Sylla

"This Ivorian restaurant on 117th Street, in the shadow of the elevated Metro North tracks, serves some incredible West African food in a casual setting. The place is pared down, with steel high-top tables, red brick walls and musical instruments strung up at random, but the dishes are prepared with a lot of care. While we especially like the kedjenou with guinea fowl, all of the stews are layered with complex flavors like chile, black pepper or smoked fish. A gooey ball of plakali complements them perfectly. Also order a side of alloco—sweet plantains, chopped small, with a spicy red sauce. The whole menu is worth exploring, and it’s a good option for takeout or a weeknight meal. " - neha talreja, sonal shah, hannah albertine

"Sylla serves incredible West African food in an understated room below the Metro North tracks in East Harlem. Grab a stainless steel high top, drink some Vimto, and delve into the stews first—they're complex and layered, weaving together ingredients like hot chiles, black pepper, and smoked fish. We especially like the kedjenou, a guinea fowl stew, which is perfect for a cold day along with a gooey ball of plakali. Grilled dishes like a whole fish or dibi mouton make substantial, satisfying weeknight meals, and you should always get a side of alloco: sweet plantains, chopped small, and served with a spicy red sauce. If you find yourself needing more ordering advice, the Ivorian owner will happily help you out." - Sonal Shah