Prince Harry once ate food off patron’s plate at famed NYC eatery

Restauranteur Melba Wilson was surprised when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle popped by her Harlem eatery, Melba’s in 2021 — and recalls that Harry got so comfortable he sampled a waffle fry from another patron’s plate.

“I did not see him lick his fingers, but he definitely ate a waffle fry from someone else’s table. And he picked up the chicken with his hands, so Harry knows how to eat chicken,” she recalled.

The visiting couple also made a generous $25,000 donation to the restaurant — rather than leaving a traditional tip — as part of an effort to support local establishments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The eatery tweeted at the time, “The team and I are so thankful for their visit and commitment to donating $25k.”

Wilson also recalled to us that Markle was “very kind. Harry was very kind as well.”

Wilson also said that locals were in shock when the duo arrived in Harlem.

The Post reported at the time that one surprised diner exclaimed, “When they first pulled up, it was maybe two SUVs. My boss was like, ‘What’s going on?’ and I very distinctly remember thinking, ‘Whatever, it’s probably some rich person, no reason to stop eating.’ Then he said ‘It’s Prince Harry and Meghan!’” 

Wilson added that the royals did not request to close down the restaurant for their own private use.

“The restaurant was not closed… they did not want it to be closed,” she said. “They went in and talked to everyone. Guess they were very concerned about how people were feeling and how we were doing in the food and beverage industry during a specific time.”

The pair stopped by Melba’s on 114th Street after visiting elementary school PS 123, we previously reported.