"We can’t decide what we like better at Amy Ruth’s, an anchor of 116th Street since 1998: the murals covering every square inch of their walls, or their fried chicken. The murals include folks like President Obama, Muhammad Ali, Eddie Murphy, and Whitney Houston, and you’ll find these icons all over the menu too—with different combos named after them. But that menu also happens to have some of the best fried chicken we’ve tried across the city. photo credit: Noah Devereaux If you’re looking for the most lively of the Big Three soul food restaurants in Harlem, Amy Ruth’s can’t quite compete with the brunch scene at Melba’s or Sylvia’s. But we actually think the food here is most consistent, led by that juicy brined chicken, contained within a thin yet crisp shell. The chicken is even better atop a light, crunchy waffle, doused with maple syrup—go to Amy Ruth’s with a large group so you can experience it both ways, and not have to make any hard decisions. It’s also relatively easier to get a table here than some of the other spots on a busy weekend afternoon, and the spacious restaurant is great for kids who need to run around after housing a basket of free cornbread. Food Rundown photo credit: Will Hartman Fried Shrimp Served with tartar sauce, this is a great little starter. The shrimp are nicely seasoned, plump, and a good precursor to the rest of the fried food you’ll eat later in the meal. photo credit: Will Hartman Fried Chicken A visit to Amy Ruth’s is incomplete without crushing at least one piece of fried chicken. Whether you order the Rev. Al Sharpton (chicken and waffles) or President Barack Obama (two pieces of fried chicken with two sides), you’ll get their perfectly crunchy, barely-breaded chicken. It’s some of our favorite in the city, and it’s an absolute must-order. Smothered Pork Chops The smothered pork chops, which are basically chicken-fried pork chops covered in brown gravy, are just as good, though they require a bit of tricky knife-work to get all the meat off the bone. The gravy is savory and rich, and the breading does a great job of soaking it up while remaining crisp. Sides A lot of the plates at Amy Ruth’s come with two sides, and while the mac and cheese was a little sweet for our taste, the greens and black eyed peas are worth focusing on. If you’re getting either smothered chicken or a smothered pork chop, get the cheesy grits, and spoon over any leftover gravy. photo credit: Will Hartman Banana Pudding You might think that after a giant meal at Amy Ruth’s, you won’t have room for dessert. You should still get the banana pudding." - Will Hartman
