The Cecil, a New Harlem Restaurant From Richard Parsons, Opening Tonight

The Cecil
Address: 210 West 118th Street, Harlem
Phone: 212-866-1262
Twitter: @thececilharlem
Status: Opening Tonight.

The Cecil is the glossy new Harlem restaurant from former Time Warner Chairman and CEO Richard Parsons. The team from the restaurant is pitching this as an "Afro-Asian-American brasserie." Alexander Smalls, who was once the chef and owner of Cafe Beulah, is running the kitchen at The Cecil along with chef de cuisine Joseph "JJ" Jonson.

The menu has things like deviled eggs, oxtail dumplings, a salad of heirloom beets and Brussels sprouts, a wagyu rib burger, duck two ways, and fried guinea hen. Most entrees are priced in the mid-20s. Next week (or shortly thereafter), Parsons will also open an adjacent jazz club called Minton's. Check out the menu for The Cecil below, and do send any early reports our way.
Previous Coverage: Eater Inside, 09/12; Fall Tracking, 09/04; Revivals, 01/13.
Further Reading: Harlem Gal, WSJ, NYDN, NYT.

Small Plates:
HAND-MADE BREAD BASKET 8

BLACK BOTTOM BEAN CAKE 10
Papaya Salsa, Plantain Chips

A DUO OF DEVILED DUCK EGGS 11
Pickled Relish, Curry Currants, Jalapeño Smoked Bacon Salad

AFRO / ASIAN / AMERICAN OXTAIL DUMPLINGS 12
Green? Apple Curry Sauce, Taro Root

SKUNA BAY HOUSE-CURED SALMON SUMMER ROLL 13
Citrus, Cilantro, Tamarind

SPICY CRISPY GINGER SQUID 14
Okra, Sweet Chili Peanut Sauce

BROILED GIANT SPICY PRAWNS 14
Yam Flapjack, Piri Piri Sauce

WEST AFRICAN BEEF SUYA 12
Rum Soaked Apricot Compote, Grilled Plantains, Groundnuts

Rice & Vegetable Wok Bar
House-Steamed or Fried Rice & Wok Vegetables
Choose: Black Rice / Jasmine Rice / Sweet Brown Rice

ADD PROTEIN:
Chilli Tofu 16
Smoked Country Cut Pork Ribs 20
Wok Prawns 24
Smoked Turkey 19

Pick a Sauce:
PIRI PIRI / BLACK PEPPER / CURRY

House Salads
COLLARD GREEN SALAD 10
Spiced Cashews, Coconut Dressing

SPINACH & BLACK LENTILS SALAD 12
Shiitake Mushrooms, Citrus Ginger Soy

HEIRLOOM BEETS, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, HEARTS OF PALM SALAD 11
Pickled Scallions, Spiced Yoghurt

PICKLED SHRIMP SALAD 16
Papaya, Jalapeño, Quail Egg, Fonio, Bacon, Mint Citrus

House Burgers & Buns
With Fries & Cabbage Salad
A DUO OF HOT DOGS: VEAL YASSA, CHICKEN CHILI CHEESE 17

GULLAH JUMBO SHRIMP BURGER 21
House-Made Kimchi, Scallion

GRILLED WAGYU RIB BURGER 16
Gruyere? Cheese, Vidalia Onion Spread

Shared Plates & Bowls
MACARONI CHEESE CASSEROLE 20
Rosemary, Caramelized Shallots, Pepper Ham

THE CECIL'S 'FEIZOADA' 40
Spicy Black Beans, Oxtails, Merguez Sausage

BOURBON PRALINE HAM 38
Cinnamon Yam Purée, Roasted Bok Choy

DUCK...DUCK TWO WAYS 46
Smoked Breast & Confit Leg

AFRO / ASIAN / AMERICAN GUMBO 41
Smoked Turkey, Chinese Chicken Sausage, Gulf Shrimp, Crabmeat

Entree Plates:
GRILLED VEGETABLE ROTI PLATTER 18
Butternut Squash, Grilled Eggplant, Spicy Jollof Rice, Scallion Pinenuts

ROASTED POUSSIN YASSA 24
Curry Coconut Sticky Rice, Seeded Long Beans, Bourbon Dried Fruit

CINNAMON SCENTED FRIED GUINEA HEN 27
Charred Okra, Asian Red Beans, Roasted Sweet Potato

CITRUS JERK WILD BASS 25
African Fonio, Okra, Asian Turnips, Tomato

SKILLET FRIED SALMON 24
Sweet Plantains, House-Made Kimchi

BLACK BENNE SEED AHI TUNA 26
Bok Choy, Chinese Sausage, Coriander Yuzu, Curry Crunch

GRILLED BEEF PETITE TENDERLOIN 23
Crispy? Okra Fries, Sundried Tomato & Black-Eyed Pea Salad, Black Pepper Sauce

Sides:
All sides $7
AZUKI BEANS & FONIO
CHILI SCALLION HOUSE-CUT POTATO FRIES
SWEET PLANTAINS & YAM PURÉE
CRISPY OKRA FRIES
SAVOY CABBAGE SALAD

[Photo: Krieger]