Sylvia's
If you are ever in New York and find yourself craving a zestful, finger licking, deep fried taste of southern food in a REAL Harlem establishment then Sylvia's is the perfect place for you. Established in 1962 by the "Queen of Soul food" herself, Sylvia Woods, this historical restaurant has become so much more then the Harlem hangout. People from all over New York flock to its homey atmosphere every week, and I can't say that I would do any differently were I to be a local. Since it’s establishment Sylvia’s has steadily gained traction and popularity, after a prominent writer visited the establishment and wrote a raving review, which over time has brought in celebrities, prominent political figures, and crowds from all wakes of life.
But what makes Sylvia’s such a popular place? The secret is a variety of reasons, however perhaps the most prominent is that throughout the years Sylvia’s has stayed true to its core values of faith, family, and friends. A logo that is scrawled outside on the glass windows.
Sylvia Woods worked at a waitress at the luncheonette that would be come to known as Sylvia’s for several years before her employer recognized her entrepreneurial spirit and sold her the place for a small sum of money. At the time the luncheonette was nothing more then one small counter and several booths, but through Sylvia’s constant work ethic, determination, and undeterred vision the place has flourished into a full fledged family owned enterprise. Throughout the years there have been three generations of Wood’s that have taken over Sylvia’s and the business will continue to be passed on as time passes.
With all the hype I had heard about Sylvia's I didn't quite know what to expect, however I am happy to say that I was not disappointed in any of it. To start off our meal the server brought out several trays of warm cornbread. This was one of my favorite parts of the meal. The bread was a gently heated temperature, had the perfect consistency, and melted in my mouth with each bite. Next came a variety of different house dishes including fried fish, fried chicken, colored greens, seasoned rice, banana pudding, and potato salad. The fish was rather strong, but I enjoyed everything else immensely.
Sylvia's is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 am-10:30 pm, Friday through Saturday 8:00-11:00 pm, and Sunday 11:00 am-9:00 pm. There is live jazz music in the later evenings and plan on spending around 20 dollars for one person to eat. The most popular items are the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn bread.
