Barbeque ribs, fried chicken and pork chops smothered in gravy are some of the items being offered by the legendary Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem for NYC Restaurant Week.

Trenn’ness Woods-Black, granddaughter of Sylvia Woods who is the founder of the famous soul food restaurant, says Sylvia’s was part of the first restaurant week in 1992.


What You Need To Know

  • NYC Restaurant Week runs for 30 days through Aug. 21

  • The first NYC Restaurant Week was held 30 years ago during the 1992 Democratic National Convention

  • Lunch and dinner are being offered for $30, $45 or $60, depending on the restaurant

“It’s not just a discounted menu, but it’s actually a passport to all the different cultures. You get to taste the cultures of New York City while you are supporting the restaurants,” Woods-Black said.

The 30th NYC Restaurant Week, presented by NYC & Company, the city’s tourism promotion agency, is running through Aug. 21 at eateries in 85 neighborhoods across the five boroughs.

Diners are offering two course lunches and three course dinners for $30, $45 or $60, depending on the restaurant with tax and tip not included. Some will offer $30 bottles of wine to commemorate 30 years of NYC Restaurant Week.

“New York City wanted to create something to showcase the culinary capital of the world, and it actually started as just a lunch program at about 100 restaurants, and it’s evolved into this amazing program that now spans across all five boroughs and this year we have over 650 restaurants participating,” Alyssa Schmid, vice president of communications domestic for NYC & Company, said.

Sylvia’s is not only celebrating 30 years of participating in the promotion but also 60 years since Sylvia Woods first started bring those delicious family recipes to the world.

“I have a feeling that the 30th anniversary summer edition of restaurant week may be our yummiest one yet,” Woods-Black said.