American Legion Post 398

Great jazz and excellent food. No cover and awesome vibe. Try the herring or fried chicken. Go on a Sunday night for some of the best jazz in the city. Tucked away in a classic Harlem brownstone. Your friends (or date) will be impressed you found this hidden gem.

Amazing, fun, great food and even better music

Five out of five for the friendly neighborhood vibe that’s different from the too-​cool-​for-​school vibe some bars and clubs give off in New York City. Those places can be fun but this place is a breath of fresh air if you want a break.
Fried chicken dinners usually happen on Sunday. The music and jazz is pretty great. Drinks are pretty affordable ($ 3-​$ 4 for a bottle).
The outside area feels like you’re chilling in your friend’s backyard in the suburbs.
Come here with the expectation that you’ll spend a few hours chilling, listening to music, and waiting and eating food. Don’t come here with expectations that you’ll be in and out for dinner within an hour– it’s not that kind of vibe, but it’s a great break from the New York City rhythm of over scheduling yourself and feeling like you need to go to three events in one night.

Fabulous music but I really have no clue where the friendly staff was that all the other posts were speaking of. The waitress taking our drink had such a crap attitude. After finishing our drinks in the drab backyard we decided to go in and listen to some music. Super crowded tight squeeze in the main area was not very inviting but the music just hypnotizes you to stay. I wasn’t even a quarter of the way through the second song when the hag behind the bar starts berating me about ordering another drink. I just finished a drink not even 6 minutes before!!! Meanwhile there were plenty of others around me without a drink. Yet she honed her death ray eyes on me and wouldn’t leave me ALONE until I couldn’t take it anymore and just left. Such a shame because the music truly was outstanding.

I went out last night to catch up with a friend thinking it would be another dive bar… boy was I in for a surprise. This is by far the most friendliest Jazz Bar in Harlem with a sorta speakeasy feel. The food was amazing the customer service top notch and the alcohol all good no filter or water down drinks & cheap A++ I will be back. My favorite person was Barbara the Bartender sweetheart! What a hidden gem…

This is one of the best kept secrets in NYC. I’ve been going here Sunday nights for two years and it NEVER has disappointed. Seleno and his band play jazz, soul, gospel, and everything in between. It’s truly, truly, one of the warmest venues in the city. Do yourself a favor and go.

Definitely a locals place, but welcoming just the same. We were there on a Friday and the DJ was playing fun throwback R&B and people were dancing up a storm. We enjoyed the cheap drinks and beer at the bar. Everyone was happy, friendly, and having a great time.

Was there Friday night July 18, 2014
It may have been a hit a while ago, but the place is small the people crowded into a small foyer area, there’s only one way in and out. the backyard is horrible there is plywood covering what appears to be a floor of sand and dirt which is covered over weeds and brush. the tables are dirty the chairs are broken, to top it off they serve soda, but no diet soda. 90% of the people there over ⁵⁰⁄₆₀ and 70 years of age. We were advised that they don’t serve any diet sodas, and this was a statement from a worker it’s no good for you. Ha ha Ha had to laugh everybody again no matter who they are has some kind of medical history, and most of all being black diabetes high blood pressure, but the lady indicates they do not serve diet sodas and is no good unbelievable. But I have to say the people were very nice and friendly and that’s a plus.

I am here right now!!! Amazing music. Great food! What a show with the Harlem groove Band.

I just got home from one of the most magical evenings I’ve had in the four years I’ve lived in Harlem, thanks to ALP 398. Only St. Nick’s – may it rest in peace – could rival this place’s authenticity, enthusiasm, and heart. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

What a treat!
I am a little dismayed by all the folks reviewing this place about the rude staff, cash only, spotty service and so on. Nothing on the music or the ambiance? Now come on guys!
That sounds a little unfair.
In case you want to be pampered and need something more than this hidden gem has to offer in terms of a casual unwinding place with friends/​colleagues over some fine jazz music and drinks, I would suggest you go elsewhere.
We are definitely going back!

This is probably one of the last great music institution in Harlem. Enjoy while it is still open… you have to check out for yourself! My thanks to Commander Randy Dupree for keeping the spirit alive.

I’ll NEVER return to this place. One of the owners and a bartender were very rude and harassed us to the point where we had to leave. I asked the bartender if they accepted debit/​credit cards, and she said no and directed me to an ATM up the street/​around the corner. There was no way that we were going back out into the freezing cold night just to get cash, but we planned to definitely bring cash on our next visit.
About 5 minutes later, one of the owners, who was sitting next to me at the bar, asked us if we were drinking. We said no and just sort of blew him off b/​c he was making a loud unnecessary scene. Five minutes later, the bartender told me that I had to give up my seat since I wasn’t ordering. That was fair enough, but she was very nasty and could have said it in a nicer/​more professional way. I stood on the wall with boyfriend and tried to enjoy the music despite being very bothered by the way we were treated.
Ten minutes later, the owner got up from his seat and started harassing us AGAIN! He was yelling,“Do you have a drink? You need to get a drink or you can’t stay! We don’t charge a cover”. He yelled this at us and other people in the vicinity. We left at that point, and we will NEVER return to this basement again. They were very disrespectful, and they don’t deserve anyone’s money. If they’re so hard up for a profit, then they need to just charge a cover. I’ve never been treated so badly. Shame on them. The 15 minutes of music was good, so I’ll give them a star for that only.

very small homey cool jazz club, we had great fun tonight!
wish to see more micro brew beer with good price $ 2.5 or 3.50
all $ 10 plates of fish, chicken and pork on plastic plates were nice
definitely this is a special place.

ALP 398, what can I say, you had me at: «Pull your pants up or don’t come in!»
At least, that’s what is written on the prominently displayed sign at the entrance of the place.
If you asked me, there should be a sign like this on every corner in Harlem!
But enough about pants, let’s talk about drinks and jazz.
Drinks are the cheapest in the hood and come in miniature bottles — but that doesn’t mean they are deli quality!
Music on Thursdays is interesting and surprising (the setup seems to be open mike, but not to worry, everyone in Harlem can carry a tune).
Apparently, Sunday nights feature the real jazz stars.
As a final comment, the manager is wonderfully friendly, he treats this place like a home, and the customers as his guests. (He offered us his table when we came in!)
Caution: You may want to bring earplugs — while the music was pleasant the acoustics were a bit too strong given that we were in a brownstone basement.

DON“T GO HERE.
(i don’t want this place to be anything but the hidden gem it is. the DJ on tuesdays and fridays spins old school r&b and funk. the people are welcoming, and warm, and i had the best freaking time)
BELIEVE THE SIGN ON THE DOOR THAT ONLY VETERANS AND THEIR GUESTS CAN DRINK, AND GO TO LENOX LOUNGE OR SOMETHING FOR YOUR BEVERAGES.
STAY AWAY

i owe Unilocal 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!

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.

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.

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,
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 132^nd 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.