River Café (Brooklyn)
River Café | |
---|---|
Restaurant information | |
Established | 1977 |
Head chef | Brad Steelman |
City | New York City |
State | New York |
Country | United States |
Coordinates | 40°42′13.28″N 73°59′41.47″W / 40.7036889°N 73.9948528°WCoordinates: 40°42′13.28″N 73°59′41.47″W / 40.7036889°N 73.9948528°W |
Website | www |
The River Café is a restaurant located in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, in New York City. The building was founded in 1977 by Michael O’Keefe, who also owns The Water Club in Manhattan.[1] Past chefs include David Burke, Larry Forgione, and Charlie Palmer. As of 2017, chef Brad Steelman had been there for 17 years.[2] The restaurant has been reviewed twice by the New York Times and received two stars both times.[3][4]
Hurricane Sandy[]
The restaurant is located on an underwater pier in the East River[5] and was damaged by flooding during Hurricane Sandy.[1] The damage included corroded wire, lost food and wine, and the destruction of antiques and a piano. Walls also needed replacement after the storm due to mold.[6] The restaurant was closed for over a year while being repaired, despite hopes that it would open either on the anniversary of the storm or around Thanksgiving in 2013.[7]
Criticism[]
In 2012, the restaurant was accused of discriminating against Jewish patrons.[8] Workers alleged that reservationists were instructed to alert the maître d'hôtel if Hasidic clients requested a seat at the restaurant's main bar using the phrase "Is there space for two at the water bar?". An employee denied these claims. However, the New York Post sent a Hasidic couple and two reporters to the restaurant to see if the minimum would be enforced for both pairs. The Hasidic couple was charged a minimum, while the reporters were not.[8]
References[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to River Café (Brooklyn). |
- ^ a b Satran, Joe (30 October 2012). "River Cafe, Flooded By Storm Surge, One Of Many NYC Restaurants Hit Hard By Hurricane Sandy". Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Miller, Bryan (31 July 2017). "View From the River Café: 40 Years of Feasts and Firsts". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Wells, Pete (20 May 2014). "An Old Flame Reignited". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Grimes, William (13 February 2002). "RESTAURANTS; A Magnet for Lovers, And Chefs, Too". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Miller, Bryan (31 July 2017). "View From the River Café: 40 Years of Feasts and Firsts". The New York Times. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
- ^ Bellafante, Gina (9 November 2012). "At River Café, a Loss of the Finer Things". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Fabricant, Florence (17 December 2013). "River Café Opens Again After Hurricane Sandy". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ a b Karni, Annie (21 October 2012). "DUMBO restaurant The River Cafe discriminates against Jews: workers". The New York Post. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- 1977 establishments in New York City
- Restaurants established in 1977
- Restaurants in Brooklyn
- Brooklyn Bridge Park