Lavitta’s Creole Will Officially Open its Doors in Harlem On July 25th

Lavitta’s Creole, named after Chef Jimmy Thomas’ mother Lavitta, is nestled in a landmark location in Harlem that was originally a barber shop in the 1940’s. The name, which means practicality, ambition, inspiration, beauty, and discipline, are all symbolic of Jimmy’s relationship with his mother. Creating this restaurant is his way of paying homage to her. The restaurant’s mission is to provide Harlem with high-quality, approachable Louisiana Creole food, utilizing farm-to-table methods and local fisheries, revitalizing traditional Thomas family recipes passed down through generations to create dishes with a creative gourmet twist. For years, Harlem has been a beacon of culture, celebrating jazz, comedy, and theater in a way that is uniquely its own. As a well-known tourist destination, it offers a rich cultural tapestry, yet there was a void—the lack of a restaurant that truly represented authentic New Orleans Creole cuisine. This inspired the creation of a concept that captured cherished Creole family recipes. Calling food authentic means representing it to the fullest and Lavitta’s Creole aims to do just that.

Jimmy Thomas is the Executive Chef and Owner of Lavitta’s Creole. Recently nominated as a semi-finalist in the 2024 Favorite Chef Competition with Carla Hall, he brings a rich culinary heritage and passion for authentic Creole cuisine to Harlem. Trained by his mother and grandfather, both esteemed restaurateurs and chefs, Jimmy honed his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants like BlackBird and OTOM Restaurant. His culinary journey led him to Paris where he immersed himself in the local food scene, and to New Orleans, where he meticulously studied authentic Creole dishes. Jimmy’s dedication to preserving and innovating traditional Creole recipes is evident in every dish, reflecting his deep respect for his family’s culinary traditions and a commitment to exceptional dining experiences. His inspiration began with visits to his grandfather’s restaurant called Jimmie’s in the Southside of Chicago where he watched him smoke and cook meats over an open fire, realizing that cooking could be like theater. Chef Jimmy Thomas infuses Lavitta’s Creole menu with authenticity, using family recipes to create their dishes.

The menu features a variety of dishes: the Puffed Bowl includes puffed Indian rice, arugula, mixed greens, cucumber, pickled red onion, tomato, halloumi, an over-medium egg, Creole aioli, and ginger lemon dressing. The Wild Shrimp Avocado Bowl combines Bibb and iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, arugula, grilled shrimp, and vinaigrette. The Lamb & Grits dish features 8-hour lamb red eye gravy over stone ground grits, while the Wild Shrimp Po Boy has wild shrimp, lettuce, tomato, mayo, hot sauce, and pickles on crusty bread. Blueberry Pancakes are served with fresh blueberries and real maple syrup, and Buttermilk Pancakes are fluffy with real maple syrup. Crawfish Cakes come with Creole aioli, and there’s freshly baked Tomato Focaccia bread and Chicken Sausage. Desserts include Mango Cheesecake Parfait with mango curd, pecans, whisky Rice Krispies, milk chocolate, and lemon-lime zest, and Beignets with confectioner sugar and strawberry powder.

The beverage selection includes Interboro Spirits & Ales Bushburg and Pilsner, a hoppy pilsner with German Noble hops and South German lager yeast, and Lifted, a New England style hazy IPA with flavors of pineapple, mango, lime zest, OJ, and fruity pebbles. Wines include Morasinsi Sferra Cavallo Aglianico from Southern Italy, Liquid Geography Mencía Rosé from Spain, Little Buteo 2022 from Weinviertel, Famille Fabre Pinot Noir Grande Courtade L’Instant Rare from Coteaux-d’Ensérune, and Girotondo Rosato 2022 from Tuscany, Italy. Additional beers include Interboro Spirits & Ales with tropical and citrus aromas, Monopolio Lager Clara, and Interboro Spirits & Ales Pils City, brewed with Tettnang and Saphir hops, and a crisp finish.

The restaurant, which will have 32 seats, is housed in a landmark building that was originally a barbershop in the 1940’s and later a salon. The space was converted into a restaurant with an open kitchen so customers can see what’s being prepared and to give the restaurant a down-to-earth home feel. Being that the space was a barbershop in the 1940’s, Jimmy Thomas sprinkled the restaurant with antiques to pay homage to the original business. The bar is made from a refurbished Chicago gym floor from the 70’s and 80s. The restaurant is filled with African American, antiques, books, magazines, and pictures that date back to the 1930’s.

Lavitta’s Creole is open Thursday: 5pm – 9pm, Friday: 5pm – 10pm, Saturday: 12pm – 10pm and Sunday: 12pm – 8pm.

Lavitta’s Creole is located at 218 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10027.

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