(212) 280-8779

113 west 116th street
New York, NY 10026 40.802289 -73.950325

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Neighborhoods: Harlem, Uptown

AMYRUTHSHARLEM.COM

Years in business

Established in 1998

Hours:

Monday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Tuesday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Wednesday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Thursday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Sunday 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Price:

$$

Last updated 10.14.11

Category:

Restaurants, Banquet Rooms, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch Spot

Cuisine:

Southern, Traditional American

What People Are Saying About amy ruth's

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The buttery-yellow walls, high ceiling with its warm wood-toned panels and sparkling lighting set off African-American artwork around the room. Word-of-mouth buzz keeps Amy Ruth's consistently crowded. On weekends, the after-church crowd is here; during the week, people are in and out from breakfast through dinner. Chicken and waffles, smothered chicken, baked Virginia ham, salmon cakes, chicken livers, fried fish, pancakes--it's all inexpensive, freshly prepared and fabulous. Amy Ruth's is the kind of homey, unpretentious place you'll want to come back to--soon.

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “can honestly say that we enjoyed the food and ambience of the restaurant.”
  2. “loved the atmosphere (easy, casual, welcoming.”
  3. “Quaint, friendly atmosphere.”
  4. “loved the food and family friendly atmosphere.”
  5. “Comfortable atmosphere.”
  6. “The decor inside is very homely with a few knick knacks spread about, but the clean bathroom assured me I was in for a good dining experience.”
  7. “the menu was fun to look at.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “While you decide between the chicken and waffles (a Detroit invention, not Southern, don't tell anyone), ribs or fried catfish; have a glass of peach tea and enjoy the photos of the owner and various celebrities who visited the little restaurant on 116th ”
drinks
50.0% positive
  1. “So again I called and was told that when I came in I could get a free ice tea which is just stupid I told them that was unacceptable since I would not be going to their restaurant anytime soon.”
  2. “would not recommend the juices, the coffee was good though.”
  3. “We underestimated the richness of the cornbread, the sweetness of the tea, the tenderness of the short ribs, the crispy coating of the chicken and the fluffy waffle; yet, the candied yams were something to behold.”
  4. “While you decide between the chicken and waffles (a Detroit invention, not Southern, don't tell anyone), ribs or fried catfish; have a glass of peach tea and enjoy the photos of the owner and various celebrities who visited the little restaurant on 116th ”
food quality
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The service and food are great!”
  2. “was so happy to pop by Amy Ruth's not too long ago and sample some of their excellent food.”
  3. “If you want to eat good soul food in a bright and inviting resturant with quality service from a well dressed and friendly staff, take yourself right down to Amy Ruth's.”
  4. “The food is great but service is extremely slow.”
  5. “Fried chicken was fresh, however, very "rubbery.”
  6. “You really get great food, excellent service, and top notch entertainment all under one roof.”
  7. “the best bet is to take advantage of the 24 hour schedule on weekends and get something simple for breakfast after the club, like plain waffles or eggs, they at least get those right.”
  8. “We loved the smothered and honey chicken.”
  9. “went with my husband and twins and the food is great!”
  10. “Awesome fried chicken smotherd in gravy”
  11. “don't recall the name but the food is just as good, or head down to Amy Ruth's on 110th St.”
  12. “My favorite is the smothered chicken, waffle with chicken, and I love the various lemonades they have in the summer season.”
  13. “Loved the food!”
  14. “The fried chicken is the best I've ever had, much better than Sylvia's.”
  15. “My 7 year old loved the waffle and fried chicken and my 4 year old loved the mac and cheese.”
  16. “The food was really good, I had the fried chicken,sweet potatoes,and mac & cheese.”
  17. “Portions are good too, not too large, like other soul food restaurants.”
  18. “The food here is pretty good.”
  19. “$10.95 for a half honey fried chicken with 2 huge sides and the corn muffin-where can u beat that price with such service and good food?”
  20. “am a local Harlemite and I've been to all the soul food restaurants in Harlem and Amy Ruth's by far is the best.”
  21. “recommend Miss Mamie's, now that's good food at a good price!”
  22. “He re filled our water and removed dirty dishes.”
  23. “Planning a trip to NY just to get some good soul food!”
  24. “will be very brieft as Amy Ruths is probably the best soul food that I've eaten outside of my own kitchen.”
  25. “good food, service, & price”
  26. “loved the food and family friendly atmosphere.”
  27. “once had the salmon which was ok and they make a half decent steak but it's definitely NOT worth the 20+ bucks they charge you for it.”
  28. “The food is really good, give it a try =)”
  29. “can honestly say that we enjoyed the food and ambience of the restaurant.”
  30. “The corn muffins on the table, free, are so yummy.”
  31. “But the food is good.”
  32. “Didn't like the bread pudding, kind of dry, too much spice.”
  33. “The mac and cheese is perfect, the sweet yams are tasty.”
  34. “The food was incredibly delicious.”
  35. “The food was delicious.”
  36. “The food is good.”
  37. “The meal itself was nothing special; though my waffle did taste as if it had been deep fried after being made, and the "fresh" blueberries used had clearly been frozen not long before.”
  38. “This is a very plain kind of looking place, but the food is great and really old southern comfort food.”
  39. “OK, the food is great, but”
  40. “Great food and family friendly”
  41. “Each table comes with fresh home-made (very important) cornbread to begin the meal.”
  42. “We underestimated the richness of the cornbread, the sweetness of the tea, the tenderness of the short ribs, the crispy coating of the chicken and the fluffy waffle; yet, the candied yams were something to behold.”
  43. “love the food at Amy Ruth's.”
  44. “great food and fast service!”
  45. “the fried chicken is bland and dry (a huge no-no for souther food).”
  46. “My favorite is everything on the menu especially the honey fried chicken.”
  47. “The honey fried chicken melts in your mouth, and is made with fresh honey from the bees on the roof of the restaurant.”
  48. “The regular fried chicken was also super good!”
  49. “Souther girls surprised by great food and good service!”
  50. “None of this matters though because the food was really good!”
  51. “Great food.”
  52. “The Flores Forbes & Jill Nelson fried chicken entree taste great with baked macaroni and cheese with candied yams.”
  53. “The food was great so that made up for the lack of service from the waitress.”
  54. “The food is great.”
  55. “This place is overpriced and the food is mediocre at best.”
  56. “While you decide between the chicken and waffles (a Detroit invention, not Southern, don't tell anyone), ribs or fried catfish; have a glass of peach tea and enjoy the photos of the owner and various celebrities who visited the little restaurant on 116th ”
  57. “amazing fried chicken”
  58. “Highly recommended if you want tasty soul food minus the (pricey) frills.”
  59. “The food at both resturants are so good!”
  60. “The food is good and they are open 24 hours on the weekends.”
  61. “It is true comfort food - collard greens, hot, spicy with the tongue lash of vinegar, mac-n-cheese, with cheese I can recognize and flecks of black pepper, the salmon was good but the garnish of walnuts seemed like an afterthought.”
  62. “grew up in the south and have eaten southern food for years, so I was quit surprised to be able to order such a meal in the city!”
  63. “Good food not so good service”
  64. “We all loved the food and had a good time.”
  65. “The collard greens, which can be hit or miss at many places, we delicious here!”
  66. “don't work there or own stock in Amy Ruth's but I know good soul food and this is it.”
  67. “The staff was real friendly and the food came super fast.”
  68. “The ribs are seasoned to perfection with a sweet/spicy dry rub that will have you licking your fingers!”
  69. “The honey chicken is good, but dry.”
  70. “Good food.”
  71. “This is one of the best restaurants in the city, at least in terms of the food.”
  72. “the food was good and prompt.”
  73. “The food and service was fabulous.”
  74. “Great food, lousy service.”
  75. “We finally have a good soul food restaurant in Harlem again and the name is Amy not Sylvia.”
  76. “The food is delectable.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “the menu was fun to look at.”
  2. “My favorite is everything on the menu especially the honey fried chicken.”
overall
50.0% positive
  1. “seriously wouldnt ever hesitate making my way uptown to the best place I have eaten in a LOMG LONG time!”
  2. “The wait staff aren't partcularly nice, and did I mention just how small the inside of this place is?”
service
86.3599967956543% positive
  1. “Great food, lousy service.”
  2. “You really get great food, excellent service, and top notch entertainment all under one roof.”
  3. “Good food not so good service”
  4. “There was a short wait but all the staff we met were very friendly and helpful.”
  5. “good food, service, & price”
  6. “The service was friendly but was not attentive; perhaps they have more tables than they can handle, though our seating area was less than half full.”
  7. “$10.95 for a half honey fried chicken with 2 huge sides and the corn muffin-where can u beat that price with such service and good food?”
  8. “Quaint, friendly atmosphere.”
  9. “My husband and I liked the crowd a lot, friendly and animated.”
  10. “If you want to eat good soul food in a bright and inviting resturant with quality service from a well dressed and friendly staff, take yourself right down to Amy Ruth's.”
  11. “The food was great so that made up for the lack of service from the waitress.”
  12. “The service and food are great!”
  13. “great food and fast service!”
  14. “The staff was real friendly and the food came super fast.”
  15. “The food is great but service is extremely slow.”
  16. “Souther girls surprised by great food and good service!”
  17. “Great value, great service.”
  18. “The food and service was fabulous.”
  19. “The staff is friendly.”
  20. “loved the food and family friendly atmosphere.”
  21. “Great food and family friendly”
  22. “The wait staff aren't partcularly nice, and did I mention just how small the inside of this place is?”
value
87.88000106811523% positive
  1. “good food, service, & price”
  2. “the fried chicken is bland and dry (a huge no-no for souther food).”
  3. “recommend Miss Mamie's, now that's good food at a good price!”
  4. “once had the salmon which was ok and they make a half decent steak but it's definitely NOT worth the 20+ bucks they charge you for it.”
  5. “The price are decent.”
  6. “This place is overpriced and the food is mediocre at best.”
  7. “Highly recommended if you want tasty soul food minus the (pricey) frills.”
  8. “Great value, great service.”
  9. “Come ready to eat because you're going to get huge portions.”
  10. “$10.95 for a half honey fried chicken with 2 huge sides and the corn muffin-where can u beat that price with such service and good food?”
  11. “You may have to wait, but who cares, this place is so deliciously wonderful, it's worth waiting.”
wait time
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “The food is great but service is extremely slow.”
  2. “The meal itself was nothing special; though my waffle did taste as if it had been deep fried after being made, and the "fresh" blueberries used had clearly been frozen not long before.”
  3. “was so happy to pop by Amy Ruth's not too long ago and sample some of their excellent food.”
3 Star Rating: Average

06/02/10

Good food not so good service

by CSMobileUser3 at Citysearch

The food is great but service is extremely slow.

2 Star Rating: Below Average

11/18/09

SERIOUSLY Overrated

by JayBee3 at Citysearch

I’ve been there twice-please don’t ask....

I'm still very confused & unclear as to why it has such high ratings. My folks are from the south & I DO know great southern cooking. The cornbread is always lukewarm & dry. However, the veggies are better (i.e. cabbage & greens). The honey chicken is good, but dry. Yes, the portions are small. I’ve never ordered the mac & cheese, because based on how the other food tastes, I already know I’ll be disappointed!

Overall, it is better than Sylvia’s, but that does not say much at all.

  • Pros: expanding to space next door?
  • Cons: fair food, not real soul food, & limited choices
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/20/09

The best southern cooking in NYC

by Bridgetann at Citysearch

I recently ate here and the Mac and cheese was so good I almost died!!! I also loved the waffles! When it comes to southern food Amy Ruth's is the only restaurant worth coming to in the city. I cannot wait to go back!

  • Pros: Best southern food in the City
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/24/09

Awesome fried chicken smotherd in gravy

by GrumpyinFL at Citysearch

Had the Honey crusted chicken with collerd greens & yams soaked in coconut milk, OMG... talk about great... even the white meat brest was jucie. Would vist there next time I'm in Harlem.

  • Pros: Awesome Fried Checken & Waffles
  • Cons: none that I know of
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/13/08

From Soul to Seoul

by blave at Citysearch

Imagine this, a group of Koreans and an African American women eating together for a birthday party on a Thursday night in the middle of Harlem.

We had arranged for a large table upstairs for the party and were promptly given one. I was one of the first people to get there, and when entering the restaurant was whiskly greeted with a smile by the attendant and asked if I was there for the birthday party...LOL...Was it that obvious? The bottom level had a fairly full dining room, the upstairs was very sparse. With only a few tables being occupied and the large one in the back allocated for us. I decided to do a quick Anthony Bourdain check and looked inside the bathroom and was suprisingly shocked at how clean and well maintained it was. The decor inside is very homely with a few knick knacks spread about, but the clean bathroom assured me I was in for a good dining experience.

I had the honey fried chicken with a side of macoroni and cheese and potato salad. Chicken was incredible, although a little greasy. Potato salad was oddly sweet, but very good. The only downside is that I had ordered the dark meat, because I'm a dark meat connoseur, but the portion was too small! If you want a bigger portion get the white meat. I think the biggest attestment to the quality of the food was that our rowdy party was fairly silent during the dinner service. For dessert I had the peach cobbler, a friend of mine went outside and got some vanilla ice cream to put on top and it was heavenly!

They don't server beer or alcohol, but the waitstaff was extremely accomodating pouring all our BYOB into a carafe and giving a bucket of ice to chill the champagne. All our needs were taken care of with extra plates, napkins and drinks whenever we needed one. The service was simply exceptional...I rarely venture all the way up to Harlem to go dining, but for this place I will have to return again!!!

  • Pros: Great service and soul food
  • Cons: No alcohol available

The Details on amy ruth's

Place Categories:

  • great soul food
  • great service
  • loved regular fried chicken
  • loved waffles
  • best place
  • recommend double mac
  • friendly family friendly atmosphere
  • good price
  • really good mac n cheese
  • favorite everything
  • nice neighborhood
  • not completely full food restaurant
  • liked crowd
  • sooo good amy ruth
  • never bad dining experience
  • huge portions
  • full restuarant
  • great lunch
  • great southern cooking
  • true flecks
  • great southern comfort food
  • excellent whiting
  • best bet
  • helpful staff
  • good honey chicken
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