Sylvia's Restaurant

The experience: Soul food
American soul food was born out of the cuisine cooked by Black migrants who left the South from the early 1900s to the 1970s for other regions of the country. And when it comes to enjoying this fare in New York City, Sylvia’s remains a top favorite. Founded in 1962 by Sylvia Woods, a North Carolina native who moved here as a teenager, her eponymous restaurant has remained an uptown epicenter for soul food and Black culture and social life—cementing her status as the legendary “Queen of Soul Food.” Currently operated by four generations of Woods’ descendants, popular items include Fried Chicken, Barbecue Ribs, Macaroni and Cheese, and Sweet Potato Pie.