Sylvia's Restaurant of Harlem

Sylvia's Restaurant of Harlem
Map
Restaurant information
Established1962 (1962)
Food typeSoul food, Southern[1]
Street address328 Malcolm X Boulevard
CityNew York City
StateNew York
Postal/ZIP Code10027
Coordinates40°48′31″N 73°56′40″W / 40.808718°N 73.944538°W / 40.808718; -73.944538
Websitesylviasrestaurant.com

Sylvia's Restaurant of Harlem, often called Sylvia's Soul Food or just Sylvia's, is a soul food restaurant located at 328 Malcolm X Boulevard, between 126th and 127th Streets, in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City.[1] It was founded in 1962 by Sylvia Woods.[2] It has since expanded to a much larger space at its present location, and an adjacent building. The restaurant also sells a line of prepared foods, beauty and skin care items, cookbooks, and a children's book written by Woods. Woods purchased the original luncheonette by borrowing money from her mother, who had to mortgage her farm to provide it; Woods repaid the loan a year after opening. Since opening, the restaurant has remained within the family, and as of 2021 is owned by Sylvia's son, Kenneth Woods, and managed by Sylvia's grandson, CEO K. De’Sean Woods.[1]

The restaurant attracts a clientele that ranges from Harlem locals to visiting celebrities.[3] Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Caroline Kennedy, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Magic Johnson, Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders and Bruno Mars are among those who have dined there. Sylvia's was also featured on a Manhattan-themed episode of the Travel Channel's Man v. Food in early 2009. On September 19, 2007, commentator Bill O'Reilly received criticism regarding comments he made on his syndicated radio show, about having lunch at Sylvia's with Al Sharpton. O'Reilly concluded that stereotypes regarding African Americans were not true based on observations he had made at the restaurant.[4]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sylvia's Restaurant participated in relief efforts by donating meals to Harlem Hospital. Sylvia’s also operated a food pantry donating over 1,000 meals a week to those in need.[5] The restaurant announced plans to open a pop-up pantry featuring meal kits to serve the community.[6]

  1. ^ a b c Nadelson, Reggie (November 16, 2022). "At Sylvia's in Harlem, Food Is a Family Affair". New York Times. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  2. ^ Feeney, Michael J. (14 May 2014). "Harlem street co-named for Queen of Soul Food Sylvia Woods". Daily News. New York. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  3. ^ Curry, George E. (17 December 1992). "Down Home on 126th Street: 'Queen of Soul Food' Celebrates Long Reign". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  4. ^ Fernandez, Manny; Eligon, John (September 27, 2007). "O'Reilly Dines in Harlem, Talks About It, Then Hears About It". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  5. ^ Yoon, Tae (28 August 2020). "This Harlem Soul Food Institution Is Now Offering Downtown Delivery for the First Time". Thrillist. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  6. ^ Ramos, Andrew (23 April 2020). "Iconic Harlem restaurants step up to feed front-line workers". pix11.com. Retrieved 2020-05-16.