Hi there! My name…read moreis Melissa- an ex DoorDash employee and former restaurant manager in NYC. My experience at Jacob's Pickles was incredible and I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone for any occasion. This special southern gem has it all figured out. They beat the myth of having "too big of a space" or "too large of a menu". Their speed and service is extremely fast. Waitstaff are very friendly and collaborate very well together. GREEN FLAG that they are always busy with very rare downtimes. I recommend to secure a reservation if possible. The menu has a wide variety of options. As a repeat customer, I can conclude the consistency of quality is 100%. Favorites: Biscuits and Fixins Chicken Caesar Wrap Shrimp and Grits Lobster Mac and Cheese Fried Chicken and Gravy (not pictured) Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (not pictured) I will definitely be returning. I will be posting their content on Instagram at @village.nyc.eats. Feel free to follow along or message me! Melissa.s.joubert@gmail.com

I was back at this restaurant a while ago, having previously eaten at their own location, which was…read moreloud and a bit too dark, almost feeling more like a gastropub than a Southern spot. By comparison, the new one is much better and much more fitting, while still being moderately loud but not earsplitting, presumably due to both the ceilings being a lot higher and the tables being more spaced apart. It's also a lot brighter, with plenty of mirrors on the wall and larger tables. As mentioned by most others, the portions here are rather massive for NYC, even in comparison to some diners and delicatessens, which makes the prices pretty reasonable. Our large group went here for something I rarely do: brunch. The servers were reasonably overwhelmed, but still friendly. Knowing how big the portions are, I only ordered the $22 Spicy Chicken Sandwich, which is typically served with pepper jack cheese, crispy onions, and hot sour pickles on a home-baked brioche bun. I did something I rarely do, which was ask for a substitution. In this case, it was cheddar instead of pepper jack, and it was obliged. The sandwich was quite large and a bit difficult to pick up, as it was pretty messy, but the flavor was nice. The chicken was juicy, the batter was pretty light, and there was a load of crispy onions. The pickles added a bit of sour crunch and a bit of heat, and the bun did just well enough to keep it all together. Overall, it was tasty. In terms of other dishes, there were a ton. I had one of the many tasty Deviled Eggs for $15, served with pickled mustard seed, smoked paprika, and pickle chips. From the same appetizer section, I particularly enjoyed the $13 Okra & Chilies, made from smoked & pickled okra, red pepper flakes, and scallion. I liked the smokiness, and the okra had some good grill marks, with this being the lightest dish on the table, outside of the Pickle Sampler someone else got. If you're looking to have a heart attack, I would order the decent $19 Poutine. Featuring fries smothered in brown gravy, cheese, and a hollandaise drizzle, I would compare it more to disco fries or other forms of loaded fries. This was due to the lack of cheese curds and the style of gravy. Outside of the comically massive portion, it's fine. In terms of other mains, a few had the two types of Smothered Chicken, either with sausage or mushrooms, for $24. Someone else ordered the non-spicy version of the same sandwich I got. Finally, another got the gigantic $24 Chicken & Waffles, consisting of buttermilk fried chicken, a golden waffle, house maple butter, and powdered sugar. There was also another entree, but I don't remember the details. I preferred this experience a lot more than the previous time and would recommend them for brunch, at least. Just come very hungry.

Came up from NC wanting some good Southern food, and we found a true gem!…read more We ordered the smothered turkey wings, fried fish, yams, mac and cheese, and delicious cabbage--and everything was SO good! The portions are generous enough for two people, so you definitely get your money's worth. The workers were sweet, welcoming, and friendly, which made the experience even better. And listen... the cornbread and freshly squeezed lemonade are a MUST! If you're looking for authentic, delicious Southern comfort food, definitely give this place a try! 5 stars all around!

Overall, it wasn't that great of an experience. I had the chicken and waffle. Three stars for the…read morefried chicken. It tasted good but was a little pink in a couple of parts. The waffle and cornbread was just ok. My waitress was efficient but not friendly and she rushed through everything. She set the tone for why I didn't enjoy my visit. I still tipped her but I won't be coming back. One of the reasons I came was to support a black owned business, but it's not black owned anymore.

One of the best chicken caesar wraps I've ever had. Staff were ok and service was decent. The wrap…read morewas delicious and it's something that I crave from time to time. Will definitely be coming back soon.

Bobwhite serves up a bit of homestyle southern in the heart of East Village. Although I wouldn't…read morerecommend for a visitor of the city, I would highly recommend for a local looking for a Saturday/Sunday morning hangover spot. Delicious sweet tea with melt-in-your-mouth chicken biscuits highlight a casual atmosphere.

Had a tasty lunch of wings, lemonade and shrimp with grits. Loved them. I usually like wet wings,…read morebut the Cajun dry rub was good with the dipping sauce. The grits were creamy and delightful. My mom had the BLT and fried okra with the prosecco and pineapple juice. She enjoyed every bite. The music was great. I could see it being a cool spot at night with friends.

Food was a great take on southern comfort food…read more Great atmosphere with great music, some classic hits. Services was attentive. Appreciated their selection of mocktails.

Fiiiiiiire chicken wow, waffles too. Had a craving and this place absolutely satisfied it. Got the…read moreMaple Chipotle Chicken with Vanilla Glaze Waffles. WHAT A COMBO. The Maple Chipotle was insanely good and the chicken was still super crispy despite being sauced up.

This one honestly hurt my heart…read more.. Y'all... this review hurts my heart to write because I am a Sweet Chick fan. Not a "I tried it once" fan. A real fan. I've been going to Sweet Chick since there was only one location in Brooklyn. I was literally traveling from Jersey to Brooklyn just for the food, the drinks, and the experience, and I never minded doing it because it was always worth it. So when they opened the Ludlow Street location, I was excited because now I didn't have to make the trip to Brooklyn every time I wanted my chicken and waffles. Back then, Sweet Chick was an experience. They had the big specials board with rotating waffles, desserts, and seasonal items. Their chicken and waffles never missed. I honestly can't remember ever leaving disappointed. So this review is really hard for me. Back on June 26th, after work, my mom and I decided to grab dinner. I work in the LES, and she suggested Sweet Chick. I did tell her my brother Robert had gone recently and said it had changed a lot, but we figured we'd see for ourselves. We got there around 9-ish. The first thing we noticed... It was HOT. Not warm. Hot. Like, "why does it feel like a sauna in here?" hot. We've had enough hot weather this summer, so walking into a restaurant with little to no air conditioning was honestly uncomfortable. We actually debated leaving before we even ordered, but decided to stick it out. Unfortunately... it never got better. The service also wasn't what I remembered. I'm really big on customer service, and Sweet Chick has always had amazing service whenever I've gone. This time it just felt different. The attentiveness wasn't there, and the overall vibe just felt... off. Even the menu has changed. My mom used to love their kale salad, but now it's made differently with things like dates, and she wasn't interested in it anymore. For drinks, my mom ordered an espresso martini, and unfortunately she really didn't enjoy it. It was pretty bitter, and we couldn't quite figure out what was off about it. If I'm ordering an espresso martini, I have certain expectations, and this one just didn't hit for her. I ordered the Queen of New York, and I actually really enjoyed my drink. No complaints there. Now... the food. I ordered the Maple Chipotle Chicken & Sweet Potato Waffle. And this is where my heart really broke. Years ago, when they first introduced the sweet potato waffle as a special, I remember it actually tasting like sweet potato. This one... Honestly just tasted like a regular waffle. I kept looking for that sweet potato flavor, and it just wasn't there. The chicken itself was crispy and cooked well, but the maple chipotle sauce wasn't evenly coated. Some bites were really good, while other pieces were dry because they barely had any sauce on them. Another thing longtime Sweet Chick fans might notice is the butter service. I remember getting three or four different flavored butters, each in their own little container. This time we got two flavors together in one cup. It's a small thing, but it was one of those details that always made Sweet Chick feel special. My mom ordered the Carolina BBQ Chicken with the Grilled Corn Waffle. I'll be fair--her waffle absolutely tasted like a corn waffle. I tried it, and it was really good. She enjoyed her meal more than I did, although she also had a few pieces of chicken that weren't evenly coated with sauce and were a little dry. Overall, she thought it was okay. And I think that's really the word for this visit. Okay. Not terrible. But not the Sweet Chick we remembered. Maybe that's why this visit hit me so hard. When you've loved a place for years, you naturally compare it to what you know it can be. I genuinely hope this was just an off night because I have so many great memories here, and I'd honestly love to come back one day and have the Sweet Chick experience that made me fall in love with it in the first place. Because this restaurant has meant a lot to me over the years, and I'm rooting for it. I really am.

This was a revelation. It was extremely loud so that part was annoying, but man oh man the service…read morewas amazing and attentive, and the food was revelatory. Pasta is freshly made and you can tell. It was not a big eating night for us as we've been eating like a-holes for a month now. So we only got three things, but all three were absolute perfection.

Been wanting to try this southern pasta spot in WV for a while and finally had the chance to stop…read moreby for dinner. It's an interesting spot, split seating into two locations but single kitchen. Both seating spots are pretty small/intimate, so expect to get to know your neighbors! We did the pre fixe, so started with the sweet potatoes and hush puppies. The honey butter that comes with the hush puppies was the highlight, so delish but rich. Next the pastas: star of the night! We got the Miso Carbonara Tagliatelle and the Lamb Ragu Orecchiette. Miso carbonara was rich and scrumptious, umami bomb. I'm normally a cream sauce girlie over red, but the lamb ragu stole the show. Super tender chunks of lamb and the pasta was perfectly al dente. Incredible pastas! The mains were okay, pork chop was a bit too salty and the fried catfish was really underwhelming. Service is good, very friendly and efficient. Decor inside is cute too. I think I misordered, if i came back would def stick to the pastas and maybe try the fried chicken. They apparently have a pasta happy hour with half-off pastas, would come back for that.

I would love to give Melba's a higher rating, but it's just too inconsistent unfortunately. The…read morefood should be consistent. Consistent seasoning, flavors, and cook. The collard greens were just perfectly tangy and savory last week and this week they are bitter and spicy. There were red pepper flakes in it this time which weren't there last time. The Mac and cheese was dry and overcooked this week when last week it was PERFECT. The short rib last week was falling off the bone. This week it's so tough. It's not the first time I've felt like this. I took my parents to Melba's last year after initially loving my first experience with them. I had been talking Melba's up to them all week and we went and it was just so so. And we're from GA so we know our soul food. It was embarrassing. I personally feel that a restaurant's recipes should be consistent regardless of who's in the kitchen and especially when they charge so much.

First meal on this trip to New York!…read more I'm in New York for a week and was catching up with a friend who suggested we grab some soul food. I love me some chicken and waffles, so we decided to check out Melba's Restaurant, located at 300 W. 114th Street in Harlem. I thought the exterior was really cute, especially the nice awning. Inside, the restaurant has a very traditional, home-style feel, with lots of wood and warm brown tones. You can definitely feel the history of the place when you walk in. If you're driving, I would be a little cautious about parking. There was quite a bit of street cleaning happening, so make sure you pay close attention to the signs. I'd also recommend making a reservation if you can, especially depending on what time you visit, because the restaurant can get pretty busy. One thing I noticed about the seating is that it can be a little tight. Coming from Chicago, I'm not necessarily accustomed to the same kind of seating arrangements, and I have pretty broad shoulders, so I like having a little personal space. If you're seated at a smaller table, just be prepared for a more compact setup. My friend and I both ordered the chicken and waffles, and they were delicious! I have to give a lot of love to the waffle because it was cooked perfectly. I actually took some of it home, and surprisingly, it still tasted really good the next day. The chicken was also breaded really well. It wasn't overly seasoned, which I appreciated, it had just the right amount of flavor. Since I wanted to try some of their soul food, I also ordered the greens, and those were delicious as well. I washed everything down with a strawberry lemonade, which I really enjoyed. My friend got the sweet tea and loved that too. One thing to keep in mind: Melba's isn't really a full-on breakfast restaurant. They happen to have chicken and waffles, but if you're going there expecting a traditional breakfast menu with things like eggs and breakfast potatoes, you're not going to find a huge selection. Since I wanted something to complement my chicken and waffles, I ordered French fries instead. Overall, this was a really good first meal for my New York trip. The food was delicious, the staff were super accommodating, and the atmosphere had a lot of character. There were just a few small things keeping me from giving it a full five stars, but I would definitely recommend checking out Melba's if you're in Harlem. Solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I came here for dinner during the spring / summer and left me with amazing memories. I came with my…read moretwo close friends and we had such a good time. The staff was so well attentive and organized and also super friendly towards us and took care of us well! When i entered it reminds me of a friends house in old nostalgic fashion and I really enjoyed how intimate it feels! After we had some soju we quickly ordered and food came out pretty fast! We basically almost ordered everything! They're pretty small in dishes so it's perfect to share between 2-3 people. If you have more you'd probably need an extra plate. The popcorn chicken was super yummy and I love the styling they have for movie popcorn but it's chicken! Super cute and quirky way of serving this. Another fun quirky thing is that they put the toast roll in a little egg roll bag that says c as in Charlie which was super fun. This was actually their take on an egg/spring roll and it was SO YUM. The salmon crudo was fresh and yummy - simple but cute! I like that they use mayo and simple seasoning for this as it is well needed amongst the heavily seasoned popcorn chicken and toast roll. We also had the ricotta toast during this time and that was pretty good too. For mains we ordered oxtail cream pasta and the Salisbury steak which was pretty good! I definitely liked the oxtail cream pasta better but one of my Korean friends who come here often is obsessed with the Salisbury steak. In the end of the meal you only really have two options for dessert and the fun option is the b as in banana! We got to draw on it and it was a super fun time with friends. They were busy but they don't kick people out which I love because it's hard to leave. All the dishes were super fun and promising I think this place doesn't scream Michelin in food but it's Michelin in soul!

My friend heard good things about C as in Charlie and wanted to try it, so the three of us made a…read morereservation a couple Mondays ago. It's a Korean and Southern fusion restaurant where each dish is roughly tapas-sized. The interior is on the smaller side, but it felt warm and intimate. Our server took our orders quickly, and we even got complimentary sake shots before our food came out. I'm a bit of a lightweight, so I was already feeling a teeny bit woozy a few minutes later. Between the three of us, we shared five tapas: FLUKE CEVICHE - 17 Five pieces of fluke swimming in leche de tigre (a citrusy sauce), along with diced tomatoes and pickled onions. The fluke was firm and light in flavor, which contrasted nicely with the bright marinade and pungent onions. This was fine, but not the most memorable ceviche I've had. POPCORN CHICKEN - 17 The popcorn chicken is one of their most popular tapas, and it was a favorite among our table. The chicken was freshly made -- crispy, juicy, sweet, and saucy. My only qualm was that it was a little too sweet, although my friends didn't seem to mind. OXBONE CREAM PASTA - 16 This was a pretty standard white-sauce pasta. I'm not entirely sure where the oxbone comes into play (maybe in the sauce) but it wasn't prominent enough for us to notice. Still, it was creamy and addictive, with generous amounts of bacon and scallion that added plenty of flavor. MUSHROOM BIBIMBAP - 18 This was easily my favorite tapa. The bibimbap was incredibly umami-forward and loaded with different varieties of mushrooms. The poached egg on top was the cherry on top, adding even more creaminess. I'd highly recommend this if you love mushrooms. SEOUL'SBURY STEAK - 16 The hamburger steak itself was just okay and pretty forgettable, but as a huge fan of grits, I loved the grits. They were made with gruyere, which made them rich and cheesy. Overall, the food was pretty good, and nothing we ordered was bad. The pasta and bibimbap were definitely the highlights for me, although I wouldn't say any of the dishes were particularly mind-blowing. C as in Charlie might actually be more memorable for its sheer amount of randomness. At some point during dinner, I went to use the bathroom and noticed a video projected onto the wall. It showed a guy sitting on a 90s-style sofa surrounded by 90s-style decor, casually reciting... numbers. While I was already a little buzzed from the sake, I sat there wondering why I was hearing, "1759... 1777... 1783..." until it finally clicked. They were all prime numbers. So there I was, slightly tipsy, sitting in a restaurant bathroom listening to a random man reciting prime numbers on a wall. I have no idea what the artistic vision was here, but I suppose it succeeded in being memorable.

I was craving some soul food and was very happy to try this place out! We came here during a cold…read moreweekend lunch and there weren't many people at the restaurants. They have a few booster seats around the sides of the room and it mainly seemed like a take-out place. We ordered a large oxtail with a side of baked mac & cheese and collard greens and it was delicious. We shared it between two people and we almost couldn't finish it. The oxtail basically fell off the bone and was very tender and flavorful. I like the mac & cheese as well although I wish there was more cheese as it felt a bit carb heavy. But the real star was the collard greens which were incredibly tender and soaked up all the meat juices it was marinated in. Will definitely be back to try more items!

Food is delicious and clearly made with care! I've ordered multiple times and have never been…read moredisappointed.

You can't go to Harlem and not get some soul food, and Sylvia's did NOT disappoint…read more I went with the meatloaf, collard greens, mac & cheese, and potato salad, and the whole plate was hitting. The meatloaf was tender and the sauce was , the greens were seasoned right, and the mac & cheese was exactly what I wanted it to be. Even the potato salad held its own. Nothing fancy or trying too hard. Just really, REALLY good comfort food from a Harlem institution. I'd absolutely come back. Palate don't lie. ‍

@sylvias is a nice classic spot for some good soul food! It's been around since the 1960s. I got…read morethe mac and cheese, rice, and catfish which were all delicious! Everything was tasty and flavorful. Their corn bread was divine as well as their peach cobbler! Service was quick and efficient, we were seated quickly and our food also came out quickly. The server also suggested certain things and gave good suggestions. They said to get the cat fish instead of the other fish dish, since the other fish would have bones. This place is busy, but there is plenty of seating available and this place is huge. It was kind of hard to track down the waiter for the check, since it gets busier later in the evening. Sylvia also has her own sauce which they served, and that you can also find in supermarkets. Price: $30-40 Rating: 8.5/10