New York City: Gramercy Tavern

It had been on my culinary bucket list for a long time, but I never quite managed to eat there. So when I found myself with 24 hours to myself in NYC, staying in the Flatiron District, & wandering the streets looking for dinner, I knew where I was headed when I peaked my head around the corner of Park & 20th: Gramercy Tavern.

Knowing I’d never get a table at 7pm on a Friday night, I squeezed my way through fashionable New Yorkers to the crowded bar & put my name on the waiting list to grab a seat for dinner at the bar. As I stood & nursed my Orange Blossom cocktail (sparkling wine, St. Germain Elderflower, orange bitters), I noticed the beauty of this American tavern. Huge murals line the walls & dark wood warmed the restaurant.

Finally, it was my turn. Kevin, my clean cut, all-American bartender, got me all set up & handed me the tavern menu. Lucky for me, (at least when I was there) Gramercy Tavern has a special craft beer tasting menu. Clearly I had no choice but to order it! The courses started arriving, along with mini-draft beer pairings. A pickled oyster amuse bouche (my first ever oyster!). Shrimp & mussels. Chicken sausage. Duck meatloaf (I don’t even like meatloaf!). A dark beer “root beer float.”

All of it amazing! Fresh, wonderfully prepared & living up to Gramercy Tavern’s well-deserved reputation of awesomeness. And the bread – can we talk about the bread? It is legendary. Crusty on the outside, spongy & soft on the inside. Maybe the best restaurant bread I’ve ever had.

As I walked out of the restaurant, a New York saunter in my step & an extremely full stomach, I smiled as I strolled back up Park Ave. I had finally checked something off my culinary bucket list… & it had been worthy every penny spent to do so.