Sylvia's Restaurant Reviews

I have been before, but I believe this is the last time. Food was ok, not great, and the service was not good at all. It's a fun experience, but for me, been there done that!

Outstanding celebratory meal at Sylvia's! Wonderful food, excellent service, nice atmosphere on the patio. Go, eat, and enjoy....

On Sunday mornings, after attending a gospel mass, you must come here for brunch. Very good food in pure soul style and live soul singer. On my blog Per il Gusto di Viaggiare I wrote an article about my experience at this restaurant.

Great food, was there with a group of people and everyone who ordered the fried chicken kept saying how amazing it was. Portions were big, service was good. Loved the whole soul food restaurant vibe with the chill r&b, and pictures of Sylvia with famous visitors all over the restaurant.

Sadly Im writing this review to address the sizes of takeout desserts which is extremely disappointing! Do not order desserts for takeout, two peach cobblers (container not even full) one banana pudding, one coconut cake. I’ve patronized this establishment for decades when Mrs. Woods herself was present and generous portions of EVERYTHING WAS ALWAYS SERVED. Dine In or Takeout I believe that the RESTAURANT CAN CORRECT THIS CONCERN. $50 for dessert and not even an adequate serving 😡😡😡🥲🥲🥲. What’s Happening?????????

Best fried chicken I have ever had! Potato salad and cornbread were also terrific. It was extremely noisy.

Always has very good food. Review is mainly, due to being served "turkey loaf" on thanksgiving instead of fresh turkey breast meat cut off the WHOLE turkey. Being from the south, I was very disappointed. Unsure if Sylvia's serves this turkey loaf any other time. I will ask ahead of time if turkey carved.

What an amazing place. Heavenly good food and relaxed atmosphere. An extra big THANK YOU to our waiter Geanette. You are absolutely amazing!!

Me and my Girlfriend visited Sylvia's after looking around for soul food before our trip to the US. Before visiting we hesitated going to Red Rooster, Amy Ruths or Sylvia's. We chose Sylvia's because of the lovely atmosphere and host. And what an amazing time we had. We ate Chicken & Waffles for the first time ever and were blown away by how tasty it was. I hope this place will keep its love, food... and soul.

We had dinner at Sylvia's before a show at The Apollo Theater. We did not have reservations and probably should have. Got there at around 5:30 on a Sunday and seated around 6:15. Service was quick and friendly and food was good. This is a family-run restaurant that is popular with locals. The food was good. I was disappointed not to see shrimp and grits on the menu. I ordered the fried shrimp, and my husband got the barbecue ribs. The collard greens were tasty, and the sweet corn bread was delivered hot.

My sister and I was visiting NY and tried Sylvia's. The food was amazing and the service was great, only thing I wouldn't recommend is the peach cooler. When we got our food it was what we ordered but had additional items that we didn't order and didn't bother to question it. When the check came we noticed that we were charged for meals that we didn't order and then realized that the extra items in our meals was charged without our knowledge, it was no big deal because we enjoyed our meals. I was totally shocked to see the charge of $15 for a small glass of sangria which to be honest was not great. I am not writing this review to bash Sylvia's but instead to make others aware to be careful when ordering. I will visit Sylvia's again but will be sure to confirm my order when it's taken and ask drink prices....my total bill for 2 people was $97.99 🤦‍♀️🤔 which was a fried chicken combo, 1 grilled pork chop combo, 1 glass of sangria, 1 Arnold palmer and a peach cobbler 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I think why everybody hike up Sylvia‘s is because all of the celebrities which they eat for free.I have visit Sylvias got the baked macaroni cheese the barbecue chicken and the red velvet cake. The macaroni and cheese was terrible just cheese on top of macaroni the barbecue chicken has lemon in it and we all know we don’t put lemon juice in our barbecue chicken the red velvet cake was terrible it was dry didn’t taste like red velvet I don’t know what that was hard to describe. The hospitality was also terrible they told us that we have to hurry up because they need a table where there was plenty empty tables around us I don’t recommend for anyone to visit Sylvia maybe back in the day when she was alive I’m quite sure she could throw down in the kitchen but this day and time what a disappointment.

NYC food scene is huge... Of course you can have all the meals of the day everyday in a different restaurant and you couldn't try them all... But there aren't so many places that are considered as must, that everybody knows and that everybody would recommend if you ask. One of these universally recommended places is Silvia's, in Harlem. They offer Soul food, and the good kind. The dark side of such a famous place is that you need to book in advance or you won't be able to eat. We tried going without booking and, of course, that didn't work. So we booked for a few days later, at night, and that worked fine. I think we even could have gone without booking that time... 🤷 We wanted to try everything so we ordered the combos: fried fish, shrimp, fried chicken, ribs... Everything was very good. But, to be honest, the best item was the complimentary cornbread: awesome! Then we ordered the famous peach cobbler. It's huge and it's good too. In total, the 3 of us (my wife, my son and I) ate for about $70, which is a fair price for NYC, and we ate well, probably too much, in fact. The staff and the service were good too. The service sometimes was a bit slow. And they made us move outside so they wouldn't have anybody inside, but we were ok outside too with the heater. Overall, it was a good experience and I will definitely go back there whenever I'm in the neighborhood. But will I cross the city again just to go there? Probably not. Quality & taste: 9/10 Quantities: 9/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Originality: 8/10 Ratio price / quality: 9/10 Service: 7/10 How I felt afterwards: 8/10

Went with family on New Yer's day. It was busy but we were seated quickly. The food took a while but was good. My wife had ribs and I had Chicken and waffles. Ribs were good and Chicken was OK. Service was good but the overall was just ok. There are other Chicken and waffle places in NYC I like better but won't list here. Overall a dcent meal for me and family.

Fantastic!!! All delicious, we had a beautiful lunch. We were there with an 8-year-old girl who received a lot of smiles from the waiters and all the staff We will definitely be back on a next trip to NY

I had heard about this place from word of mouth and on television show like on Food Network, or similar youtube food review shows. Had a fantastic lunch! Especially the mac and cheese. It's now one of my favorites of all time. Everything else was good too, including the chicken and waffles. I liked seeing the photos on the wall with celebrities, it was a reminder that I was experiencing an establishment full of history, a Harlem landmark. The atmosphere was comfortable and elegant at the same time. Plus, our table had a feeling of privacy; I didn't feel crowded, even though the tables were mostly filled up. Service was quite nice, friendly, welcoming. I don't remember feeling like any of our orders were taking too long. Bonus, they were nice about letting me charge my phone, it was much appreciated. The facilities were clean. Very happy to have lunched here, would go back for sure.

Don't believe the hype. Fine Dining Restaurant Prices, Fast Food Quality Food. The hour wait is not worth it. Once seated it took another 30 minutes for Order to be taken and 20 minutes for Cornbread to come to the table. Then when food came to Table Order was not right . Ordered White Meat Chicken, Plate had Chicken leg and thigh. Sent it back ( I do not eat dark meat). Macaroni and Cheese ( Burned) Yams( Mushy), Cow Peas and Rice ( Missing), Collard Greens (Missing) Plate was sent back, when it came back Greens and Cow peas and Rice still missing. Chicken Breast Shriveled and dry. Sent it back (another Dwarf size piece came back out more shriveled than the first). Needless to say everything was sent back. Not only was the Service and Food Bad, Management did not come to the table to inquire about the problem. My husband ordered the fried Whiting. It was overcooked and dry. Sylvia"s needs to step up their Game. Certainly not the same quality food that was served when Sylvia herself was running the Restaurant.

Waited 3 minutes. Got a nice table. Friendly service. The food was awesome -- and not very expensive for NYC! I will be back.

after the gospel mass in Harlem we were here, I had booked on the site!dining room...the wait to receive the dish was long...we took chicken and potato nuggets for the girls (spicy but good chicken) and My husband and I had the dish with fried chicken and ribs (very good and tender) they say it's a historic restaurant, I don't know if I would go back, we tried it!

It's great. We went on a Sunday to eat and it is full of people who came from mass, we suppose, dressed up, with their huge cars. There was live music and we ate fried chicken. Juicy and crispy. The accompaniments were also very delicious. It's not expensive. They treat you well.

We made a reservation for my birthday as I didn't want to wait around. We were greeted warmly and seated quickly. The waiters were all very friendly and efficient. We were topped up with cornbread when we ran out which we loved! It was a great choice for the great food (cornbread, famous ribs and Mac and cheese) along with its close location to the Apollo theatre where we went afterwards. Overall great restuarant with great food.

I’ve eaten at Red Rooster before, but this trip I wanted to experience the history and authenticity of the original soul food institution in Harlem and Sylvia’s delivered exactly that. Coming from the Caribbean, Sunday lunch is a traditional family moment, so I wanted something that captured that same comfort and warmth while in NYC for the weekend. The moment I stepped inside Sylvia’s, I felt it. The space has an incredible charm that transports you to another era. From the historic photos on the walls to the sense of community, it all feels real, lived-in, and loved. Brunch began with complimentary cornbread that was absolutely delicious. Honestly, they could’ve served nothing else and I still would have left happy. For my meal, I had the grilled catfish with black-eyed peas and collard greens, all perfectly seasoned and full of flavour. The chicken and waffles and candied yams at the table were also spot-on and comforting in that classic, soulful way. By noon the restaurant was packed with families from all over the world, and a live band added even more energy to the atmosphere. The hostess and servers were gracious, friendly, and a pleasure to interact with. On a windy, chilly fall day, Sylvia’s gave me the next best thing to a Sunday family lunch back home; hearty food, history, and a feeling of being wrapped in joy and culture. A truly memorable Harlem experience. Highly recommend.

Went last weekend with my husband as we were craving soul food, this was our first time eating there and we wanted to try it as it seems to be a staple in Harlem. We went without a reservation but only waited about 10 minutes to be seated, however, they did take long to take our order and then to bring the food. It was a little busy so I don't blame the slow service on them. I ordered the fried catfish with a side of green beans and candied yams. My husband had the fried chicken and ribs combo platter with the baked mac and cheese and pickled beets. Again like I said service was slow, but I don't mind as long as the food is amazing, however, the food was just okay. My catfish was crispy but it really had no taste, I had to add a good amount of hot sauce for it to have some flavor. The yams were sweet and savory but the green beans were soggy. My husband enjoyed his chicken, he said it was juicy and flavorful but he did not like the ribs, they tasted a bit like something you get at chain restaurants like Applebee's. Overall, we came here with high expectations but were disappointed by the food. It just seemed very generic for it to be considered great soul food. The warm cornbread was delicious though and held us over until our food came. The atmosphere also felt a bit touristy and it definitely showed in the food quality. Given the amount of soul food restaurants in Harlem, if you live in NYC I would not recommend going here when you can find better food someplace else but if this is your first time coming to NYC, then perhaps it is worth trying it just to check it off your bucket list.

Excellent food. Best collard greens I have ever eaten. The atmosphere is also great. You will not be disappointed with this great soul food

Enticed by this discovery of Southern cuisine for brunch, after a morning exploring Harlem, we arrived at the time of our reservation. Reservations were not necessary: everyone entered. But no brunch, just a classic lunch menu...A little disappointed, we chose ribs with potato salad. Ribs yes but not marinated or even grilled. Probably baked and with a dash of ketchup....and a kind of cold mashed potato instead of potato salad. The cornbread is a kind of sweet corn pound cake...nothing extraordinary...So, very average.

I recommend going to Sylvia's to eat your fried chicken with waffles. At the outset, without asking, they put us cornbread like a sweet that was very good. They threatened our food by singing gospel live. Very attentive the waiters and if it is full they take note and warn you.

Sylvia's is a fun and exciting restaurant in the heart of Harlem. Great food, great service and a part of history! A classic dish is the Fried Chicken and Waffles where the Chicken is moist, tender and not that greasy. However, the waffle is a bit bland and too soft for my taste but many people like that way. The BBQ ribs are also quite delicious and tender enough to fall off the bone! All the sides are freshly made and are all amazing compliments to the main course. The Corn Bread is exceptional when warm with pleanty of flavor! A wonderful way to top off the meal is the amazing desserts that are available! The banana pudding is the highlight both fluffy, sweet and generous! The service is very friendly from host to servers. This restaurant is truly iconic is a very historic part of NYC! Will definitely come back for both the food and ambiance!

Restaurant also frequented by locals, excellent for ending a visit to Harlem after the Gospel Mass. Fried chicken, macaroni cheese and potato salad. Reasonable prices.

Subway takes you a block or two from this legendary gem! The Hostess Christina and our Waiter Andre were unbelievably attentive and kind! The chicken and waffles were delicious! I will have to try the fish on the next trip to Harlem!!

The worst service from front desk in my life Rude, after waiting 90 minutes, put I miserable annexe. No atmosphere. Wish we hadnt bothered. Beware - reviews online don’t reflect reality

Unbelievable! Waited so long for this experience and it was well worth it. Tasted my daughter’s boyfriend’s BBQ pork ribs and combined with the potato salad, rice, Mac and cheese, AND chicken and waffles + a Harlem Blues, one cannot POSSIBLY go wrong with a meal in this soulfully historic joint. THANK YOU! I will be back soon!

I’ve eaten at Sylvias many times and always enjoyed the fried chicken. Yesterday they appeared to have used a different process in preparing their chicken. It tasted as if had been boiled then coated with bread crumbs. The meal was very disappointing .

Good typical Harlem restaurant. Very welcoming staff who go out of their way to serve you. Hearty and typically American dishes.

We ate here twice over a few days. Service was wonderful and the food was good. They were very accommodating for a group.

Very Good Soul Food at reasonable prices. We visited here on a Friday lunchtime after we had done a Birthplace of Hip Hop Tour. Before us going to see Grandmaster Flash in Crotona Park Da Bronx. Although we didn't make a reservation and it was quite busy we were shortly seated outside the main restaurant. We ordered from the Lunch Specials available between 12 and 4pm Mon to Fri. This was one main and one side for $14. Which for NYC was quite reasonable. We chose the Smothered Chicken Leg with a side of Baked Macaroni & Cheese. The presentation was good, cooked just right and tasted delicious. We had 2 Cokes $3.50 each. The service was good and friendly. We enjoyed our visit here.

Probably the best meal we’ve ever had in New York, within a reasonable budget. What’s more, the Welcoming and Service were kind and efficient. We ate Sylvia's famous ribs, which were indeed very good. For accompaniments, yams (sweet potatoes) were very appreciated. A good time.

As per the ironic title. Very popular with indigenous people especially on weekends. Spasmodic waiting since the kitchen has a really slow pace. So if you choose it be prepared for times of 2 or 3 hours to complete a meal decently. For the rest : anonymous exterior, seating arranged on two indoor rooms (one with live music ) + an outdoor dehors (which Recommendation in summer because inside air conditioning is set at 18 degrees ..) Short enough menu with a mix of traditional black/local dishes. Dishes still decent. Average prices. NOT memorable experience as a kitchen. It is worth only one step ... :)

After a first visit on a saturday, we were invited by someone from the staff to the gospel sunday. We were interested because the food had been good and we would like to see a gospel performance. When we arrived it was clear that there were no seats left. But the nice lady at the counter wrote my name down and my phone number. We had to wait 45 minutes but it could be shorter. After an half hour we saw two people who were just before us on the reservation list going in. We waited 25 more minutes but we didn’t receive a text. And we also noticed people behind us entering. One couple had the same issue as us and had a discussion with the host. He claimed that their names were not on his list. They argued with him until he let them enter so they could discuss it with the lady who had written their names down. I told the host we had the same issue. He also didn’t find my name on the list. Then he proceeded to tell me that I could ‘t enter to discuss the issue with the lady who had written my name down. For him it was as if we didn’t make a reservation. I didn’t feel like starting a fight so we just left. But clearly there is something wrong with the reservation system of this restaurant. How can one person write my name down, even ask me to spell it, promise me that I could enter in 45 minutes and another person acting as if I was never there before, and I didn’t make a reservation. I am not insane, why would I be standing there, waiting, without a reservation... The weird thing about it is also that the host didn’t recognise me and wouldn’t let me enter, while he was standing next to the girl who wrote my name down in the beginning. So he saw me making the reservation. Is he face blind? Was he sleeping? I am not angry at the restaurant because its very popular and it can be confusing when so many people want to enter, but please fix your reservation system. We walked five meters and entered the Red Rooster. They had a very clear reservation system. And the food was also very good. It would be a shame that you would loose all your clients to another restaurant. And also, if you are full, just say that you are full. That is much easier and less frustrating. Now you keep people waiting for 1 hour or more to then tell them they can not enter. I had time but I could imagine this infuriates other people.

Every time i have company, which is pretty offten i take them to Sylvia's for the best food and the best drinks ever.

I had just arrived in NY and took the train to Harlem for a late morning meal. When I arrived, I was told it would be a 15 minute wait (in reality, it was 30 minutes). It was slightly annoying to see others walk into the restaurant and not return to a wait but I suppose they had reservations. After seating, I placed the order and sat at a table with two corn muffins on top for the next 40 minutes. Meanwhile, others were greeted, seated, serviced, and leaving. I was ready to leave. The waitress then said she would check on my meal. Then another person delivered the food (waitress never checked). The fish tasted 2 days old and the food was barely lukewarm. I was really disappointed. The food tasted good (even slightly cold), but the poor service left a bad taste in my mouth. They gave me a complimentary glass of lemonade, but that couldn't help the sour feels. I don't think I will return.

Silvia's, if not THE most famous soul food restaurant in Harlem, is at least one of the most famous. And for that reason alone I never went; I figured the real thing could never match its fame. But I finally went, and it definitely lives up to the hype. It's a fun place to sit and they play great music and everyone is nice. But the food. Damn! It's all that. Highlight for me were the chicken livers. The downside is that it's fully priced. But with that much fame, they'd be crazy not to push the prices.

When I dine out and find myself thinking up reasons to come back before I’ve even left, that’s when I know a place deserves five stars. So why the four-star rating? Let me explain. I really did love Sheila’s. The food was tasty, the service warm, and the entire experience carried the heart of a place built on the vision and spirit of one remarkable woman. It’s even more special knowing her family still runs the show—it adds a beautiful, personal touch. I ordered the fried catfish and BBQ shrimp, with mac and cheese and collard greens on the side. The portions were solid—generous without being the “loosen-your-belt” kind of heavy you sometimes get in NYC spots. Not a complaint, just an observation. I also grabbed a sweet potato pie to go. It was a good, hearty pie, but I did miss that deep-dish thick pie crust I absolutely love about Southern-style pies. As for Sylvia’s Uptown—let me tell you, their signature drink and that warm, crusty cornbread are worth the return alone. The main meal? Honestly, I had better mac and cheese and collard greens at another BBQ joint the day before. But will I go back? Definitely. I’m curious to try the oxtails and see how they measure up to the Jamaican version—because let’s be honest, all comparisons eventually lead there. Jamaicans have truly mastered the art of making oxtails, and they set the standard when it comes to getting it right. Overall, both courses were lovely experiences. Sheila’s left a deeper impression, but I’m open to seeing what a second visit to Sylvia’s brings.

Average food and quite pricey. A 2-hour wait for casserole type plated Thanksgiving dinner after being seated (it appears our server forgot about us). Roasted turkey roll, souped-up jiffy cornbread, watery cranberry sauce, but good greens. Horrible service. A word to the wise, if you are from the south or from lineage of expert cooks, skip this. Instead stand in front of the sign, take a picture, and avoid the disappointment. Sylvia’s is “a miss” for us.

Well reviewed in the Harlem area, we decided to have lunch here after a beautiful Gospel mass. Without a reservation we waited an hour for a table for 2, but they immediately warn about waiting times. Nice place. Hot cornbread served as a welcome, a real pleasure, delicious!!! Rich and inviting menu. Ordered fried chicken, potato salad and mashed potatoes, red velvet cake: all very good and generous portions. Advised! Maybe book in time!

We had read SYLVIA'S was a MUST visit, to try SOUL FOOD and it did not disappoint. We arrived without booking but we were shown to a table after a 10 min wait which was wonderful. The service was amazing, the food incredibly tasty.

I was warned that it was a tourist trap, but there was a part of me that felt that to stay in business for so long it must have something to offer. I was wrong, it is a tourist trap. The fried chicken was less appealing that KFC, very salty with not much else going on. The food was slopped on the plate, everything lukewarm like it had been sitting on a steam table. When the waiter checked on us, we told him it was really bad. He came back with the check, slapped it down and never came near us again.

made reservations but was walked past several open tables to a table that had a crusty, ugly spiral staicase that led to a basement. the cornbread was good, it had a hint of cinnamon. ordered an entree of fried chicken and ribs with collards cow peas and rice and mac and cheese. collards were good but everything else was ok at best. still trying to understand the "soul" food thing?

Amazing peach cobbler. Went there just for dessert and was not disappointed. I tried the shrimp that my dad got and it was spectacular.

Just great! Musique! Food! Excellent brunch on Sunday! We toik chicken and green beans a special meel. We really enjoy it!

We arrived at around 11am and the restaurant was still empty. Great breakfast, usually 2 eggs, grits and a side like bacon. The sautéed liver also looked great. Jasmine catered well for us. Certainly recommended.

Our air b&b host recommended this restaurant for breakfast special. Unfortunately it was not to our taste. Dried scrambled eggs with very thick slices of dried bacon and oily potatoes wasn’t a great breakfast. Perhaps it’s better to come here for lunch- might give it another go next time.

Four of us took a girls trip to New York and Sylvia's was on our bucket list of spots to check out. We went on a Friday about 4pm. There was no wait and we were quickly seated. The atmosphere was nice and had a diverse crowd. They brought out cornbread immediately and it was pretty good. Most of us had smothered chicken, mac n cheese, yams and greens. The macaroni was baked and tasty and the yams were tasty as well. The greens weren't very flavorful, just ok. The chicken portion (leg & thigh) were small. It felt as if there wasn't enough meat. They forgot to bring my daughter's greens so we shared mine. The meal didn't seem worth $20. We had just missed the lunch special which ended at 3pm. By the way, if you go with a group, they don't do individual checks. Would I go back, I have to say no.

Waited 45mins to be put into the "other room" We had a speaker but the live music and ambiance were in the other room. Mac N cheese was good, and so was the cornbread. Fried chicken needed salt, gravy tasteless, mash and sweet potato needed love. Didn't live up to the hype.

We prebooked, but it turned out to be mostly empty. Our cornbread was dry, and the entrees were dry and overcooked (we had the fried whiting, seafood combo, and chicken&waffles). Whatever the restaurant's former reputation, it seems to now be no more than a tourist trap.

The food was delicious, good atmosphere and the staff was friendly! Great experience, would recommend.

Geanette made our visit to Sylvia's a real pleasure! She is amazing! The food, ambience and service was excellent. We will be back!

We have been to Silvia’s a few times when in the City. Fabulous food and the staff is really nice as well. We even got Thanksgiving dinner takeout there and it was awesome!

Today we had lunch at Sylvia’s and found it to be one of the best Soul food restaurants that we have tried. Everything was great!! I highly recommend the catfish, potato salad, and the collard greens. The collards are the best I have eaten. You won’t be disappointed!!

Very good soul food restaurant with a chicken and delicious waffle. The portions at are generous and the staff at the top. Second time I go back to Harlem I recommend it.

The corn bread was to Die for !!! So good! And so was everything else, sweet tea was yummy. Waitress was patient with us, we were a pretty big party of 9

I am always skeptical when it comes to fried food. I tried the chicken and waffle, and I must say the Fried chicken tasted fresh. It did not have the taste of a food fried in the same oil for like 5 days or something nasty like that. The Lemonade was very sweet (I was told). The cornbread was perfect, we wanted more. The Waffle was regular, nothing special. Now the place was packed, there was a line for people ordering for pick up and another line for people waiting to be seated. I recommend calling ahead/making a reservation.

Great place for southern style American food. Had the combo with the yams and mac and cheese sides. Amazing food, the fried chicken was the best I have ever had. We barely had room left for some great desserts; sweet potato pie and southern style banana pudding. The staff and service was also very good. A definite must for a NYC visit.

We had to wait 90 minutes to be seated after a mix up with our table booking, so had a couple of drinks at the bar which weren’t cheap. When we approached them after 90 minutes we were then told it would be another 30-40 minutes. We were eventually shown to a room which was devoid of any atmosphere and compared to the main restaurant was appalling. The chicken and ribs were good but sides weren’t good. Would not recommend

After attending a Gospel Mass in Harlem, we went to Sylvia's for lunch on a Sunday. Live Soul music atmosphere, large enough space (there were 6 of us), warm, and good and hearty local cuisine that changes from what we usually eat in Manhattan. Prices are “correct” for New York and friendly server-servers.

We stayed 6 nights in Harlem and ate at Sylvia's twice. We waited a while for our food and then for our check but the food was so delicious, we didn't really mind. Everyone in my party loved their food. I had the fried pork chops, mac & cheese and string beans. Perfect! The corn bread was delicious as well (it seemed to have a touch of cinammon). The place was packed. Best to make a reservation. On our 2nd night, I had the meatloaf special, mashed potatoes and string beans. It didn't taste as fresh as our first experience. But it was delightful anyway. Friendly waiters, lots of food and drink choices. I highly recommend Sylvia's.

This was my first time visiting Harlem and I was keen to make a beeline to Sylvias. The man greeting us at the front door was very welcoming and we had a laugh together. Our server (I believe her name was Olga) was sweet and helpful. The food was delicious and between us we tried a lot of things that were new for us. Particularly liked the grits with cheese. My wife is vegetarian and I think it is really clever that while there aren't vegetarian mains there are lots of veg sides and you can choose a combination of them for a good price. It turned something that might have just been her sitting and watching me eat into a special experience for us both!

Arrived at 13:00, it’s now 16:00 and we still haven’t seen any food. I don’t care anymore if the food is going to be good or bad

Best place for Waffles and Fried Chicken. Amazing taste and Big Portions. Place is very busy hence service is a bit slow but we'll worth the wait. Ticked all the boxes. Jeanette was a real pleasure. Fantastic all round experience.

For year's we heard all of the buzz about Sylvia's in Harlem and promised if we ever made it to New York we would give it a shot. We were not disappointed. Sylvia's serves up traditional soul food. It is well prepared and very tasty. Staff is very professional and efficient. The atmosphere is also pleasant so in our case we had a very positive experience.

Brunch in Sylvia’ Soul Food Restaurant is legendary - with music and spontaneous gigs and of course delicious food! Reservations highly recommended!

Visited while on vacation in NYC after a tour of Harlem. Had seen this place on TV and was excited to visit. I ordered the chicken and ribs combo which was good without being amazing, but these guys definitely know soul food better than me so I probably hyped it up too much. Server was nice too.

Yes you all, it is worth the wait!!! And if you do not have a reservation on the weekend, there will be a wait. The host said she would text us when our table was ready, which gave us just the time we needed to get a little shopping in. They're fried chicken is something that I will go back for and that mac & cheese is delicious. The short ribs were tender and we had more than enough to take with us. The wait staff was friendly and gave us some cornbread to go with our left overs. It was great to taste a the Harlem staple

Historic venue in the heart of Harlem. It is clear that once it was really a landmark for the residents of the neighborhood and then became famous for its soul food cuisine: today it has become a tourist spot that has seen as guests personalities like Obama. We ate desserts (peach pie and sweet potato pie) and found them really delicious. However, we do not give the maximum score because the prices you read on trips advisor and in the menu of the site are not really those that are applied. Even the dishes on the menu are a bit different. For fairness and information for those who intend to eat here I share photos of the real menu (prices have become exactly double).

After a wonderful walking tour of Harlem, we decided that lunch in what is regarded as a bit of a Harlem institution was in order. So we headed to Sylvia’s Restaurant on Malcolm X Boulevard. Sylvia’s Restaurant, the “The Queen of Soul Food”, was founded by Sylvia Woods in 1962.  Sylvia is no longer with us, but the restaurant is very much a community favourite, and also popular with visitors. Many New Yorkers recommended the restaurant on hearing that we were doing a walking tour of Harlem. Sylvia’s serves authentic soul food. For the uninitiated, and simply put, soul food is an ethnic cuisine traditionally prepared and eaten by African-Americans in southern USA. The walls of the restaurant are lined with framed newspaper articles and photographs attesting to its numerous rich and famous patrons, including Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.  In its long and illustrious history the restaurant has grown and expanded. It now occupies a huge spot on between 126th and 127th on Malcolm X Boulevard. The restaurant has multiple dining rooms, each small enough to provide a relatively intimate dining experience. There is outside seating when the weather permits, as well as seating in a conservatory-style area at the front of the restaurant. We arrived early afternoon without a reservation, and were seated promptly. The restaurant was quite busy, but service was cheerful, attentive and unobtrusive. We had two of restaurant's specialities: Sylvia’s Down Home Fried chicken, and the Fried Chicken and Waffles. The sides which accompanied the meals were the restaurant’s legendary Mac and Cheese, and a very rich coleslaw. The meal also came with two substantial and freshly-baked servings of corn bread (served like a muffin). The meals were substantial, and very satisfying. It probably wasn’t as fabulous as the soul food I’ve eaten when touring some of the southern states, but it was certainly tasty, fresh, and hugely satisfying. The waffles were a little on the dry side, but the gravy which accompanied that dish sorted that out. There was a bottle of Sylvia’s hot sauce on the table; it was certainly piquant. Some of the restaurant's products, including this sauce, can be purchased in the restaurant. We enjoyed our meals, and whilst they probably wouldn’t win awards for culinary excellence, they were enjoyable, and gave us a greater insight into what Harlem is all about. It’s a must of you are visiting Harlem. The restaurant is easily accessible for those requiring mobility assistance. It’s a short walk from the subway station of 125 Street on Lines 2 and 3.

We came across this place while walking around Harlem on a Sunday morning. Luckily we didn't have to wait long for a table, as we didn't even have a reservation! We tried the famous fried chicken and the famous ribs. Everything excellent.

We went for brunch on a Saturday morning. The biscuits were soo delicious, but they were the best part of the meal. The burger was good, and so were the fries. The chicken and waffles were okay—the chicken didn’t have much flavor or seasoning. The omelette was average and the potatoes were not that good. The restaurant and family have a cool history. Overall, it was average.

BELIEVE THE HYPE!!! Portions were huge, the catfish was fried to perfection, the greens, black-eyed peas, mac 'n cheese and yams are classic and unforgettable!!! The iced tea is home-brewed and I will most definitely be back every chance I get!!!!

Characteristic place Like many others, we had lunch here after a Gospel mass We booked two days before Good chicken, normal vegetables and puree I tried to have a change of table to listen to the singer up close but they didn't satisfy me I think it is now only half of tourists, however it is worth it

Took a subway ride up to Harlem with the family to finally try Sylvia’s and we did not come away disappointed. The fried chicken was crispy and delicious. The white meat breast and wing is bigger than the dark meat thigh and leg, but I thought the dark meat was juicer and more flavorful. The ribs that came with the chicken and ribs combo were good but not great. Nothing to rave about. My son had chitterlings for the first time and he enjoyed it even though I thought it was very sour tasting. My wife enjoyed her catfish. I thought some of the sides were delicious, and the unlimited cornbread was really good. The peach cobbler and red velvet cake for dessert was the literal icing on the cake. All in all it was worth the effort to go here and I would highly recommend it. By the way I thought the area was very safe, even walking back to the subway station at night, which is only a few blocks away.

This place is really good. The food is awesome and its good to know that a percentage of your bill goes to helping the local community. The staff couldn't have been more friendly and were very helpful for soul food newbies. I recommend this place to anyone that wants to get into the real vibe of NY

Great yo fine on chicken and waffles in the place where the meal was invented. The chicken is delicious and quite juicy. Waffles were perfectly executed. I felt the collard greens to be a bit salty. Ribs were very good. Attentive and friendly service. Good prices.

The food was amazing, the service from every one was lovely. It was a busy weeknight but we didn’t wait long at all for our meals. We even bought a couple of bottles of Sylvia’s sauce! We had the chicken but they don’t tell you on the menu that it comes with two sides of your choice plus cornbread. So it was Mac n Cheese and Grits for us.

I went to Harlem by subway because I was curious to discover the area. Unfortunately I arrived on a Wednesday around lunchtime, therefore no gospel mass. While walking I went into Sylvia's, because friends had told me about the place. Without a reservation, they let me in in 5 minutes. Ordered fried chicken and fries, coke. They give the water. Prices that are absurd for us (11 chicken, 7 chips and 3.50 cokes to add also 20% tip) for a total of $27. But you know, New York is now totally out of control in terms of prices. The important thing is that at least everything was really good.

Sylvia’s Restaurant is undisputedly the quintessential soulfood cuisine and a major landmark attraction in Harlem New York. Founded in 1962, by Sylvia Woods, a pioneering African-American restauranteur, Sylvia’s Restaurant offers its patrons delicious and top notch soul food dishes ranging from oven baked chicken, grilled catfish, garlic mashed potatoes, baked macaroni and cheese and so much more. My wife and I first visited and dined at Sylvia’s Restaurant during the summer of 2018. What struck us right away were the huge number of guests that were lined up to go inside the restaurant. My wife and I fortunately made reservations before we went to the restaurant and we definitely recommend that all visitors do the same. During our dining experience, my wife and I discussed and definitely recognized why Sylvia’s is a major restaurant attraction. We were treated with wonderful care and service by the restaurant’s staff and our waiter was high attentive to our needs, addressed all of our inquiries and did a great job in detailing the menu options. Our soul fool meals which included oven roasted chicken, mash potatoes and macaroni and cheese was served to us in a timely fashion, was superbly well made and was absolutely 110% delicious. In addition. my wife and I were deeply impressed by the meal’s huge serving size. We were so well fed during our afternoon at Sylvia’s, that we did not have any additional meals later that day. My wife and I very much enjoyed our dining experience at Sylvia’s and look forward to the day when the threat of COVID 19 comes to an end, so that other patrons will get the chance to visit and dine inside this wonderful soul food establishment!!!

This review happened in June 2024. My wife and I were in New York on vacation, and we were suggested to stop by Sylvia's Restaurant from a fiend and we have to say we are very happy we stopped by. Sylvia's is located in the Harlem, and we were already in the area, so we decided to walk over. The restaurant feels like you're walking into someone's home. The staff is friendly and helpful and will kindly give you recommendations is you don't know what to get. They start off by giving you a small basket of corn bread and butter. They tasted so good and not overly sweet. The butter made them even better. For my entree I got the fried chicken, and it tasted great. The chicken was juicy, tasty and well-seasoned. It went event better with the house hot sauce. I also got the garlic mashed potatoes and colored greens. The mashed potatoes where good but the colored greens where better. They had bits of the ham bone and just had a overall nice flavor not at all bitter. My wife got the grilled shrimp, and they were a decent size and well-seasoned with just a slight spice. She also got the rice with brown gravy and baked macaroni. The rice was good, but the baked macaroni tasted amazing! It just tasted homemade. We both loved Sylvia's and would come here again. We recommend you stop by Sylia's if you are visiting New York and in the Harlem area. You won't be disappointed.

Sylvia's is a must-visit restaurant in Harlem. We ate at lunchtime when the crowds were not at their best. We had the specialties and everything was very good. The excellent cornbread is a must-try and will be offered to you upon your arrival. The chicken was well cooked and the ribs perfectly prepared. A good price-performance ratio.

On my first night in Harlem,, I decided to dine here. Having visited Sylvia's once before 2 years prior, I didn't think I could go wrong. The food was the greatest. I had the sauteed chicken livers with vegetarian collard greens and lima beans.The food was cooked to perfection. While the ivers come with gravy, I asked to have the gravy on the side which worked out just fine. For dessert, I had the coconut cake which I took wth me. The cake was mouthwatering delicious and well worth enjoying in the comfort of my room. My third and final evening, I returned for another chance to taste some other delicacies from the menu. This time around I chose he fried catfish, mac and cheese but stuck with the vegetarian collard greens, and red velvet cake was my dessert to go. Each night, I always had sweet tea. The staff is the best. A special thanks to my waitresses and the bus boy who were to be commended for staying on top of things considering how busy the place can get.

Coming for our third visit, we were disappointed. Service was slow and they got it wrong. We ordered beers and they arrived after 15 minutes and were warm. I noted they were the same Stella beers that had fallen off the busboys tray on the way to the bar,….onto the floor and survived…..and clearly had not been in a refrigerator. Main course arrived after another 20 minutes, but for only 2 of the 4 diners. The missing courses arrived after another 10 minutes. Not great. We were excited to try the chitterlings and the chicken livers. Neither lived up to their promise. The chitterlings had an overpowering vinegar taste (we love chitterlings and know how delicious they can be). On the other, the fried chicken was its usual outstanding dish as were most of the sides and cornbread. The ribs we graded a B. And we did not eat the macaroni & cheese…to dry/overcooked. As I began, disappointing for such an iconic restaurant.

Encouraged by the reviews we decided to go for brunch. We had no Reservation but they target you and in half an hour the tables are running. We take BBQ pork rib/chicken combo which is accompanied by a small potato salad and white rice. A plate for two and a total of three beers. It was enough because they are large portions, but in my opinion too expensive for what it is... the ribs were very rich, as was the battered fried chicken. But they're not very elaborate things and we paid a total of $71. NY is expensive... but I think this is going overboard. Live music and good atmosphere.

Wanted to try Sylvia’s as had been to Red Rooster last trip, and we weren’t disappointed Arrived as it opened on Sunday and managed to get two seats at the bar - our preference Shared a seafood combo of catfish and shrimp with garlic mash and traditional collard greens - food for the soul It was so tasty and the atmosphere was great with live music Great value too $60 including beers and tip

We really enjoyed our night at Sylvia’s, food was great, weather not so much!! BBQ Pork ribs, candied yams & string beans, Southern fried chicken, Mac and cheese & collard greens. All were excellent, the ribs and yams were particularly good. The restaurant felt very authentic and the service was really good. Would definitely recommend 😋

This was to be one the dinning highlights of my recent trip to NYC, I have never eaten in Harlem before so I was excited about eating real soul food, I had read good reviews about this restaurant so could not wait to go. Well, this was the biggest dinning disappointment of my eight night trip. The greeting on arrival was mechanical we had pre-booked a table but instead of being shown to our table as in normal restaurant we were told to take a seat in a waiting area which I can only describe as liken to a Chinese take away waiting area. The waiting staff were not friendly and again mechanical. I ordered the fried catfish with sides of collard greens (so looking forward to these but came wit no bacon/ham, there was a vegetarian option which I did not order) rice and home style gravy this meal was with taste. My partner and son ordered the fried chicken my partner also ordered mac n cheese and slaw but was given rice in stead of slaw, chicken was OK but I can make better mac n cheese back home in the UK. I think that Sylvia needs to stop living on her previous reputation and get up with the times, there so many other great restaurants in NYC we have visited on this trip who's food has been far superior to this food ( they were not high end). This was a poor experience of what real soul food should be, it was just a commercial enterprise to make business without satisfying the public.

Enjoyed Gospel Sunday Brunch at Sylvia's in Harlem and breakfast was delicious. Two of our party had the fried chicken, eggs and grits. They said the chicken was very juicy and tender and good grits. Two of us had scrambled eggs, home fries and bacon. Best bacon I've had in years! The Simpsons were the musical group on Sunday morning and the female singer should be on Broadway. Place was packed, but we had a reservation and seating and service were very quick.

Definite highlight of our NYC trip. This joint was at the top of my to do food list for NYC after hearing about it for years. Thanks for the tip Serena Williams ;) chicken and waffles from heaven, wonderful atmosphere and super friendly staff!

What a place !!!! Atmosphere was amazing, food was absolutely outstanding!!! Corn beet is a must. The overall vibe is excellent. Great place great staff.

Very nice culinary experience but also a beautiful tribute to the founder of this mythical restaurant. We quickly found a table, the Welcoming, the meal everything was excellent. The hot cornbread was delicious. RIBBS barbecue sauce with a revisited potato salad and Collar Green were a delight. The portions are very generous. Very affordable prices. Being in this mythical place but where human warmth reigns, a conviviality is striking.

Grades: Atmosphere is an A, food is B+, prices and service are C's. On a Saturday afternoon, took 20 minutes to get a seat, 10 minutes to see a waiter after that. Restaurant wasn't full, just seemed to be frazzled upon opening. Overall, took almost 2 hours to have a homestyle meal (i.e., not a "fancy" meal where 2 hours is expected). The food we had was good. Fried chicken was good, mac and cheese good, collard greens good, cornbread was great. The price for it was almost crazy though, $21 for a fried chicken meal, and $8 for a budweiser. Ultimately this place is clearly capitalizing on being a place tourists know, and is struggling to live up to it.

The restaurant opens at noon. When I walked by at 11:40 the restaurant was dark. I arrived at 11:55 and there was a long line. I waited outside for a half an hour. The hostess was letting everyone in regardless if they had a reservation or not. When we finally were seated, I noticed that people who were seated much after us were being served. The waiter said it was because we ordered the pork chop. After over an hour, our food finally came. The pork chop was very thin and could be cooked in minutes. For a noon reservation, we were served at 1:35 PM. I understand in these times it is difficult to hire waiters, cooks, etc. but this is ridiculous. Despite this, the food was good, will not be going back though

A landmark of it’s own, Sylvia's is located steps away from the Apollo Theater. This is the place to eat before catching your show there. The food is delicious, portions big, staff busy but caring and the bar serves some of the tastiest cocktails in the City. Pictures on the walls give a hint of all the famous people who have eaten there. Make reservations as this place is usually packed!

Nice place in Harlem, easy to reach by subway. The fried chicken is excellent. Not at all greasy and very digestible. The dish should be paired with 2 side dishes (I recommend the potato salad). Fair price for New York (25 USD each)

I can't believe it's taken me this long to visit this amazing neighborhood gem despite having been in the area countless times. We shared the BBQ beef short ribs, the potato salad, the black eyed peas, and the banana pudding, and everything was amazing! I like soul food, and this place exceeded every expectation! My husband's a picky eater and even he liked this place a lot. The cornbread was especially flavorful! I will say that the service here can be on the leisurely side, so if you're in a rush, I'd recommend going elsewhere. It took us almost half an hour to get a table, and another 10 minutes for our waitress to come take our order, so it's definitely a longer dining experience. We saw it as part of the restaurant's charm, but I saw other people getting impatient at the wait.

Overly hyped. The fried chicken was bland and the collards were dry and full of stems. The mashed potatoes had no gravy and were tasteless. The only good part was the uptown drink. The clientele was weirdly pretentious for a Sunday (mostly church folk.) Don’t go here if you’re gay you won’t be welcomed. Especially on a Sunday when it’s like a church service.

The iconic Sylvia's in Harlem near the Apollo is a wonderful dining experience. The food is as good as expected and there was a lovely live Jazz band in house. Fully booked so only bar seating was available but it was still enjoyable.

The food was terrible and so was the bill. I would not recommend it. In addition, me and my friends are feeling bad because of this food. The chicken was raw and the waffles too. Plus, they treated us very badly, they were rude and unavailable.

Took about ten minutes just to be given a seat, even though restaurant was only half full. Staff were pleasant and food came quite quickly. Cornbread was good and so was the gumbo. Waffles were unfortunately below average. Chicken was ok and the Mac n cheese was also ok. Food was too pricey given the quality. Have definitely had better.

I ordered Sylvia’s through Uber Eats for the first time and I was extremely disappointed. The menu sounded delicious, the pictures online looked great. My food looked like prison slop. I ordered the half baked chicken with garlic mash and corn as well as bbq ribs with Mac and Cheese and a candied yams. The chicken was slightly edible. Everything else was complete mush. Beware!!

The breakfasts are good size portions and their corned beef has which is made on the premises, is to die for. Their lunches are good and their haddock sandwich is the best around.

We had Sylvia's as one of our "must visit" places on our trip to NY and we weren't disappointed. Everything we ordered was delicious....bbq salmon, fried whiting, mac and cheese, candied yams, traditional collard greens (with smoked turkey), potato salad, and green beans...followed by peach cobbler for dessert. We were served promptly and our server was pleasant and helpful. I will definitely be visiting the next time were in NY city.

Characteristic place in Harlem in New York City, where it is not uncommon to come across live soul music sessions. From the outside the place doesn't look particularly attractive but don't be fooled because inside it is very welcoming and sufficiently spacious. Typical good quality food, personally very courteous.

Wow! Took a chance on going to a place I'd never heard of. Food was absolutely incredible. Top professional and friendly service and delicious food.

We visited this place on a Sunday evening. Nice to see a lot of families. We shared a fried chicken and sweet potato pie and loved it

Came here with a large group, order the fried chicken and rib combo with collard greens and Max & cheese. I am picking when it comes to Mac and cheese but this was the real deal, and the chicken... OH MAN the fried chicken is the best I’ve ever had!!! Great service and good prices for the amount of food you receive. If you are Harlem, you need to go check out this soul food legend!!

My husband and I went in for an early dinner 4:30ish we were seated in the back room where there was one other customer. Corn bread was placed on table along with 2 glasses of water (no ice). Our waiter was vacuuming the room including the floor under our table. He propped the vacuum on the next table to take our order. When my husband asked for a recommendation between 2 dishes the waiter seemed annoyed. A different waiter brought out plates of food that weren't ours and when we said that's not what we ordered seemed to not believe us. Our meal finally came out and it was just ok. Nothing to brag about. I had fried Chicken, Mac and cheese, green beans. Husband had chicken liver, yams, Mac and cheese. We had to flag our waiter down to order a beverage and were never asked if we wanted dessert. Food tasted like something you could get from any diner. Totally disappointed. There are soul food restaurants on almost every corner in Harlem. We probably could have gotten a better meal from any of them and paid half the cost of Sylvia's.

I was there with friends and family, and thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I've been wanting to dine at Sylvia's for several years now. The experience was worth the wait. Great family atmosphere.

The fried chicken is tender and crispy at the same time. They serve cornbread as a free entree, with tap water.

We went there for the birthday of my girlfriend and weren't disappointed. A singer set the mood inside and our table outside gave us a good taste of the vibrant life on the streets. The chicken was delicious, the staff very nice. We had a great time.

My husband and I were in New York for the first time and want to taste some soul food. We choose to take it away, our hotel was a bit far from the restaurant. It was very long... We choose 1 fried chicken & waffle and garlic mashed potatoes + extra sauce for 29.94 $ taxes included. We didn't find that the food worth the prices.

I travel a lot in the world, almost for business. And when it's eating time i always wanna try something that is iconics. Expecially when i am in US i don't want a luxury replica of what i can have in Italy. So that's why i love so much Sylvia's in NYC, because is an icon of this city and maybe more is an icon of USA. Any meals here is outstanding, but when i get there usually my choice is fried Chicken, Mc&Cheese, Collard Greens, a drink. .... Enjoy !!

Mentioned in a self-guided tour, Sylvia's was lackluster. Not much charm and the lunch was ordinary. Meatloaf was plentiful with good sauce but sides were ho-hum. Liver was overcooked and table beside us sent it back. Talking to strangers outside, were not impressed either given the reputation. Not terrible but not worth a special trip. Red Rooster is nearby.

The food was excellent. We had the famous pork ribs and fried chicken. The coating for the chicken was perfect and the chicken was moist. The meat fell off the bone on the ribs. Now, let’s talk about the yummy side dishes- macaroni and cheese, and collard greens are the superb. It’s worth a trip to Sylvia’s. Staff were friendly and service was great.

Came here for lunch and had to wait about an hour for a table. They took our mobile number so we could go for a wander in the local area while passing the time. People at the restaurant were very friendly, and once we were seated the service was pretty swift. In fact, it felt like a case of them not having enough staff as tables were empty, so they could have more people eating and less wait times if they had the staff to serve them. I had the pork ribs entree with candied yams and collard greens ($26) and my sister had the beef short rib entree with garlic mashed potatoes (delicious) and rice (also delicious) ($38). A diet coke was $5. Tax was added on everything of course. All in all, it was a long wait for lunch, but we enjoyed the food and nice service.

Best onions rings this side of the Red River! Handmade old time onion rings like you’d get from a diner 30 years ago. Call ahead drive through and pick up a bag of these. You won’t be disappointed!

The food was delicious and very much comfort food for us from Texas. Not everyone’s collard greens or Mac n cheese is good, but theirs was so good! Fried chicken was seasoned and fall off the bone juicy! Oh and the peach cobbler, so yummy!! Our server Rain (?) was the kindest and the best server, she had a lot going on but she made sure we were taken care of and we were able to enjoy our meal and stayed just long enough to hear a bit of the gospel brunch. Great start to a Sunday morning!

I had such a great experience here last year, I decided to return for more Chicken and Waffles. I was not disappointed. As the restaurant gets crowded on weekends, we made a reservation which was duly honored. Our waitress was polite and friendly and gave me a big smile when I ordered. Our entrees arrived promptly as ordered. I also tried a side of their famous sweet potatoes. The warm biscuits also hit the spot.They are not to be missed. Also don't forget the mac n cheese. We did not have room for dessert but the bread pudding looked mighty inviting. Hope to return next summer.

I recently visited NYC for the weekend. Before heading to the airport, LGA in Queens, I went to Sylivia's Restaurant for early dining. The wait was quick, keep in mind I did not have a reservation. The service was very friendly and kind. The staff were pleasant. There was entertainment for a Sunday afternoon, very enjoyable. Singer and keyboard player's song & music very pleasant. Our server, Amani, was very cheerful and helpful with the menu. It was my first time visiting the restaurant, which my friend recommended, and I didn't know what to order carefully as I was on a fairly strict diet. I was very pleased with the choice recommended. The food was so good, the moment was speechless at first bite. The GM, Mae, would visit our table and pleasantly asked were we good. This was a great experience and I recommend it to anyone who loves soul food at its best! I will be back with friends and family.

really nice restaurant in the center of Harlem. tipical food and amazing atmosphere! live music has been the best surprise

We were seated right away but waited for almost ten minutes for service. The staff was very friendly but service was a little slow. Overall the food was good and we loved the atmosphere. The menu is somewhat limited but has something for everyone. It includes a different special everyday, we had the turkey wings that were delicious. Some of the best cornbread and macaroni and cheese that I ever had. We would definitely go back.

Friendly restaurant where it is preferable to make reservations otherwise you will have to wait more or less long. Decent dishes, friendly service, prices around the New York average.

Terrible staff welcoming the waiting guests. Very long queue! We started to line under the heat of the sun at around 12:30, lined for 20 minutes only to be told to come back after 1.5 hours to 2 hours. So we went around to kill time then went back only to be told to wait 47 minutes without any consideration for the long wait we had us endure. Host was very strict on the exact minute for us to be seated. We came all the way from another country to get a taste of this supposed southern comfort food, but the treatment to us was nothing comforting at all!!!

The restaurant was crowded, and the wait was going to be 45 minutes, but we really only waited 20 minutes. The seating inside to wait was a joke so we sat outside and people watched. The music was great both inside & outside. We both ordered shrimp and catfish platter, which comes with 2 sides. I ordered mac n cheese, vegetarian greens and an extra side of yams. My husband ordered mac n cheese, and yams. The cornbread was BOMB.COM lol. Sweet with a touch of cinnamon. The greens tasted like the Sylvia's vegetatian greens being sold in chain grocery stores. They didn't have any umph to them. The yams were great (I didn't get mine, so hubby shared his. Probably universe saying I was being to greedy lol) The fish was ok. It wasn't seasoned hot sauce made it decent. The shrimp were really good.

Southern food...100% enjoyable if you don't go in thinking about taking care of your diet. The place is very typical, we went on Sunday and ate listening to gospel music. One of the most traditional dishes is fried chicken with waffle (although it sounds disgusting, the waffle is more of a soft dough and is not sweet, so it would be like bread to accompany the chicken). To "snack" they give you some kind of muffins (see photo) as a gift, and the waiter told us that if you finish it they will bring you more free of charge. The only thing I didn't like was that the iced tea was too sweet for my taste. Recommended simply for living the experience.

JAN 1, 2020 AT SYLVIA'S OLDEST FAMOUS HARLEM RESTAURANT New Year's Day, 2020, I arrived at Harlem's busy Sylvia's restaurant with Adam, my out-of-state son and guest, as the only Black owned Harlem restaurant opened beyond 7 pm. My son, enjoyed his steak, added to Sylvia's undetectable seasoned tender Black Eyes peas. thus rated as his best New Year's eve meal since Mrs. Rosetta Tyus, his grandmom/my mom, last cooked over 20 years ago. He agrees, as she taught him, and her children, that it's an old tradition for Blacks eating Black Eyes peas on January 1. After he insisted we'd sample his Black Eye peas, I regretted not ordering a dish and their shrimps with grits. Sylvia's bright vegan collard greens, fluffy firm cheesy macaroni and corn-bread emerged as my best among best, since I ate cornbread at another Black restaurant, years ago.. "Mom, it looks like that's all you came here for is cornbread. You already had two slices." I replied, simply advising they'd help themselves because Sylvia's cornbread is free thanks to their thoughtful, handsome, aged 40s something Black male waiter quickly returning with another cornbread basket, stating it was free, minutes earlier, when I asked about the cost for more cornbread? "Mom why did you do that? It's my New Year's treat. You're not paying the tab. Minutes later after he ate two more slices of cornbread, announcing,"I'm glad the waiter brought us more cornbread," The joke was on him, laughing. ps://www.tripadvisor.com/UserReview

We came to this restaurant attracted by the excellent reviews on Lonely Planet to eat something typical, such as southern cuisine. I must say it exceeded expectations, fried chicken like the one seen in the films, fabulous, not greasy, with an exquisite breading, we also had the fried catfish, excellent, with a side of black cabbage cooked according to their traditional recipe and potato salad, everything accompanied by a bottle of Pinot Noir. Except for the wine which cost 40 dollars, the dishes were cheap despite the excellent quality and fame of the restaurant. Unmissable in Harlem!

Pack your patience! We was in NY for New Years and decided to stop and have dinner at Sylvia’s before we headed back to Maryland. We were added to the waitlist and the text message said that we would be seated within 1 hour! I was pleasantly surprised to be seated within 10 mins. #WINNING. We were seated in the outdoor section 🙄 but okay, we can do this. We were promptly given the samples of the cornbread which was delicious but that seems to be all we received because after waiting for over an hour, OUR FOOD NEVER CAME OUT! The waitress (Reign I believe her name was) disappeared. After a shuttle complaint to another waitress, a manager finally came out to talk to us. I ordered grits and fried catfish, she told us that the grits were cooking and they’d be ready in about 10 mins and offered me a different side. No thank you. My family member declined her food as well and we attempted to leave. After several offers from the manager to give us the food for free, we agreed and she left to package it up. Again, we waited about 15 minutes for her to package the food up and bring it to us, NEVER SAW HER AGAIN. Needless to say, we left empty-handed, angry, and very hungry! I received a text message thanking me for visiting the restaurant and requested a review but when I went to submit the review, IT WAS GONE! They recalled the message because they knew it would be a negative review. Well, I had time today, so here you go! BBBOOOOOOO Sylvia’s! Do better!

We waited for a table for more than an hour even though the place was half empty. The girl at the reception was very rude. It's a shame because the waitress was very kind. The food is rather anonymous, the prices high. We didn't capture the atmosphere described in previous reviews at all, on the contrary...

I visited Sylvia’s with a group of about 80. We were seated in a separate building from the main restaurant area (that is designated for large parties I believe). We had fried chicken, ribs, greens, potato salad, rice, and corn bread. I don’t eat ribs, but the other items were good. The banana pudding was OK. Perhaps, I will return and order other menu items such as the fried fish and a different dessert. I have no complaints, but soul food is a something I’m accustomed to, and this was nothing out of the ordinary for me. Still a good dining experience, however.

Omg Yummy! Every time I get a chance to go to NY, I just gotta stop there! Oxtails and Meatloaf Tuesday and Wednesday are the best nights in my opinion!

Absolutely unprofessional and rude. I had already been there a year ago and I wasn't fully satisfied but some friends wanted to try it so we went back. They told us there was a 40-minute wait and we decided to wait but after an hour and twenty minutes and no table they told us they would give us the table (splitting us into two tables) but we would have to wait over an hour to have lunch. Just say it before and we wouldn't waste all that time waiting. The wait is not worth the lunch anyway, last year the food was ok but not superlative. In the area there are many other places to eat the same things without having to face the rudeness of a place whose fame is probably due to the l’honely planet, in fact it was full of foreigners and especially Italians and Spaniards.

If I wasn't from the Civil Rights capital of the world, Montgomery, AL, where my family grew their own vegetables and tied up their own pics and cut the necks off of their chickens, Sylvia's would actually be a good choice. Basically I'm saying I know SOUL FOOD and this hit the spot....considering. I ordered collards, mac and cheese, fried chicken and sweet potato. Now I'll be honest, the sweet potato batter was so thick I damn near choked but that fried chicken...definitely have to have. If I didn't know how to cook all of this myself, Sylvia's would be the spot for New York City, considering I have nothing else to compare it too.

Sylvia's is an iconic Soul Food Resturant located in the heart of Harlem. I was so excited to outdoor dine at Sylvia's. I hadn't eaten there for over fifteen years. Once we arrived we were a little confused on which window to order at but a regular was kind enough to direct us. Understandably due to covids impact the service is bit different. Once we understood the process we  were able to order then sit back and  relax while people watching. Our food arrived at the table and the smell alone brought a smile to our faces. I ordered the infamous Chicken and Waffle with a side of Collard Greens & String Beans. The first bite was pure delight. The chicken was crispy yet juicy, the waffles were thick and savory and the collard greens were sensational! I was throughly satisfied. I will definitely be back sooner then fifteen years to enjoy more entrees.

Sylvia's has great food, the service is a bit slow. But if you have great company you will hardly notice. I recommend trying them if you are in the area.

I had mixed good and not so good things to eat. First of the ribs were good but not great. The sides I had were collards and fried apples. The collards were not so good, they were tough and old. Not like the tender collards we get in NC.. Fried apples good. Overall not up to my expectations.

We enjoyed the food here, however we've had much better elsewhere. I wouldn't trek to Harlem again, it's really sketchy and wandering around this area after dinner isn't recommended - we felt quite unsafe with the amount of intimidating people outside. I would say this food is fine, but nothing wow, and its not worth coming to this area for, unfortunately :(

Food and service was good!!! was getting together with Family, we had a good time.Prices are affordable. I will return next time in NYC…

The history, the tradition but most of all, the seriousness and the quality of the food, always fresh and presented in an impeccable way. Interesting prices for being of high quality and in New York

After 2 hours of waiting to be seated, note that they had given us 40 minutes of waiting time, they made us sit at a table for 8 people where we should have sat 12... Slowness in service which makes you understand the waiting times for the table. To AVOID!

The restaurant is located in Harlem, which was quite easy to reach and made for a nice change of pace from the busier tourist areas of Manhattan. Sylvia’s comes across as a welcoming, down-to-earth neighbourhood spot with a strong local identity. There’s a sense of history and authenticity here that makes the experience feel special. I found the staff to be friendly and approachable—there was a relaxed, genuine warmth in the way they interacted with customers, which really added to the overall atmosphere. I ordered Sylvia's World-Famous Bar-B-Que Pork Ribs & Fried Chicken with Sylvia's Original Sassy Sauce, and it absolutely lived up to its name. The flavours were rich and comforting, and the portion size was very generous—definitely come hungry! The food felt hearty and homestyle, which is exactly what I was hoping for. I really enjoyed my meal at Sylvia’s and wouldn’t hesitate to return. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel welcome from the moment you walk in, and the food speaks for itself.

Really excellent food. Was in New York for a week and went to many restaurants, this was my favourite. Would absolutely recommend it to anyone wanting soul food. Staff were very friendly and helpful too.

If you’re passing through Harlem and want to eat typical southern American cuisine, escape Sylvia’s on Malcom X Avenue. Yet book in advance we are installed 1/2 hour after the booking time and again because I worry about staying outside. The locals pass in front of tourists. Once at the table the waitress makes the face. Tap his pen on his notebook. Obviously we're disturbing. I ask for waffles with my dish. There's none! Except the table next to them we serve them. We waited 1h40 before being served. I ended up farting at the counter. We would have left if I hadn’t left my CB loan. In the end I ask for a discount that its chef grants me and at the time of payment the waitress refuses the separate payment. I told him the rest. Null and void.

This place is a complete mess. If you have a reservation it doesn’t guarantee you a table, if you don’t have a reservation it’s a 2+ hour wait… both rsvp and no rsvp wait in the same line and in the same waiting room. They food is NOT worth this type of chaos. There are tons of southern food restaurants in Harlem that we went to that was just as good. Either have a rsvp system and honour it or make it walk in only.

I ate at Sylvia's restaurant with my girlfriend in the summer and we walked to Harlem from downtown especially, excited to try home-styled soul food. Unfortunately, I left quite disappointed and my girlfriend left very disappointed. The food was mixed: some of it was good, but a few dishes were bland and more than one of the chicken dishes were very, very dry. One was so dry that we couldn't eat it. Our server, who had been lovely up to this point, came over and excitedly asked if we'd like to take it home. When we apologised and said that it was a bit too dry for us, her face dropped. She took it off the bill off her own accord, which was kind, but also ignored us for the rest of the meal and didn't speak to us, not even when we left and said goodbye. It actually made us feel a bit awkward, which made the food seem even worse. The atmosphere was lively and the price was fairly reasonable for a local institution. I don't know if we ate on an off day, but based on what we sampled, I think there are better places to eat in NYC.

Best restaurant in Harlem, with a cosy atmosphere. We had a delicious fried chicken The service was friendly and quick.

We had a wonderful lunch. All was nice and tasteful. The service was excellent. For dessert we had a canolli, cheesecake and cappuccinos. Delicious.

We first experienced Sylvia's in St Petersburg FL several years ago. It was fantastic & we enjoyed several visits there, always coming away delightfully full after having enjoyed perfectly seasoned dishes. We were disappointed when we found out they had closed in FL but were hopeful that one day we would be able to visit the original Sylvia's in Harlem. We did finally on a Thursday with reservations for 11AM. Easy to find, we walked in & were seated right away. Our server was very friendly & in the small room we were in most of the tables were full. We were really looking forward to the 'original' Sylvia's being even better than the FL location....sadly that was not the case. There were 3 of us. A basket of almost done biscuits were delivered to the table along with water. Pepsi products here. My husband ordered. the fried chicken, yams & corn. The chicken was crisp & delicious, very meaty. The yams were fabulous, so sweet they could be dessert. Corn was just ok. His entire meal came out first. About 5 minutes later, our nephew's order of chicken & waffle arrived. He thought it was okay. I ordered the catfish, yams & string beans. My order didn't arrive until about 5 minutes after the chicken & waffles. Not sure why the delay...no explanation given. I had been offered to have my sides delivered while they finished the fish but what sense would that have made. The fish was just ok, really didn't taste or look totally done to me & because it was hurried, it worried me to eat it all so I didn't. The string beans had little to no flavor & were cool. The best part of my meal were the yams. They were delicious, sweet & piping hot. During our meal, we had been seated under a heating element mounted high up on the wall behind my husband. A man arrived & opened the unit to place a filter inside. For the majority of his dinner, he had hot air off & on blowing down on him. Then all of a sudden, the unit shut off. This type of maintenance should not be done while a table full of diners are seated below. We didn't try dessert as we were disappointed by the meal itself. I really wanted to love this place because of our FL experiences. So sad that it wasn't.

Everything was completely delicious, especially the fried chicken. Potato salad, cornbread, ribs, were all excellent. Quick service. Quite noisy, but that's to be expected.

Really nice soul food, tried the wings, mashed potatoes, cornbread, collard greens, catfish, ribs and pork chops. Tasty. The Pork chops were a little overcoked, but overall amazing! Worth tryinh. Great service and famous reputation is worth it! Ribs were delicious, a bit pricey for what we got!

Revisit on another trip to NYC we booked online earlier in the day to secure a table. Seated quickly and attentive staff. Food was fantastic we had the chicken/rib combo and it was super tasty with huge servings! Love the Mac & cheese! We adore the home style comfort food at Sylvia’s it’s well worth the trip to Harlem!

I found this restaurant in the review of the best soul food place in NY but was very disappointed. The food was quite mediocre (I couldn’t finish my fish because of the greasy coating with an unpleasant taste of not fresh grease). What was try terrible however was the service: the staff was arrogant, slow and inattentive (example 1: my server turned away to leave WHILE I was still finishing my order, I really didn’t finish and had to ask her to listen. Example 2: in the middle of my meal I wanted to order more food but my waitress was nowhere to be seen for a long time, so I caught an eye of another waiter who was passing me by and asked he to take my order. To which he answered that I had to wait for MY server and went to chat with another waiter).

Fabulous! The brunch was great and the pan the surprise for us was the gospel singers. Fun place to go Just off the corner of 125 Street and Malcolm X. You might have to wait in line - but more than worth the wait!

Dinner was delicious!! My sweet tea was awesome! I do not know how they get it soo sweet..? Great pork chop and collard greens . The black eyed peas were no my favorite. My favorite was the banana pudding!! I may get some to take home! Will be back!

Soul Food Restaurant Extravaganza! The true go to place for authentic, delicious down home cooking.

The service was good. However, we were not impressed with the taste of the food and quantity for the price. The food was not exceptional. We went on a Monday for lunch. I won’t share everything that was wrong with the meal except for the fried chicken. The chicken tasted like it was cooked in old oil and had no flavor. I had been looking forward to trying Sylvia’s and was very disappointed. Would not recommend.

Nice soulfood local stuff of you dont want food at chains that all taste same. We shared a dish so plenty of food

We loved everything we ordered....smothered pork chops (we received 2), greens, yams and the best corn bread ever. Each plate was $25 but with enough food to take leftovers to our room and eat the next day. Service was good also. We loved our waiter.

Quel moment! We are sttive there was the queue but after 10 minutes they take my phone number and they announce that they will send me a text message when a table will become available within 40 minutes max... at once we almost decided to eat elsewhere but we decide to wait... 15 minutes later we are informed that the table is ready and the superb discovery: Service at the top, hearty and delicious dishes, warm Mood with piano and singer. In short, a magical moment with the famous delicious corn bread as an aperitif... in short, to do again without hesitation!