Restaurant Guide

HARLEM RESTAURANT GUIDE

Amy Ruth's

113 West 116th Street

New York, NY 10026

212.280.8779

Melba's Restaurant

300 West 114th Street

New York, NY 10026

212.864.7777

Sylvia's Restaurant

328 Lenox Avenue

212.996.0660

Billie's Black Bar Lounge Restaurant

271 West 119th Street

New York, NY

212.280.2248

Miss Maude's Spoonbread Too

547 Lenox Avenue

New York, NY 10027

Uptown Juice Bar

54 West 125th Street

New York, NY 10027

212.987.2660

Boma Cafe

2037 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10035

212.427.8668

Bay Uptown

17 West 125th Street

New York, NY 10027

Reservations: 212.876.9300

Take Out: 212.828.3400

Uptown Renaissance Restaurant

108 West 116th Street

New York, NY 10026

212.280.2224

Camaradas el Barrio Bar & Restaurant

2241 First Avenue

New York, NY 10029

212.348.2703

Native

161 Lenox Avenue

New York, NY 10026

212.665.2525

Windows Over Harlem

161 West 125th Street - State Office Buidling

New York, NY 10027

212.665.4337

Chez Lucienne

308 Lenox Avenue

New York, NY 10027

212.289.5555

River Room, The

Riverbank State Park

145th Street and Riverside Drive

New York, NY 10031

212.491.1500

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

646 West 131st Street

New York, NY

212.694.1777

Roti Plus Halal

2345 Frederick Douglas Blvd.

New York, NY 10027

212.749.8748

Garden Cafe

4961 Broadway

New York, NY 10034

212.544.9480

Settepani Bakery & Cafe

196 Lenox Avenue

New York, NY 10026

917.492.4806

Gospel Uptown

2110 7th Avenue

New York, NY

212.280.2110

Sister's Cuisine

30 East 124th Street

New York, NY 10035

212.410.3000

Harlem Tea Room

1793 Madison Avenue

closed

South Beach Cafe and Juice Bar

100 West 124th Street

New York, NY 10026

212.222.7290

Le Baobab Restaurant

120 West 116th Street

New York, NY 10026

212.864.4700

Sugar Shack

2611 8th Avenue

New York, NY 10030

212.491.4422

Lenox Lounge

288 Lenox Avenue

New York, NY 10027

212.722.9566

Sylvia's Restaurant

VAN WOODS

Perhaps you've read about Van Woods in the New York Times or Wall Street Journal; watched him on CNN Financial News or encountered his electric dynamism within the intimacy of Sylvia's Restaurant. But to experience his entrepreneurial courage and keen business savvy, firsthand, compels reverence.

Van, the eldest son of Sylvia Woods, founder of the famous Harlem restaurant, came along during an era when being a visionary was not considered positive. Many believed his big ideas were extreme and out of control.

He first discovered the powering ability to visualize his reality as a precocious 11-year-old. Recalling a school boy crush on an older schoolmate in middle school, where he landed at age 11 after skipping two grades, was the first sign of the power he possessed within. "When I finally talked myself into courageously telling this 13 year old girl how I felt, her rejection was so cold and condescending, it made me internally visualize a scene where one day I would be so popular that she would regret that moment." Several years later, in his collegiate popularity, that exact scene he'd envisioned played out in real life.

It is through these remarkable gifts of imagination and intuition that he has harnessed his ideas and heightened his family enterprise. His leavening power was tremendous in acquiring the properties adjacent to their restaurant on Lenox Avenue that began the expansion from counter operation to the full scale, multi-million dollar establishment. When he first expressed his development intentions his mother told him she'd be dead and gone by the time he accomplished all of that. "I should have had more confidence in my son's ability - that's what it takes; young minds, ingenuity and the help of God," Sylvia remarked. In 1991 Van launched a line of soul food products for national distribution. Wearing the Sylvia's label, containing the quality cuisine established in their restaurant, Sylvia's canned collard greens, black-eyed peas, candied yams and sauces can be found in major grocery stores across the nation.

Van’s intense, eager devotion to business and community development is defined throughout his life in his exchange of views and organizational cooperation in terms of economic and social projects. Van's altruistic spirit initially lead him to the field of social services where he worked as a case worker for the Department of Social Services, lead job training programs for the Urban League and participated in several other advocacy roles. Maintaining his humanitarian nature in business he hopes to enhance the performance of those around him. "My vision is to give young entrepreneurs the opportunity so they can establish better conditions industrially, socially and politically."

Van is continuing in his enterprise development by adding Sylvia's Beauty & Soul hair and skin care. Working with a chemist to formulate the best products for African American hair and skin, he plans to gain a stake in this billion-dollar industry. Sylvia's Beauty & Soul products are currently in first tier distribution with an aggressive marketing campaign in the works. These and several other products are the extension of familial concepts. The Woods are lighting the flame for 3rd and 4th generations by creating a vehicle to support the community's economic plight.

Within the good-natured, obliging Van Woods, in his personal eccentricity, there is wisdom and nobility truly superb.

© 2010 Harlem Torch Magazine, LLC

Amy Ruth's

Miss Maude's Spoonbread Too

Uptown Juice Bar

Boma Cafe

Uptown Renaissance Restaurant

Native

Windows Over Harlem

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Roti Plus Halal

Garden Cafe

Sister's Cuisine

South Beach Cafe and Juice Bar

Le Baobab Restaurant

Sugar Shack

Lenox Lounge