Archer and Goat is a new neighborhood spot that feels like it would be right at home downtown. It’s a legitimately cool restaurant, not “cool for Harlem.” What does feel very Harlem about it is just how multicultural it is. The thing I love most about my neighborhood is how diverse it is and this restaurant, with it’s roots in Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Bangladesh, is very representative of this melting pot of a neighborhood.
I was intrigued with some of the ingredients on the cocktail list, so I started with the Ram, which was a rye drink that incorporated tamarind. It was very tasty.
After drinks, we ordered a bunch of small plates to share – the brussels sprouts (super crispy, just how I like em), olives and pickled veggies, and grilled cauliflower with shishitos and lime. They were all nice to pass around the table. I thought the shishitos were a nice and unexpected accompaniment to the cauliflower.
For entreés, a large chunk of our group got the hanger steak and loved. The steak got a good char and the avocado vinaigrette was a good change up from a more traditional chimichurri. My Dad and I went splitskies – the burger (with queso blanco, roasted onion, and sofrito) and the lamb pasta aka Rogan Josh. The pasta, which also had the avocado vinaigrette had a nice kick to it and was very nicely prepared with the lamb braised into deliciousness.
I’ve since gone back for brunch and didn’t take pics but tried the fried chicken biscuit sliders (where I even liked the pickled strawberry topping), breakfast arepas, and lamb hash. Every dish was good. And the coquito the bar had on special? Delish (and limited in quantity).
Peaches to Apples 