Sometimes I just want a down-home hearty meal for a handful of dollars. Good luck finding that in Manhattan, right? Not so fast. When I’m in the mood to settle in for a high-calorie feast of soulful comfort food, I join the crowds of Harlem locals and tourists from around the world for a dinner at Sylvia’s.

I’ve tried a lot of menu items, like the ribs, grilled catfish, and smothered porkchop, but my go-to sides are almost always collared greens and black-eyed peas. You get a choice of two with every entree, and sometimes they’re the best thing on the plate. I always pair my food with a crisp Sugar Hill Golden Ale from local brewery Harlem Brewing Company and ask for a bottle of Sylvia’s hot sauce to spice things up.

For something special, get up early on Sundays and hit the gospel brunch. I love strolling through Harlem before the rest of the city wakes up. This beautiful neighborhood is easy to love any time of day, but there’s something about a mellow weekend morning. The payoff is a seat at Sylvia’s for their famous Sunday event.