"This Harlem soul food institution is so iconic that a street at the end of the sprawling restaurant’s block is named after its founder. Try to get an indoor seat, so you can admire the framed photos of everyone from Obama and Clinton to Grandmaster Flash while devouring a basket of their warm cornbread. It’s really more about the vibe than the food here—though the waffles topped with chicken or fried catfish are excellent—and the very liveliest time to visit is on Sundays during gospel brunch. Make a reservation or be prepared to wait. Free cornbread, waffle with fried chicken, bbq pork ribs, collard greens, mac and cheese" - molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, bryan kim, sonal shah