Pre-Covid Sylvia's restaurant in Harlem overflowed with energy. If you wanted fried chicken from The Queen of Soul Food you often found yourself waiting hours for a table or takeout because of how busy it was. If you were lucky enough to get a seat inside, the atmosphere was magical. The hums of upbeat jazz, happy waiters, sounds of sizzles from the kitchen, and smell of fresh fried chicken and collard greens filled the slightly outdated space. The experience of eating at Sylvia's was one to remember and kept people coming back for more.
It was hard to imagine that a place like Sylvia's could ever close or be less busy than it was pre-covid and we were not let down when we turned the corner of 127th street and a line wrapped around the exterior of the restaurant. Groups of people waited outside fanning themselves, laughing, talking, as they waited to place their order. Indoor dining was not happening, only self-serve tables set up under a tarp that was set up under the famous lit Sylvia's sign. The line was so long that Lily and I decided to order online and go interview people and explore Harlem as we waited. About 45 minutes later we were not disappointed when our garlic mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and fried chicken was ready. We sat down, surprisingly a table was open, and finished our food in about 2 minutes. It did not disappoint, The Queen of Soul Food most definitely did not lose her touch throughout the pandemic. Although the vibes and atmosphere were a bit different seeing as you weren't being served at your table, there was no music playing in the background, and no gentle hums coming from the kitchen, you could tell that given the circumstances the restaurant was doing well.
This project is about looking at New York City through a different lense because of the pandemic, and exploring the effects of it. Although Sylvia's is a bit different now, it still has its charm and delicious food. Sylvia's will always be The Queen of Soul Food, whether there is a pandemic or not.
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