New York quintessential food is back

This month, Gotham Restaurant (formerly Gotham Bar and Grill) began welcoming guests for Saturday lunch and Sunday brunch for the first time since reopening in November 2021.

This elegant dining spot, a perennial New York City favorite, closed its doors during the throes of the pandemic in March 2020, with an uncertain future at best.

But the iconic dining room—a West Village dining spot for 36 years—has made an amazing revival with a name change, new ownership, updated menu, and reimagined space.

Neo Gotham Kitchen

Executive Chef Ron Paprocki (former pastry chef at Gotham Bar & Grill) now runs the kitchen.

“Everything on the menu at this Gotham restaurant is original other than the Ron Apple Tarte Tatin, which we feature every fall and winter,” Brett Csencsitz (co-owner of the new restaurant, along with environmentalist Kevin Conrad) says in an interview.

Notably, both Csencsitz and Paprocki are part of Gotham’s original DNA. Csencsitz has been a member of the original team since 2007 and a managing partner. He previously worked with Chef Daniel Boulud at Daniel Restaurant & Café Boulud.

The new menu emphasizes fresh, high-quality, sustainable ingredients that vary with the season. The dishes are not only delicious but also artistically plated.

“We focus on vegetables and seafood in the spring and move on to heartier dishes, like steak or lamb, in the fall and winter,” says Csencsitz.

“Some of our specials remind us of old favourites,” he adds. “For example, we have a long-standing relationship with Niman Ranch and often feature dry-aged steaks. Gotham’s famous flourless chocolate cake also appears from time to time as a dessert option.”

A guest favorite on the summer menu is the classic panzanella salad prepared with heirloom tomatoes from Hermans Farms in upstate New York, a fusion of fresh flavors and textures.

Fresh decor in a Gotham restaurant

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