​choose pick-​up or dine in
7) Not sure what you want to eat? Talk it out with him!
8) Can you say deal? Ask what the nightly pre fixe is. You will get 3 – 4 scrumptious courses for $ 35; yes that is not a typo!
9) cash preferred
The owner and proprietor, Artist, makes the food from the heart. Definitely a gem for the area!

Very casual and relaxed atmosphere with a great local musician playing on a Friday night. It’s BYOB so make sure to take da stage and also cash only. Everything we ate was delicious but especially the fried chicken and gravy. Best I’ve ever had. Also had the price fixed which is a great deal $ 35 and the grilled chicken with mango and sticky rice was just excellent. Definitely going back.

Came by on a Sunday afternoon to an empty restaurant. The owner stated that since they’re closed on Mondays, their kitchen was not fully-​stocked and that their full menu wasn’t available. That was a bit disappointing, but it’s good to know that they use fresh stock every week. Plus, the owner also asked us to tell him what we wanted and that he’d see if he could make it with what he had. There was a prix fixe and a brunch special being offered, but we opted to get items a la carte. One of my friends decided to be extra challenging and asked to be «surprised» with an appetizer.
As other reviews have stated, the owner is the chef and when we were there, he was the server as well. We waited a LONG time for the food to come out. The appetizers came quickly enough (watermelon salad and the requested surprise that turned out to be pancakes), but we waited almost an hour for the entrees. That being said, the food was enjoyable. The watermelon salad consisted of watermelon slices and a few leaves of basil with dressing. I was initially disappointed at the lack of other greenery and the usual watermelon salad suspects, but I received a very generous amount of watermelon and the balsamic reduction dressing was really good. The aforementioned pancakes came unadorned and so plain-​looking that they left my friend (who asked for something non-​sweet) and I confused for a bit, but they were actually really tasty, savory with a subtle spicy kick. For entrees, we ordered the pork chops that was part of the brunch special and the «Betty» — fried chicken served with a white gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, collard greens, and candied yams. The fried chicken was actually a boneless cutlet, quite tasty (Although I secretly wished they served larger pieces of it). The collard greens and candied yams were good, but the creamy gravy and the garlic mashed potatoes were DELICIOUS. The pork chop came with a poblano sauce and grits. I’ve always liked grits, but I also love unflavored oatmeal so it’s not like I have high expectations when it comes to it. I’m happy to report that the grits bar has now been set, guys. The grits were (was?) far from flavorless and the grits+poblano sauce combo was a winner.
As I have mentioned, service was very slow but the chef/​owner was very apologetic and comped the salad. The free salad still couldn’t explain why the bill was so much LESS than we expected so I think we also had some other discount magic happening there. We appreciated that gesture of excellent customer service so much that we gave the amount that we thought was closer to what we really owe.
In summary, this may not be the best option when you’re in a hurry. But the food’s good and the service was exceptional (if a bit frazzled), making this place worthy of my four stars.

Neighborhood gem!
SpaHa is such a warm and inviting space. Artist, the owner and chef is super courteous and really wants his guests to be pleased with his food. I definitely was! I ordered the Fried Chicken Basket with Mac and Cheese and Collard Greens as my sides. The food was very flavorful and fresh. I recommend you try this place, I’ll be returning for sure!

Ok so it all starts with the owner ARTIST!!! Yeah yeah yeah, he is all that and a bag of chips! The most lovely host you could ever want. Upon arrival, he graciously welcomed me. I ordered fried chicken, sautéed collards, 4 cheese mac and corn cakes. All were fantastic!!! Chicken was moist and flavorful, greens were SUPERIOR!!! Good mac, but I loved the corn cakes. All in all a place to return to in a neighborhood with tragic food choices, this is an oasis. WELL DONE ARTIST!!!

I haven’t eaten at SpaHa Soul yet, but I’m giving this review based on the candor, courtesy and beyond the pale service. My boyfriend and I came to the restaurant on Sunday at 3pm. The small place was packed with patrons happily munching away.
We sat with a cute couple and waited for the server to appear. When he did he was a little frazzled but had a smile on his face and attended to everyone assuring us he’d be with us shortly. We were fine with waiting since the reviews warned there would be a bit of a wait.
However after 10 minutes the server came back and revealed that he wasn’t just the server, he was the owner/​chef. He apologized explaining that he had limited staff and he wouldn’t right having us wait around when he was so far in the weeds. He also offered to make up for our missed meal by inviting us back the following Sunday for a comped brunch.
Once my boyfriend explained that he had to work at the proposed time, the owner further extended himself and offered to have us back after he closed the restaurant down for a private dinner. After we got over the initial shock of the level of candor, kindness and customer service, we readily agreed.
So that stated, I haven’t tried the food yet, but I’m excited for the opportunity and blown away by the classy treatment.

The chef is truly focused on delivering excellent food in a warm atmosphere and it shows. I enjoyed an excellent date here and the chef was even able to creatively make something off the menu to accommodate my dates special needs. The chicken is as savory as one would expect and I had a nice crunch – the best hot sauce I have ever enjoyed added the perfect touch.
The side dishes of Mac and collard greens were the perfect complement to the poultry and the portions are extremely generous for the price point. I was thrilled with the personable service I received and can’t wait to go back soon

So divinely delicious… ridiculously flavorful. A must soul food spot in Spanish Harlem. Get it… SpaHa… Spanish Harlem… ;)
I cannot believe I did not write a review when I went to this venue… simply a check-​in! Oops, I must not have figured out how this Unilocal thing worked at the time.: P
A recommendation from a friend, as he knows the owner Artist, and it is still one of the BEST recommendations I have ever had from a friend and been so grateful to receive! Delicious, delicious, delicious. Scrumptious, scrumptious, scrumptious. Even as I write this, my mouth waters.
Been back a few times and cannot wait to go again! Cozy, relaxed and intimate vibe spot with rotating featured local artist’s work on the walls to enhance ambiance and add local flair/​flavor. Prime location with decent street parking availability, if needed. Focus is 100% on the FOOD. Flavors are simply DIVINE.

I really wanted to give this place five stars, so I’ll start with the pros.
It’s a cute little café with four tables nestled in East Harlem, which I wouldn’t have found if not for Unilocal!
The owner, Artist, was really kind and made me feel right at home. He told us that it was BYOB and to holler if we needed anything. He is the only person working!
He started us off with cornbread, which was really soft and moist, that it did not need any butter. We ordered the buttermilk fried chicken with mac&cheese and mash potatoes.
The fried chicken was very juicy and tender. The mash was to die for. It contained hints of cheddar cheese which was really the icing on top. The Mac & cheese was okay. Not bad…
So, now you’re probably wondering why I only gave it three stars… Well, I bought a Unilocal deal for $ 9 which entitled us to $ 18 worth of food. Our total was 22.30 including tax and a 15% gratuity, which means I would’ve owed him $ 4.30. I told him I had a Unilocal deal and he took it and told me I owed him $ 9.80??? I asked him why? He said « Unilocal tax». I wasn’t going to argue with him in front of all his customers so I let it go but I’m still upset that he wasn’t doing honest business. Basically, it was as if i didn’t buy the deal. I was def going to go back, but after that mishap– I don’t know anymore.

A hidden gem in East Harlem. I have been living various blocks away from this restaurant and, finally, my boyfriend and I decided to check it out.
The impeccable service and staff is the magical touch. A wonderful owner and dedicated employees made our experience unforgettable.
As a foodie, the prepared meal was exactly spot on. Many restaurants in NYC have lost that touch of putting the effort into cooking a fresh meal. One could tell that the ingredients are specially chosen on a daily basis to obtain maximum results. I am also a vegetarian, and there are unique options for veggie lovers.
One thing that we HAVE to recommend is NOT to skip the dessert. We had a special blue cake truffles that were executed to perfection. The owner was kind enough to explain to us that the lady who creates them has ambitions of owning her own bakery. I believe that she can achieve it without hesitation.
Regarding our final price, we could not believe we were paying so little for the quality and service that we had received.
Spaha Soul is a clear reflection of where the neighborhood is moving towards. I could expect this location to be an inspiration for other up and coming entrepreneurs to open up restaurants in the same area. The KEY factor is having the heart and commitment that Spaha Soul has.
We would recommend this place to any of or friends, family and Unilocal viewers.

My boyfriend and I came here on a very chilly night. We were the only ones in the restaurant, likely because no one else wanted frost bite.
Artist, the owner and chef, made us feel very welcome. It is quite clear he loves food and people and that he loves giving people wholesome food to eat.
The chicken with gravy was incredible. It was perfectly seasoned and though it is a traditional southern dish, it still had creative and interesting notes to the flavor.
The food took a while to come out and it is clear that they made everything to order/​from scratch.
High end food in a low key environment and the prices are super great for the quality.

The owner/​chef was a real character. When we get there he was having some good time with friends, he was very receptive and funny. This place is a BOB place, so if you are thinking about drinking anything other than water, you should bring it. His fried chicken was good and the mashed potatoes were amazing, my favorite from the whole meal. It takes quite long, since he is by himself and makes everything from scratch (about half an hour or so). Another point thats very important is that this place is CASH ONLY, but maybe if you talk with the owner he can make it work. Inside was quite cold, the 2 doors werent closing very well and the heater wasnt enough, even though the space was small.