Entrepreneur Joshua Powe opened The DEN in March 2004. The DEN, which stands for Dining, Entertainment, and Nightlife, is a unique downtown-style restaurant-lounge
located in the heart of Harlem. Though The DEN kept a low profile during its first year and half, more recent appearances by a host of celebrities suggest that the secret is finally out. The ever-growing list of notable guests includes screen icons Natalie Portman, Rosario Dawson, Spike Lee, and Michael Rapaport, comedians Steve Harvey and Tracy Morgan, MTV VJ Vanessa Minnillo, NY Giants receiver Amani Toomer, America’s Next Top Model beauties Toccara and Yaya Da Costa, hip-hop/R&B personalities Brandy, Carl Thomas, and the inimitable Farnsworth Bentley, just to name a few. Through commitment to creativity in the kitchen, top-notch entertainment, and warm service, The Den has emerged as one of Harlem's most unique destinations, prompting the NY Post to call it, “The downtown king of the uptown
scene.�The Den's newly revised menu is infused with accents from the Deep South, but draws much of its inspiration from Caribbean, Latin, Pan-Asian, and Italian fare. Specialties of the house include Slapsumbadi Shrimp ($11), Stella’s Groove Jerk Chicken Skewer ($9), Not Yo’ Mama’s Chicken & Waffles ($15), and Weezy’s Crabcakes ($18). If that weren’t enough, the innovative selection of “Soul� Sushi rolls--fully cooked soul food delicacies presented in the Japanese maki (cut-roll) style, have to be seen (and tasted) to be believed. House favorites include the Reggae Roll (jerk chicken, mango, & cilantro, with a passion-jerk sauce), and The Last Dragon Roll (fried chicken, avocado & applewood smoked bacon, topped with mini-crabcakes & spicy chipotle aoli).The Den’s infamous, knock-your-socks-off, cocktail list was recently praised by Time Out New York (November 13, 2006) as being a “mixology� tour-de-force. House favorites Chocolate City, Kool-Aid Kooler, Lick Ya Lips, What Had Happened Was, Tony Montana, Kung-Fu Grip, as well as 23 unique concoctions.
