Catfish Tacos at Bier International

Bier International, Harlem’s first beer garden, is well-known for their sausage selection, which is locally produced in small batches. Also popular on the menu is the steak burger, and their seasonal seafood like soft-shell crab and mussels. When I saw they had Pan-seared Catfish Tacos ($15) on the menu, I immediately had to try them. More often than not, the fish you get in tacos is deep fried, so to have the fish pan-seared was a nice change of pace. The catfish is served in strips inside two flour tortillas, with bell peppers, onions, cilantro and topped with a smoked chipotle mayo. When the dish arrived at the table, I noticed how generous they were with the fish portion. Value for money! The catfish was tender with a delicate sweet flavor, not at all ‘muddy’ as it seems to have a reputation for. The smoked chipotle mayo gives the dish a good kick.
Ousmane Keita & Chris Pollok, co-owners of Bier International, wanted to offer Harlemites a varied selection of international beers (18 drafts & more than 30 bottled) as well as international dishes to complement the drinks. The food is of a very high quality which is evident upon first bite, but is still very reasonably priced. The stylish interior is spacious and open, with large communal tables and a chic-looking bar. There is a large projector screen for all the sports games, which this month is Copa America, the Euro Cup and the NBA championships. So do yourself and your stomach a favor and head on in to Bier International to watch the games and enjoy a delicious meal and sample great-tasting beers from around the world.

Bier International: 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026