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American Legion Post 398
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Jazz & Blues Nightlife Jazz & Blues Nightlife Bars Dive Bars Jazz & Blues, Dive Bars [Edit]
248 W 132nd StNew York, NY 10027
Neighborhood: Harlem
(212) 283-9701
- Nearest Transit:
-
135 St (A, B, C)
135 St (2, 3)
125 St (A, B, C, D)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
8 reviews for American Legion Post 398
8 reviews in English
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Review from jeremy f.
Bronx, NY
11/17/2011
i owe Yelp a huge thank you for this one!
So, I wanted a nice Jazz place in Harlem to hang with a cutie. lol
I wanted something unique, but something off the beaten path. Low and behold, I found this gem.
The drinks are strong(gotta love their use of the airplane booze) and cheap and the food looks and smells amazing!
Most of all, the people here make this place. They are very friendly and truly welcoming of any and everyone who steps thru the door!
Lastly, the Harlem Groove Band truly "showed out"!! Every single member of this band is extremely talented!!
I am still in awe of the Tenor Sax player!
This will not be my last time at the American Legion Post 398! -
Review from Sakeenah M.
Essex, NJ
4/26/2011
There's actually something quite charming about the basement of a brown stone. This place is tinier than my basement at home. Chairs are packed tightly and I'm convinced that all of this is why people are so warm and friendly here. You automatically feel like you know every body as soon as you walk in. There's no pretension here. Finally a place that feels almost like my living room.
I'd like to give it 5 stars but the cook was out that night and no food was served. I was highly disappointed because I'd braved 2 hours in the snow and cold just to get there and have some steaming whiting. I was hungry so I went down the street and got my soul food fix elsewhere. Bless Harlem for this convenience. I came back later and enjoyed some great jazz. I'll be back, but I'll call ahead and make sure the cook is there. -
Review from Arthur O.
Greenwich Village, New York, NY
1/25/2009 2 photos
My current favorite Harlem Brownstone basement for soul food and jazz.
No, seriously, perhaps my very favorite soul food joint ever.
I went with my jazz pianist friend, Ben Paterson, http://www.benpaterson... and as expected, I absolutely loved it.
Ben warned me that American Legion was not the type of jazz joints I was used to in Manhattan, that it was, "basically a basement of someone's apartment." He was not lying.
But obviously, that's part of the charm of American Legion on 132nd St, along with every single friendly faces, not to mention the aforementioned BEST SOUL FOOD EVER.
$10 buys you a dinner plates with four perfectly fried wings, two amazing sides, and a tiny thing of salad.
Let's not forget the cheap drinks. A regular-sized bottle of Bud and airplane-sized bottle of JD will set you back $8. Drink up!
Packed on Sunday, really chill on Thursday nights. They also have classic R&B nights, so give them a ring if you want to pick and choose.
For those looking to hit the jam sessions, they do not have a piano, but a great sounding old school organ. -
Review from Kate F.
3/24/2008
It's messed up that I'm writing the first yelp review of this American Legion. It's a thousand years older than me. I know little about the history of this specific post, but enough to know that my old next-door neighbor started as one of many posts of the national organization of veterans and grew to be something more. It just might be wrong of this interloper to be sharing this hideaway with you all... but how can it be wrong, when passing on my memories of falling asleep to the jazzy strains of timeless songs pulsing through the bedroom wall of my low-slung basement apartment, just feels so damn right? I've only really heard whisperings of the depth of history in the music scene here, on my limited trips over to the other side of the wall the sounds have been far beyond worth the trip. Jazz is the standard. If you are the man, bring your instrument and join in. Karaoke night on Saturdays... at least last I knew. Wine sold in dainty individual bottles on white plastic tables topped with flowered plastic tablecloths to catch bbq, grilled and smokey in the summer. People who know each other welcoming strangers, their guests happy to be accepted into this close knit family.
You know how purely kickass margaritas taste when sipped on a beach in Mexico? This, is like that. -
Review from Mohammad R.
New York, NY
Despite it's being hidden and with plenty of signs up front advising members-only club's policy, this place is filled with the great music and friendly people and great hospitality from Eddie (host). Sign the guests book, sit down for a drink and maybe some soul food, or just kick back for the Jazz.
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Review from Bruce C.
Fort Lee, NJ
7/31/2010
the sax, the chicken
it just bopped and didn't stop
dont forget the vetsListed in: Jazz Bar Haiku
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Review from Alba U.
New York, NY
1/17/2010
Great jazz and Harlem spirit abounding. A newfound fave in my book and I will be back as often as possible! The cook rocks and my whiting, green beans and cabbage were A1. Great Jazz, and great neighborhood scene. Very friendly, welcoming spirited crowd, even the grumpy owner who warmed back up to us after a little scuffle about how many seats our large group was occupying!
Listed in: Uptown venues.
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Review from Jared C.
2/19/2009 1 photo
So when the styrofoam plate arrived with our "fish fry" meal (two pieces of whiting with vegetable and macaroni & cheese sides, $9), it was obvious that we had not come here for the food. It was tasty enough though, and the glimpses through the swinging doors back into the kitchen and all its floral decorative goodness were fine for this night. The real draw is the incredibly nice array of people and fun jazz jam session which happens Wednesday and Thursday nights.
