To say that Sylvia’s in Harlem is a landmark would be an understatement. When the late Sylvia Woods opened her namesake restaurant in 1962, she put in motion a legacy that continues today. From the Civil Rights movement to 9/11, Sylvia’s has served its customers as a place of community, gathering, and hope when they didn’t know where else to turn. Sylvia herself believed — and her granddaughter still believes — that comfort and healing are cooked right into their fried chicken.
Sylvia’s defined soul food and put Harlem on the map for people who had never tasted it or set foot uptown before. The restaurant is still a draw for locals and food critics alike.