Sylvia's Restaurant of Harlem
| Sylvia's Restaurant of Harlem | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1962 |
| Food type | Soul food, Southern |
| Street address | 328 Lenox Avenue |
| City | New York City |
| State | New York |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 10027 |
Sylvia's Restaurant of Harlem (often called "Sylvia's Soul Food" or just "Sylvia's") is a soul food restaurant located at 328 Lenox Avenue, 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.
The restaurant attracts a clientele that ranges from Harlem locals to visiting celebrities.[3] Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Caroline Kennedy, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Magic Johnson, Barack Obama, and Bernie Sanders 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 about having lunch at Sylvia's with Al Sharpton on his syndicated radio show, commenting on how the stereotypes of African Americans were not true based on his observations at the restaurant.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "Sylvia's Restaurant". Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ Feeney, Michael J. (14 May 2014). "Harlem street co-named for Queen of Soul Food Sylvia Woods". New York Daily News. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ Curry, George E. (17 December 1992). "Down Home on 126th Street: 'Queen of Soul Food' Celebrates Long Reign". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ "O'Reilly Dines in Harlem, Talks About It, Then Hears About It". New York Times. September 27, 2007. Retrieved February 22, 2011.