Sylvia's Restaurant

I had an Amazing expérience at Sylvia's Restaurant !<br>The cornbread was absolutely outstanding without a doubt one the best I've ever had. It was perfectly moist, flavorful, and simply unforgettable.<br>The fried chicken was also incredibly delicious: crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor.<br>You can really taste the soul and tradition in every bite.<br>If you're looking for authentic soul food in Harlem, I highly recommend Sylvia's Restaurant without hésitation. Great food, great atmosphere, and a truly mémorable dining experience. I would definitely come back !

I was beyond satisfied by the meal I was served and the kindness of the bartender and staff. After a few days of being away from my family for work, I needed some soul food in my life. The entire meal was absolutely delicious and got me back to the south on a full belly!

Ohh man.. I wish I could give this restaurant more than just 5 stars. It was absolutely amazing and delicious soul food.<br><br>I came on memorial day on a monday at 2pm and was seated within minutes. My server Olga was such a lovely lady, even at her age, her service is great as she served a few tables at a go. Free corn bread was served within moments of being seated.<br><br>I ordered the combination platter of bbq ribs and fried chicken and a side of candied Yams and collard greens (additional $2). Boy oh boy. The food was absolutely delicious. The ribs were soft and tender. The fried chicken was crispy and so tender and juicy and well seasoned. The collard greens were soft and cooked perfectly and the candied Yams were a good contrast the the savoury meal. I demolished every bit of the food and left nothing behind.<br><br>I highly recommend yall come try this restaurant out. The service was fast, from ordering to getting my meal took 15mins. But bear in mind it was at 2pm.

This is a fantastic experience. They have a veggie plate where you can pick four appetizers - like Mac n cheese, collard greens and potato salad. They have many great choices. I had chicken and waffles. So much buzz. There was live gospel signing on Sunday. Servers and staff were really on the ball. Make a reservation though. Wait times can otherwise be really long.

Huge servings, large offering of sides and tasty food.<br><br>Each plate comes with 2 sides, and there were a lot of options to choose for. The mac and cheese and potatoe salad were very good. The service was very kind.

Yesterday was my first time trying Sylvia’s with my partner and we were not at all disappointed. The food was amazing - flavorful, comforting, and absolutely delicious. Everything tasted super fresh and perfectly seasoned. My favorites were the cornbread, the fried cat fish, and the candied yams. Additionally, the atmosphere is excellent and the staff are super nice. Good vibes all around and I loved the music they played. This restaurant is beloved for a reason and I couldn’t recommend their delicious soul food enough.

This place is a serious spot. The kinda place you need a lie down afterwards.<br><br>Staff were quality. Couldn’t have done enough for us.<br><br>We had the oxtail off menu and the rib/fried chicken combo. All of it excellent. The sides are seriously good as well.<br><br>Sylvia’s is a Harlem institution for a reason 🤘🏽

Got their turkey with high hopes and it wasn’t any good. Had to DUMP hot sauce on it to give it flavor. My dad got the smothered chicken and waffles, chicken wasn’t crispy, gravy wasn’t any good, and the waffle was just ok. The greens were alright, the corn bread was amazing tho.<br>Over all, DEFINITELY NOT WORTH IT!!

You walk in expecting a restaurant and you get something closer to a neighborhood, which doesn't fully make sense until you're inside and you understand what I mean. Sylvia's has been on Malcolm X Boulevard since 1962 and it has that particular energy of a place that has outlasted trends by simply refusing to participate in them. The walls are covered in photos, the room is full, and there's a live band doing something that makes the whole thing feel like a celebration even on a Wednesday afternoon.<br>We started with the cornbread, which arrived without asking and set an immediate standard. The fried chicken came next and it was what fried chicken is supposed to be before it got turned into a trend, with a crust that shatters the right way and meat that stays moist underneath. The BBQ ribs are the other thing you need to order. They come slathered in Sylvia's own sauce, which has this tangy tomato depth that the bottled version you can buy in stores is clearly modeled on, though the version on the ribs in the restaurant is a different thing entirely.<br>The mac and cheese is a side dish that functions as a main course. Dense, baked, deeply cheesy in that casserole style that your grandmother made if your grandmother happened to be really good at this. We also had the collard greens, the candied yams, and split a slice of sweet potato pie at the end, which was smooth and warmly spiced and the exact right way to finish a meal like this.<br>The gospel brunch on Sundays is its own separate event that people fly to New York specifically to attend, and the Saturday afternoon jazz situation is also worth timing your visit around. But the food works on any day, at any time, without accompaniment. A genuine New York institution in a city that throws that word around a lot.

Really good wholesome soul food. They serve all the classics including catfish, fried chicken, pork ribs, whiting, pork chops and more, as well as a great selection of sides including mac 'n' cheese, black-eyed beans, grits, rice, potato salad, and greens. A very welcoming space

5-Star Family Brunch at Sylvia's on a Chilly Saturday!<br>We took the family to Sylvia's for brunch on a cold Saturday, and it was the perfect cozy spot to warm up with some classic soul food. The ambiance is warm, welcoming, and full of that iconic Harlem vibe—felt like stepping into a piece of history.<br>I went with the fried chicken paired with collard greens,mac and cheese and it hit the spot: the chicken was crispy, juicy, and full of flavor, and those collards were tender and seasoned just right. My son got the chicken and waffles—he devoured it and said it was really good (high praise from a picky eater!). My husband ordered the chicken with mac and cheese, and he loved every bite—the mac was creamy and comforting. Oh and I can't forget the complimentary corn bread mmm soo good!<br>Overall, the food was hearty, delicious, and exactly what we were craving. Portions are generous too! Our waiter was fantastic—attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better with great service.<br>If you're in NYC and want authentic soul food in a family-friendly atmosphere, Sylvia's is a must. We'll definitely be back! Highly recommend this place!

Classic soul food spot I’ve had on my list for a long time.<br>The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and there was a live band when we visited — not just background music, but actually pretty solid.<br>We ordered fried chicken, fish, and chicken livers.<br>The fried chicken was crispy and enjoyable<br>The fish was mild, fresh, and clean-tasting with no fishy smell.<br>The chicken livers were very straightforward and rustic — crispy bits with a rich gravy<br>Oxtail was sold out, unfortunately.<br>Overall a pleasant experience. Worth stopping by if you’re nearby, but probably not a destination trip. Street parking around the area wasn’t too bad.

On Saturday, I ignored the weather by dressing in layers to take the train from Hamilton train station to Penn Station NY. Once, we reached Penn Station, we requested assistance to find the A subway without going outside. The A subway took us to Columbus Circle and 59th St. We remained inside to find the D subway to Arthur Ave, Bronx, NY.<br>The subway dropped us off at 188 St and we walked outside to Arthur Ave to find Italian Pastries and Breads. We bought biscotti, bread sticks and prosciutto bread to take home. After indulging in sweets and coffee, we walked to 182-183 St to take the D subway to 125th St in Harlem. We arrived at Sylvia’s Restaurant around 11:00 Am for lunch.<br>I had the Barbecue ribs, Collard greens and Makers Mark. He had fried chicken with side orders. The attentive woman taking our menu choices was cheerful to us. I explained to her that I originally wanted to visit Harlem in the mid 80’s, but I was told to forget about attempting to experience Harlem.<br>More than 36 years have passed but I never forgot to dine at Sylvia’s Restaurant and experience Harlem.<br>Vhuntermassage LLC

Comforting and delicious soul food in Harlem. Take the trek up for the Fried chicken, candied yams, collard greens, potato salad, and world famous ribs.<br><br>Staff were very warm and welcoming. Live music and singing played through the restaurant as we dined. Worth visiting!

Yes the food was good, BUT… Visiting my stepdaughter in New York for Thanksgiving 2025, She suggested Sylvia’s Soul food Restaurant in Harlem. We made reservations for 5, for 5pm. We got seated at 5:10pm. One person received their food around 6pm (she ate by herself). The 4 of us got our food at 6:36pm. OVER AN HOUR LATER. We were told that the one person at our table got their food first because they thought it was a single order. The waitress apologized but did not ask if we wanted to talk to the manager. So one of our guest asked the waitress if we can get a 10% discount due to the long wait. That’s when the waitress said we need to talk to the manager. The manager came and gave us 10% off. Also, the waitress never brought out the dessert until we asked for it (comes with the meal.) the sweet potato pie came out cold. HOWEVER, the food was really, really good. The greens were delicious, cornbread delicious. the cornbread stuffing was delicious. Yams, mac and cheese, Turkey… delicious. Our desserts— came at the end and we took it to go. We also saw another waitress with a visible irritated face. But we take it as she didn't want to work on Thanksgiving. Next time— she should take the day off.<br><br>But Would I go back. Absolutely! The food was bomb! But I would go on a non-busy day. I don’t cancel until the second strike.