By Michael Crump

Ten Years ago, one of the benchmark indications that Harlem was in the undeveloped stage was 8th Ave in the teens, 111th Street to 121st Streets were ghostly pictures of the devastation of the drug epidemic. Even in itÕs burned out, abandoned and rat infested state, many spoke of 8th AveÕs resurrection. In the 1980Õs it was out of reach, In the 1990Õs it was far fetched. In the early years of the new millennium, 8th Ave is coming of age and with a bang.

A strip once designated for the lost souls of the streets, 8th Ave is laced with new residential buildings. The corner stores that once thrived on selling beer, tobacco and snacks are far and few. One of the new kids on the block is the Euro Corner Restaurant. This is a definite indication that the neighborhood is changing. In the tradition of Greek Diners with spinning stools and vinyl cushioned booths Euro Corner is sparsely decorated, but brings the same food fare. The menu is identical to your favorite late night or early morning diner downtown or in small town upstate New York.

The menu features good quality burger specials, hot platters, daily specials, and of course the typical ample breakfast all day features. Omelets, Belgium Waffles, huge muffins and Danishes and strong coffee set the am tone. You would be surprised to know that this diner also features oven fresh pizza with a decent sauce. Gyros, meatloaf, salads, falafel, Ruebens, and piled high deli sandwiches and the huge mounds of fries that come with almost everything remind you that you are in a diner.

Euro Corner delivers so call for hours of service. The one anti-diner flaw is that this restaurant does not do late nights. They close early, and I do mean early.

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