SYLVIA’S RESTAURANT, New York City (Reviews & Photos)

After a first visit on a saturday, we were invited by someone from the staff to the gospel sunday. We were interested because the food had been good and we would like to see a gospel performance. When we arrived it was clear that there…were no seats left. But the nice lady at the counter wrote my name down and my phone number. We had to wait 45 minutes but it could be shorter. After an half hour we saw two people who were just before us on the reservation list going in. We waited 25 more minutes but we didn’t receive a text. And we also noticed people behind us entering. One couple had the same issue as us and had a discussion with the host. He claimed that their names were not on his list. They argued with him until he let them enter so they could discuss it with the lady who had written their names down. I told the host we had the same issue. He also didn’t find my name on the list. Then he proceeded to tell me that I could ‘t enter to discuss the issue with the lady who had written my name down. For him it was as if we didn’t make a reservation. I didn’t feel like starting a fight so we just left. But clearly there is something wrong with the reservation system of this restaurant. How can one person write my name down, even ask me to spell it, promise me that I could enter in 45 minutes and another person acting as if I was never there before, and I didn’t make a reservation. I am not insane, why would I be standing there, waiting, without a reservation… The weird thing about it is also that the host didn’t recognise me and wouldn’t let me enter, while he was standing next to the girl who wrote my name down in the beginning. So he saw me making the reservation. Is he face blind? Was he sleeping?

I am not angry at the restaurant because its very popular and it can be confusing when so many people want to enter, but please fix your reservation system. We walked five meters and entered the Red Rooster. They had a very clear reservation system. And the food was also very good. It would be a shame that you would loose all your clients to another restaurant.
And also, if you are full, just say that you are full. That is much easier and less frustrating. Now you keep people waiting for 1 hour or more to then tell them they can not enter. I had time but I could imagine this infuriates other people.