best soul food in Harlem

[skooldya1]

Aside from Rack and Soul or Charles', what's the best place in Harlem for a pleasant, awesome, affordable, sit-down soul food lunch?

[Uptownflavor]

Billie's Black has a nice selection of side dishes that use pork and they offer some soul food favorites that you can't get everywhere. Their mac and cheese is awesome as are their cheesy grits.

Melba's is a nice upscale place. My favorite dish is the beef short ribs. Some of their other dishes are hit or miss. Ask the server or the chef what he or she recommends or you can ask Melba herself. She will be flitting around in something flowy.

Amy Ruth's is super casual as is Spoonbread. I am not a huge fan of Spoonbread but in a crunch they get the job done.

Bon appetit!

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Amy Ruth's
113 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026

Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too
366 W 110th St, New York, NY 10025

Miss Maude's Spoonbread Too
547 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037

Billie's Black
271 W 119th St, New York, NY 10026

Melba's New Look
4 Forest Ave Glen, Cove, NY

[squid kun]

Appreciate the tips - but that Melba's link is a beauty salon on Long Island. Here's the one you want:

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Melba's
300 W 114th St, New York, NY 10026

[AlbertaHound]

I hear Amy Ruth's is better than Sylvia's. True?

[thew]

it doesn't taake much to be better than sylvia's.....

amy ruth's makes a mean chicken and waffle

[Uptownflavor]

True for some people. I hear a lot of negative comments about Sylvia's but when I used to go (about 10 years ago now when Sylvia was still there everyday) I always had a good experience.

[thew]

i wouldn't say sylvia's is bad - just kind of middle of the road and uninspired. which seems to defeat the soul of soul food.

and i can't discuss harlem without saying something about dinosaur bbq. so there.