Good Eats In West Harlem

The heat wave of two weeks ago jumped the gun: Summer did not arrive until this past Friday. Given that sultry weather will return sooner or later, keep in mind these cool spots in West Harlem, near the Hudson River (photo looking north at the George Washington Bridge from the River Room).Covo

This spacious duplex Italian restaurant anchors a new commercial complex. The menu features brick-oven pizza, pasta dishes including spaghetti carbonara and lasagna, and hearty main courses like prime short ribs braised in Barolo wine, and grilled, marinated New Zealand rack of lamb.

(212) 234-9573; 701 West 135th Street (Twelfth Avenue); $; Article: 1/9/08.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, a popular place tucked under a stretch of the West Side Highway, is definitely the barbecue place to take the kids to: the wait staff is infinitely patient. As for the eating, there’s no question that the pork ribs at Dinosaur are significantly better than everything else (and certainly good enough to warrant a visit). Order them by the rack and skip the menu’s other distractions.

(212) 694-1777; 646 West 131st Street (Twelfth Avenue); $; $25 and Under: 1/12/05; Article: 3/7/07.

Hudson River Cafe

A garden patio and a menu that emphasizes seafood but touches down in the Hudson Valley are the attractions here. The chef, Ricardo Cardona, has worked at Lua in Hoboken, N.J. His menu here includes a crispy calamari salad with ginger glaze and organic greens, skirt steak with garlic fries and three chimichurris.

(212) 491-9111; 697 West 133rd Street (Twelfth Avenue); $$$; Article: 5/16/07.

River Rom

Views of the river distinguish this spacious restaurant with a terrace. The chef, Marvin Mayfield, combines cuisines typical of Harlem — Southern, Caribbean, Latin and African — with those long on seafood in dishes like shrimp and grits; Cajun stuffed sole; and filet of striped bass.

(212) 491-1500; in Riverbank State Park, Riverside Drive at 145th Street; $$; Article: 10/26/05.

Talay

This Southeast Asian place has two chefs: Soulayphet Schwader, who was born in Laos and who worked with Laurent Tourondel; and King Phojanakong, who owns Kuma Inn downtown and is a New Yorker of Thai and Filipino heritage. The owner, Pedro Veras, has seen to it that the menu has notes both Asian (spring rolls, langoustines with sriracha aioli, pad Thai) and Latin (paella, ropa vieja).

(212) 491-8300; 701 West 135th Street (Twelfth Avenue); $$; Article: 6/4/08.