When Le Soleil closed, everyone was stunned because sweet, gutsy Rolande had come to NYC from Haiti in 1973 with nothing much but sheer determination and her great family recipes. For decades, Le Soleil had always managed to survive the blight of midtown’s Westside, other recessionary times, and the ever increasing rent prices. But as luck would have it, the landlord who had watched her grow her business over the years retired. The new rental agreement was one that she simply could not afford having completed renovations to attract more customers. She was forced to close. On the rainy and stormy night that Le Soleil closed, Rolande vowed : I will be back. When asked: Where? She replied: Right here, in my same neighborhood. Everyone will be looking for me…And now she is keeping her word!

Her kitchen is now open for business on Tenth Avenue between 57-56th Streets. Customers can eat-in, take-out and have special events catered. BYOBB is welcomed as well. Since re-opening Le Soleil, old customers have been knocking on her door asking: Where have you been? Are you open now? Whenever possible, with her melodious Kreyol accent, Rolande says: You know, everything happens for a reason. I believe that. New York has been so good to me. I could not stop because I do not quit…never! And with that, Le Soleil opened almost one month after Rolande’s 72nd birthday, truly a birthday present to herself and to all NYC food lovers!

Food – Restaurant