JACOB'S RESTAURANT - Soul Food & SaladBar

Located in the heart of Central Harlem on the corner of 129th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard (Lenox Avenue), Jacob's Restaurant offers a vibrant and delectable menu that is reflective of the diverse Harlem community. Steaming hot Southern soul food classics like rich macaroni and cheese and collard greens sit alongside Caribbean dishes like saucy beef short ribs and even a few entrees with a West African flair. A bountiful selection of fresh fruit and salad is also available, proving that healthy eating does not have to come at the expense of taste. Decadent desserts can top off every meal if there is any room left.

Jacob's Restaurant, named after owner Rachid Niang's beloved late father, opened on May 15, 2009 and it is already become the community's best-kept secret. Congregants of the near by church pile in on Sundays and during the rest of the week, locals fill the 40-seat establishment with the hum of their conversation and laughter. An intimate party of two and a celebratory party of 20 can all be easily accommodated. Professional and well-presented catering services are also available.

The buffet-style service, gracious staff, comfortable seating and flat screen televisions all contribute to a friendly dining experience that offers affordable, high quality meal options. As Jacob's Restaurant further settles into the rhythm of the area, weekly programming such as live music and performances will be added. Everyone is encouraged to send in suggestions for regular events. Rachid and his staff look forward to meeting you.

The warm smile that greets you at the door of Jacob's Restaurant, just might belong to the owner himself, Rachid Niang. Most days, Rachid is the first one in and the last one out of Harlem's newest, family-friendly soul food and salad bar. "A proper greeting is very important. It sets the tone for the dining experience," says Rachid, who worked in Harlem's soul food restaurant business for over 10 years before opening his own establishment. No task is too big or too small for Rachid. From his daily inspection of ingredients to ensure freshness to occasionally working a register or a grill when someone calls in sick, Rachid is committed to making Jacob's Restaurant a destination for quality, affordable dining.

Born in Senegal and educated in France, Harlem was Rachid's introduction to the U.S. and he has made it his home. "I love Harlem. The community has been very supportive of me as a young entrepreneur. I live here and many of my staffers are from right in this area. I had no problems putting together a top-notch team," says Rachid.

The ambitious restaurateur hand-selected everything in Jacob's Restaurant including the floor tiles, the lighting fixtures and the color scheme. Those are all important elements of any restaurant in terms of creating atmosphere, but Rachid knows it's the food that is most important. The long and diverse list of Southern, Caribbean and West African delights offered by Jacob's Restaurant is enough to make anyone have to think hard about which dishes are favorites. For the record, Rachid's personal favorites are the baked ziti, the mashed potatoes and the beef ribs.

Rachid named his restaurant after his beloved late father. Family and community are important to Rachid and he looks forward to meeting you and your loved ones as you make Jacob's Restaurant a place not just to eat, but to make memories.