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Tavern on the Green

Opening Hours
Today: 11am–9pm
Wed:
11am–9pm
Thurs:
11am–9pm
Fri:
11am–11pm
Sat:
10am–11pm
Sun:
10am–9pm
Mon:
11am–9pm
Location
67th Street and Central Park West
Tavern on the Green 1 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side

Tavern on the Green, a restaurant that opened in 1934, has not forgotten its origins as a home to the ewes and rams that grazed in Sheep Meadow. Images of sheep are everywhere - carved into the fireplace, decorating the menu, holding up the table in the lobby.

In 2010, the building ceased to be a restaurant for a brief stint, serving instead as a visitor's center and gift shop. After being taken over by partners, Jim Caiola and David Salama, and a lengthy renovation, the Tavern made a culinary return with a rustic and seasonal menu. I have eaten here on a number of occasions since its debut in the spring of 2014, but strolling in and out of the various rooms with members of the Manhattan Sideways team was a whole different experience. None had ever been, and I was amused and pleased with their reactions to this iconic Central Park locale.

The Tavern contains three main areas. In the front dining room, the vast space resembles a summer hunting lodge. A large, circular bar takes up the center with a rotating carousel of gilded horses above it, and mammoth roof beams run along the ceiling like an old mead hall. Separated from the outdoors by a large glass wall, the second dining area is far more modern with creams, ivories and a collection of glass chandeliers. And though it was a hot day, a few brave souls ate outside in the exterior dining space, under umbrellas and large, mid-century street-lamps.

The other side of the building features a beer garden with its own menu of simple bar fare. Finally, for the thousands of people who jog, bike or are simply wandering in the park, there is now a delightful little take-away window called "Green-to-Go." It offers both a breakfast and lunch menu, and tables to sit down, relax and enjoy either a cup of coffee, a bowl of oatmeal, or a variety of wraps and salads in the afternoon. If nothing else, it is a terrific spot to watch both tourists and New Yorkers passing by.

Location
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Tavern on the Green 1 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 2 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 3 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 4 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 5 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 22 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 23 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 24 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 6 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 7 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 8 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 9 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 10 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 11 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 12 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 13 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 14 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 15 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 16 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 17 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 18 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 19 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 20 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side
Tavern on the Green 21 American Brunch Lincoln Square Midtown West Upper West Side

More American nearby

Lost Gem
The Ribbon 1 American undefined

The Ribbon

I walked into Ribbon, the new dining experience from Bruce and Eric Bromberg, on their "friends and family night" and was immediately impressed. One of the waiters, Alex Bar-av, explained to me the history of the building. It used to be the Hotel Franconia, built in the 1920s by Arnold Rothstein, a famous Jewish gangster best remembered for "fixing" the 1919 World Series. The Hotel Franconia became known as the only place where people could drink openly during the Prohibition, since Rothstein paid off the cops. To celebrate this quirky heritage, Ribbon's 200 seat restaurant has a private room called the "Arnold Rothstein Room. " Softly glowing cases of whiskey bottles on the walls add to the speakeasy-like feeling in the dark-wood room while also highlighting Ribbon's expansive whiskey collection (there are ninety-five types of whiskey on the menu). When I returned to the restaurant as an invited guest a few days later, Alex took me to see the darkened strip on the floor underneath a row of tables where the old bar used to be. He explained that when they gutted the space, the builders found the Hotel Franconia's original wood floor. The faded frescoes on the wall, now covered in glass, are also from the 1924 hotel. Alex is not alone in his in-depth knowledge. He told me that the employees are constantly being quizzed on their ability to give the facts to customers, not just about the food, but about Ribbon's story. Since my personal visits with Alex, I have had several terrific dinners at Ribbon, but it was especially nice when I came by with the Manhattan Sideways team and Alex brought out a collection of dishes for us to try. Laying them on tables made of repurposed wood from a Brooklyn warehouse floor, he served us a sextet of different kinds of deviled eggs, each with its own taste sensation, and a white bean hummus. The cauliflower covered in spicy buffalo sauce was my personal favorite. It is no surprise that the food is as good as it is, given that the Bromberg Brothers have twenty years of success in the culinary world behind them. "They know what they're doing, " Alex smiled. I mentioned to the others that I had not seen the cauliflower on the menu before, and Alex quickly chimed in to say that the menu has changed since the restaurant first opened. "We take customer feedback very seriously, " Alex shared, explaining that the food offerings were adjusted according to diners' comments. Ribbon is also known for a great raw bar, their fried chicken served only on Sundays and Mondays, their prime rib, and their hamburgers. Alex emphasized that this is a family friendly place. Despite the great skill of the staff, he pointed out that Ribbon is not considered "fine" dining. Instead, he referred to the restaurant as "elevated dining. "

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