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All Reader Reviews of...

Sylvia’s

328 Lenox Ave., New York, NY, 10027
nr. 127th St.
212-996-2669

Avg. Rating

8
Food: 8
Service: 8
Décor: 7
"Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

71% would go back.

 Write your own review

Touristy Hype

By dudelovesfood on 8/7/2012

  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 4
  • No, I would not go back!

The first warning sign - Sylvia's ONLY has margarine. No butter. Sorry, but cornbread with a soybean oil spread is disgusting and I would say most of the food is mediocre at best with a slightly below-average diner quality to it. There is a certain charm to the dingy, bare-bones decor, and the staff is friendly, but that doesn't balance the entire experience. NY has some of the best restaurants of all types and prices in the world, and this is not one of them.

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8 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

Very Good

By mitchmurr on 11/25/2010

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

As most...always wanted to, never got there, finally did and so glad we went. Crowded but not full, staff was very friendly. Had the smothered pork chops, fried chicken with waffles, candied yams, mac & cheese and sweet potato pie. All was very very yummy, especially the pork chops. They even have a "Harlem Golden Ale" beer that was very good though it is really made in Saratoga, NY. So glad we went and look forward to going again. For those who want to but are "concerned" about heading north of the Park, c'mon, get over that and get some tasty food.

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51 out of 91 people found this review helpful.

ALL I CAN SAY IS YUMMMMM

By RecentGraduate on 3/8/2010

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

I had always known about Sylvia's but heard mixed reviews. I must say that the food was scrumptious. I had fried chicken, barbeque ribs, macaroni & cheese, candied yams, and collard greens. HAVE MERCY. Loved the fact that I met Sylvia's daughters and even grandsons. I definitely loved it. Loved the pictures lining the walls showing the history of the restaurant and all who have visited. A REAL Harlem Establishment. Must support family owned business...a dying breed. Especially ones that stay true to their cause.

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59 out of 122 people found this review helpful.

AMAZING SOUL FOOD!

By DennisDickson on 3/8/2010

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

This is SOUL FOOD. Not an imitation but a Southern Family who came to New York and knows how to cook Southern Cuisine. We even met Sylvia Woods and her family. Somebody told me she sold her restaurant which I quickly found to be false. I loved the restaurant and will definitely visit during EVERY TRIP TO NYC. MUST HAVE IN HARLEM. Too many knock-off soul food spots around. This is the real deal.

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70 out of 134 people found this review helpful.

nice place

By toniaumo on 2/20/2010

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 6
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

i was interested in southern food so i decided to go to Sylvia's with my cousin. the service was amazing . our waitress was polite and timely. the food was okay. i would say okay because of the the temperature of the food. the price is affordable. and i have to say the lemonade is on point. i would eat there again. the bathroom is clean as well.

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97 out of 160 people found this review helpful.

Like Home

By sisteraed on 12/30/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

10 of my friends visited Syliva's in 2003, we had to wait over 45 minutes even with reservations, we shopped until it was time to be seated, we refused to go elsewhere, the customers waiting were internationally inclined, the food and price was the bomb, the service was professional, the bathroom was very clean, we even had the chance to talk to Syliva personally and she gave us a good history. What impressed me about Sylvia was that she was leathered down and her outfit impressed me very much, because I too like leather and she looked good in hers.. I was in NY 12.29.09, and we passed by the Resaurant and the memories encouraged me to have another trip to NY and dinner again at Sylvia's. Annette Davis

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82 out of 151 people found this review helpful.

Searching for something new?

By Jessicamp on 4/22/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

This is one of the best restaurants I have visited in the city. Sick of midtown, we ventured into Harlem and found this great spot. The food is awesome, the service is great and the atmosphere is good too! We were really bummed that we were heading out to a game and couldn't take the left overs home because the food was amazing!! Best corn bread I have ever had. Definately a place to check out. Easy to find, and easy to 2,3,4,5,6 trains.

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78 out of 146 people found this review helpful.

Rip-off tourist trap!

By coreyguia on 3/29/2009

  • Overall Rating: 3
  • Food: 3
  • Service: 2
  • Décor: 2
  • No, I would not go back!

We were a small group, had everything prepaid, gave the waitress the voucher and thought we were trouble free. The spare ribs were rancid, the fried fish soggy in oil, rice, cornbread decent, collar greens best - the experience far from "OH SO UNIQUE". Jazz from loudspeakers, a singer came for 10Minutes - this was the experience - no not entirely - we were about to be ripped off . Our NYC tour guide was not sitting at our table, therefore we were eyed as a good "rip off" group. The Manager presented us with a $60.00 bill for some "open difference". We were about to pay it, when one of the group informed our tour guide, who confronted the "surprised" Manager, (who had not expected us to be with a local representative) gave him some well deserved "no way Jose", called immediately the local agency - who reconfirmed, that we were NOT to pay anything. After leaving the restaurant we left for the airport to fly back to Amsterdam with a bitter taste in our mouth. There are 14'000 wonderful restaurants in NYC, any Deli or Diner in the city serves better food then this tourist trap called Sylvia's!"

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84 out of 155 people found this review helpful.

tourist trap

By viennes on 12/18/2008

  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 5
  • No, I would not go back!

This restaurant might have been great some decades ago, now it is just an average tourist trap. The food has canteen quality, a real carbohydrate overload, breaded fish, breaded chicken, some mashy potato salad, some pudding-like desert at the end, everything a bit on the cheap side. Didn't feel any cozy Southern atmosphere there either. Positive point is the personnel which very friendly and effecient. Food was brought very quickly, almost like in a fast food restraurant, they are obviously used to cater large tourist groups. You won't miss anything if you give this place a miss,

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77 out of 146 people found this review helpful.

Best Ever

By jac1 on 12/18/2007

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

I had the opportunity to eat at Sylvia's and have not stopped talking about it since. I have worked as a chef in a few very fine dining restaurants and Sylvia's is right up there with the best of the fine dining establishments. The food is plentiful and full of flavor. The service is great and the location was easy to access. I would go again and I highly recommend Sylvia's to anyone who wants a true "soul food" experience.

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167 out of 331 people found this review helpful.

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