Ginny's Supper Club

Restaurants

Cocktail bars

Harlem

Time Out, Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

Jerk veal steamed buns at Ginny's Supper Club
Time Out, Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

Shrimp and walnut salad at Ginny's Supper Club
Time Out, Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

Baked Alaska at Ginny's Supper Club
Time Out, Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

Artichoke croquette at Ginny's Supper Club
Time Out, Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

Bobo Fried Chicken & Waffles at Ginny's Supper Club
Time Out, Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

Good Times at Ginny's Supper Club
Time Out, Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

Sazerac at Ginny's Supper Club
Time Out, Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

5 Spiced Duck at Ginny's Supper Club
Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

Time Out, Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

Jerk veal steamed buns at Ginny's Supper Club

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Time Out says

Mon Apr 16 2012

Red Rooster Harlem may be a restaurant first and foremost, but anyone who’s made the trek is just as likely to tell you about the scene: Marcus Samuelsson’s uptown gamble is a certified hot spot, with a nightly scrum as lively and diverse as any in town. Thankfully, some of the folks who have been lining up three deep at the front bar can now slip downstairs to Ginny’s Supper Club, a sprawling basement lounge modeled after the Harlem speakeasies of the ’20s. With its own menu, cocktails from star mixologist Eben Klemm and a steady lineup of live music, the venue seems to have caught fire overnight. If you thought the Rooster was hopping before, now’s the time to circle back for the second act.

DRINK THIS: The cocktail list is by turns classic and playful, with the most interesting options taking cues from Samuelsson’s Scandinavian roots. Dark-spirits enthusiasts might kick things off with a smartly tweaked Sazerac ($13), which deploys caraway-infused whiskey to evoke a slice of Nordic rye bread. There are less brawny options as well, like the easygoing Good Times ($12), which draws out the refreshing botanicals of gin with lemon, Dutch’s Colonial bitters and a fragrant sprig of thyme. Pairing the eclectic cocktails with globe-trotting eats can be a tricky endeavor. If food is high on your agenda, a serviceable collection of wine and bubbly should see you through; sadly, the beer list is a flop, highlighting international mass-market brews over

craft options.

GOOD FOR: Dinner and a show. The throwback gentility of the supper-club experience, which seamlessly incorporates eating and drinking into live entertainment, is essential to Ginny’s appeal. The nightly lineup of bands and DJs includes the Rakiem Walker Project—an ensemble featuring Red Rooster waiters—on Mondays and an open-mike night on Wednesdays, but there are plans to bring in big-name acts as well. Keep an eye on redroosterharlem.com for updates.

THE CLINCHER: In an area where the food landscape is still evolving, Ginny’s offers a fresh option for locals who have already worked through Red Rooster’s bill of fare, or who are looking for a boozier feast with friends. Chef Jeremie Tomczak embraces the global sprawl of old-school supper-club menus, delivering shareable small plates (called “relishes”) and modestly sized entrées that range from reimagined steamship fare (lobster Thermidor, baked Alaska) to revisionist Chinese and nouveau Caribbean. Thus far, the results are hit-and-miss. Steamed buns ($11) get an outré Caribbean upgrade with jerk veal tongue; the meat is tender, but the sweet jerk sauce wants for spice. The 5 Spiced Duck, too, fails to provide any kick, instead pairing fat-stippled duck breast with a cloying cherry-hoisin sauce. The safest bet is the buttermilk-battered Bobo Chicken and Waffles ($22), served as a breast-meat chicken strip and chicken confit pressed into a square.

By Chris Schonberger

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Venue details

Address:
Ginny's Supper Club 310 Malcolm X Blvd (Lenox Ave)
Harlem
New York
10027

Cross Street:
between 125 and 126th Sts
Venue phone:
212-792-9001
Venue website:
redroosterharlem.com
Opening hours:
Daily 6pm–midnight
Transport:
Subway: A, C, B, D to 125th St
Price:
Average main course: $18. AmEx, Diner's Club, Disc, MC, V
Map
1. Ginny's Supper Club
  - 310 Malcolm X Blvd (Lenox Ave)
    Harlem
    New York
    10027
  - 212-792-9001
  - redroosterharlem.com

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(1 rating)

too crowded and not so crazy about the menu. we order the sweet cakes and literraly pieaces of cake smaller than oreo cookies, a weird jello thing a caramel reeses cup. The duck appetizer was not appeasing, the Snapper seemed naked. Howver the atmosphere is nice for afterwork drinks

love Thu Apr 26 2012
Rated as: 1/5
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Ginny's Supper Club

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