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Home > Restaurants > Sylvia’s

All Reader Reviews of...

Sylvia’s

328 Lenox Ave., New York, NY, 10027
nr. 127th St.
212-996-0660

7.4 "Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10		 Write Your Own Review
62% Would you go back?
62% Would you take a date?
37% Would you take kids?
50% Would you go on business?
50% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 7.4
Service: 7.5
Décor: 7.0
Value: 7.5
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  • Showing reviews 1 through 8 of 8

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Jessicamp from 06795 | Posted on 4/22/09

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 8
Value: 10

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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7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Rip-off tourist trap!

coreyguia from 2022 | Posted on 3/29/09

Overall Rating: 2 (Not Recommended)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 3
Service: 2
Décor: 2
Value: 2

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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8 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

tourist trap

viennes from 1070 | Posted on 12/18/08

Overall Rating: 5 (Mixed Reviews)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 4
Service: 7
Décor: 5
Value: 4

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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8 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

Best Ever

jac1 from 53209 | Posted on 12/18/07

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 9
Value: 10

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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90 out of 183 people found this review helpful.

2nd Time around. It isn't good.

TRich from 20601 | Posted on 7/27/07

Overall Rating: 4 (Not Recommended)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? No
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 3
Service: 3
Décor: 5
Value: 5

This was my second time going to Sylvia's in 2 years. Each time I went with a large group so we were in the reserved section. The service wasn't great at all. The food was served family style. They just didn't put enough food on the tables. Just recently (last Sat.) I visited it again. It was worse this time. The food just wasn't good. The service was horrible and the same people. We kept asking for more food. It's like they weren't prepared. You had to wait so long for ribs that people started getting up and leaving. We kept asking and they kept saying it's coming but nothing. I didn't stay to wait for the dessert. Many people were disappointed. They need to do a better job with big groups and get the food tasting right.

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147 out of 333 people found this review helpful.

thanksgiving

wade from 31052 | Posted on 11/28/06

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? Yes
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 10

FROM A PERSON FROM GEORGIA, LET ME TELL YOU THAT THIS WAS THE BEST FOOD I HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME. THE SERVICE WAS GREAT AND THE EMPLOYEES WERE SO FRIENDLY. I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD SOUTHERN FOOD TO TASTE AS GOOD IN GEORGIA AS IT WAS AT SYLVIAS. THE ONLY THING I DID NOT LIKE WAS THAT SYLVIA TOOK OFF THANKSGIVING DAY WHEN I WAS THERE, SO I DID NOT GET TO MEET HER. ON MY NEXT TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY, I WILL EAT AT SYLVIAS AGAIN

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331 out of 699 people found this review helpful.

Oh Thosse Collard Greens

bobbyann from 20874 | Posted on 10/13/06

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 10

As a gift my daughter took me to Sylvias and the service was magnificent. We were in a large party going to see the Color Purple. The food was hot and delicious. Fried Chicken, greens, rice all were cooked to perfection and served hot. I truly loved Sylvias

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321 out of 621 people found this review helpful.

Well,Bless My Soul Food!

adsong from 10019 | Posted on 6/30/03

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? No
Food: 9
Service: 8
Décor: 7
Value: 9

In the heart of Harlem.A beloved NY institution,loved by us New Yorkers,tourists and suburbanites as well. Gospel Brunch on Sunday's,($21.00) Large portions.. Jazz on Saturdays,.Entrees for about $15.00.. Smothered chicken,grits,Cholesterol City,but once in a while , do it!!..

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406 out of 745 people found this review helpful.

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