The world is finally catching up to what Harlem already knew.
Melba Wilson — the woman behind Melba's Restaurant, the soul food institution that's fed everyone from neighborhood regulars to royals — is taking her story to the screen. Her journey is being adapted into a scripted comedy for Apple TV+, written by Kenya Barris, produced by Oprah Winfrey, and starring Danielle Brooks.
For the EatOkra community, this moment hits different. At our inaugural Culinary Creatives Conference, Melba took the stage and gave us the kind of gems we'll never forget:
"I had a dollar and a dream. I am born, bread and buttered in the village of Harlem. My family's from South Carolina. My grandmother saved money under her mattress. My mother saved money under her mattress. God, what do you think I did? Saved money under my mattress. Started counting and counting and counting..."
This is what it looks like when the culture invests in itself. Congratulations, Melba!
Find Melba's on EatOkra
Melba's Restaurant has been a fixture on EatOkra since day one, and if you haven't been, consider this your sign.
Melba's Restaurant
300 W 114th St
New York NY, 10026
American (Traditional) • Soul Food
Melba's has called the corner of 300 W. 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard home since 2005 — the very block she name-checked on our stage. Over two decades, it's become a landmark not just to Harlemites but to the world at large, hosting everyone from Mariah Carey and Zendaya to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The menu is rooted in the food Melba grew up on — handed-down favorites from her South Carolina grandmother: wine-braised short ribs, catfish po' boys, the requisite chicken and waffles, and sides like black-eyed peas and collard greens. One dish you need to order is the Signature Fried Chicken & Eggnog Waffles.
Find Melba's on the EatOkra app, add it to your collection, and, above all, be sure to visit. The show hasn't even dropped yet — but the food and unmatched experience are available right now!
