“I’m just someone who likes cooking and for whom sharing food is a form of expression.”
- Maya Angelou
Thank you @wynneleila for snapping this beautiful photo. 🙏🏾💕📸
#chefmelba #chickenandwaffles #harlem #melbasharlem #macandcheese #soulfood #americancomfort #melbasrestaurant #nyc #harlemrenaissance #placestogonyc #timeoutny #nytimes #goodeats #eaterny #mayaangelou #mondaymotivation #quotes
Looking for a good time? My friends Royale and Ross Watkins host a monthly comedy show at @gothamcomedyclub that is guaranteed to make you laugh. Go tomorrow, laugh your socks off and tell them Melba sent you!
Some things you don’t rush, and my BBQ Braised Short Ribs are one of them. 🧡
Slow-braised. Deeply seasoned. Fall-off-the-bone tender. That rich, smoky, sweet-and-savory flavor in every single bite.
This isn’t just barbecue. It’s comfort. It’s tradition. This is love, served on a plate.
What sides are you pairing with yours: my Tres Mac & Cheese, Low Country Collard Greens, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes… or all? 👇🏽
✨JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT✨
We’re thrilled to welcome Melba Wilson as a 2026 Breadwinners Pitch judge!
Harlem native and James Beard nominee Melba Wilson embodies the essence of New York as one of the most successful African American women in the restaurant and catering industries. Her remarkable achievements and stellar reputation have made @melbasharlem a beloved New York landmark, frequented by a diverse array of patrons, including music, TV, and movie stars/
As a dedicated mother, author, philanthropist, community advocate, as well as an investor in each of her ventures, Melba continues to be a beacon of excellence and empowerment, supporting various causes and organizations in Harlem and throughout New York City. In 2025, Melba joined Hot Bread Kitchen as the honoree of our Breadwinners Benefit. We are grateful to have her return this year to share her industry expertise with our entrepreneurs!
🎟Visit the link in our bio to learn more about the event and snag your ticket today!
#2026BreadwinnersPitch #HotBreadKitchen #MelbaWilson #MelbasHarlem
Somebody needed this today (including me). 🧡
“Everything always works out for me.” Not because every day is easy. Not because every door opens right away. Not because every plan goes exactly how I imagined.
But because I’ve lived long enough to know this:
What’s for me finds me. What’s meant for me grows me. And what tries to break me usually ends up building me.
So on this Feel Good Friday, I’m saying it out loud: Everything always works out for me.✨
Now you say it! 😘
Let’s be honest: a plate might get your attention… but the sides? That’s what keeps people coming back. 😉
My Tres Mac & Cheese is rich, creamy, and baked until that top gets just right.
My Low Country Collard Greens are slow-cooked, seasoned with love, and rooted in generations of tradition.
And when you put them next to those fall-off-the-bone finger licking Oxtails? Now that’s how comfort is supposed to taste.
What’s the one side at Melba’s you absolutely can’t order without? 👇🏽
Happy Birthday to the legendary Stevie Wonder. 🎂
It’s not every day you get to celebrate a musical genius… and not every birthday celebration comes with this much love, joy, and soul.
I’ll never forget the day Stevie chose to spend part of his special BIRTHDAY day with us here in Harlem. That’s a memory I’ll always treasure.
Wishing you continued health, peace, love, and many more beautiful years ahead.
Join me in wishing Stevie an amazing birthday in the comments! ✨
Happy Birthday to the one and only @carlaphall ! 🥳
Wishing you a year filled with continued success, good health, big joy, and all the love you so generously pour into the world.
Join me in wishing Carla an amazing birthday in the comments! 🎂
Mic check… 1, 2. 🎤✨
Who’s ready?
Open Mic Night is officially coming B A C K to @melbasharlem !
Starting Tuesday, May 12, and every Tuesday after that, from 6 PM–9 PM, we’re opening the floor to singers, storytellers, rising stars, and anybody bold enough to step up to the mic.
Whether you’re coming to perform, cheer somebody on, or just take in the vibe, I want to see you in the room.
📍 300 W 114th St,
New York City, NY 10026
Tag an artist. Tag a singer. Tag somebody whose moment might be waiting on a Tuesday night. 🧡
#openmicnight #melbasharlem #nyc
