If you want chicken and waffles, you have to go to Harlem, and you have to go to Amy Ruth’s. Amy Ruth’s Restaurant is located right off the 116th stop from the 2/3 train on 116th and Lenox/Malcom X Avenue.
Amy Ruth’s Restaurant is open 24 hours on the weekends and closes around 11pm on the weekdays. But if you come at 10:30pm on a Monday (they close at 11pm) you might get some rude service. When I’ve come and dined for brunch I’ve always had pretty good service so lets just hope last night was just an off night, with one off lady. (I would recommend coming for brunch just for their amazing biscuits alone).
For our late night eats, we ordered The Rev. Al Sharpton Chicken & Waffles, The Larry Dais Waffles with Boneless Rib-Eye Steak, Cheesy Grits, The Inez Bass Red Velvet Cake, and Sweet Tea. (Yes, these are their real names).
You have the option of getting fried or smothered chicken with The Rev. I’ve had both, and recommend the smothered. The Rev. was by far my favorite part of our feast and probably the best smothered chicken I’ve had in a long time. A close second was the dessert, Red Velvet Cake, a little darker in color with really good frosting.
Since they were out of Mac n Cheese, we ordered the Cheesy Grits. It was my first time having Cheesy Grits, and it was just cheddar on grainy oatmeal so I wasn’t that impressed. The Sweet Tea was way too sweet and had to be diluted with lemonade. And I don’t recommend the Larry Dais Waffles, the Rib-Eye Steak looked suspiciously like it was grilled in a waffle maker. (It had the waffle maker grill marks and everything).
So if you’re craving Chicken & Waffles, stick with the Chicken & Waffles. Get it smothered, try a slice of their red velvet, and don’t come 30 minutes before closing. And do read the cute story about Amy Ruth on the menu, she’s like the Southern grandma you never had and she loves Jesus.
