When I visit cities I want to experience the best local restaurants they have to offer. I value restaurants that are good food destinations and also integral parts of the community. I want to eat where the locals eat —at the “hole in the walls.” How do I find these spots? I like to ask local residents I meet in the city, people working at my hotel, etc.
On one of my visits to New York I asked our hotel concierge, a Harlem resident, where to find the best soul food in New York. The answer was overwhelmingly Amy Ruth’s on 116th street in Harlem. Every time I visit New York I make a trip to Harlem for the food and the culture but I had never been to Amy Ruth’s. My wife, mother-in-law and I jumped on the subway and made our way to Harlem.
How is the atmosphere?
Walking into Amy Ruth’s feels familiar like you are visiting a family get together. It is New York so they make use of the restaurant space with the table layout but it did not feel cramped. There are two dining spaces as well. On the walls in the restaurant are beautiful murals of famous African Americans throughout history.
What’s on the menu?
The menu items are named after prominent African Americans like President Obama and Rev. A.R. Bernard. It is a true soul food menu with classics like fried chicken, fried fish, chicken and waffles, meatloaf, smothered pork chops and shrimp and grits to name a few. All entrees come with two sides. What I like about the menu is they offer several preparations of the main meat items for many of the dishes such as fried, smothered, baked and BBQed.
What did you order?
(fried, baked, smothered or BBQ chicken)
(fried or baked catfish)
I ordered the “President Barack Obama” (fried, smothered, baked or BBQ chicken) fried with collard greens and mac n cheese as my sides. My wife order the “Ruby Dee” (fried or baked catfish) fried with fried okra and candied yams as her sides.
How do they rank against other restaurants ?
We rank them as a MUST VISIT. If you are in New York you need to add Amy Ruth’s to your schedule. I am from the south so I am picky when it comes to soul food yet Amy Ruth’s has been added as one of my favorite soul food restaurants in the country. You will thank me when you go!
