For authentic, homestyle Southern fare, you don't have to head to the Deep South. Chef Carl Redding opened this casual, cozy Harlem restaurant as a tribute to his Alabama grandmother, Amy Ruth, who taught him real Southern cooking. Dishes are named after prominent African Americans, like The Rev. Al Sharpton (fried chicken and waffles), The Ludicris (fried chicken wings), and The C. Virginia Fields (country bread pudding), and pack in crowds of both locals and tourists alike.

Amy Ruth's Information:

• Southern menu. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Casual attire.