The River Café (Brooklyn)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The River Café is a Michelin starred restaurant located on a former coffee barge in the East River under the Brooklyn Bridge.[1] It opened in June of 1977 after twelve years of obtaining permits and other prep work, and owner Michael "Buzzy" O'Keeffe also operates other venues including Manhattan's Water Club.[2] [3] While early reviews of their food were mixed, the restaurant was one of the first in the city to promote high-end California wines when many were limiting their menus in French wines.[4][5]

While staff such as the wine director stayed for more than forty years, the restaurant is known for incubating American chefs, including Larry Forgione, Charlie Palmer, David Burke and .[2][6][1][7]

The restaurant was heavily damaged due to Hurricane Sandy and re-opened in February 2014 with a change in its wine focus.[8][3][4] Long before DUMBO/Fulton Ferry was accessible via NYC Ferry, the restaurant offered a house ferry from Wall Street.[5] Despite changes to the dining industry as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, The River Cafe remains a dress code of jackets required.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Miller, Bryan (31 July 2017). "View From the River Café: 40 Years of Feasts and Firsts". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b Schrambling, Regina (29 August 2001). "The Restaurant That Launched a Thousand Chefs". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b Wells, Pete (20 May 2014). "An Old Flame Reignited". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b Bellafante, Ginia (10 November 2012). "At River Café, a Loss of the Finer Things". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b Greene, Gaele (13 April 1981). New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. p. 60. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  6. ^ Asimov, Eric (10 September 2020). "After 43 Years, the Wine Sentinel of the River Café Stands Down". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  7. ^ Grimes, William (13 February 2002). "RESTAURANTS; A Magnet for Lovers, And Chefs, Too". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  8. ^ Asimov, Eric (27 February 2014). "A Storm Washes Away Old Ideas on Wine". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  9. ^ Gallagher, Jacob (21 June 2021). "'Jacket Required' No More? How the Pandemic Changed Dress Codes - WSJ". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.

External links[]

Coordinates: 40°42′14″N 73°59′41″W / 40.70389°N 73.99472°W / 40.70389; -73.99472

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