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Home > Restaurants > Bridge Café

Bridge Café

Critic's Pick Critics' Pick

279 Water St., New York, NY 10038
at Dover St.  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-227-3344 Send to Phone

  • Price Range: $$$

    Key to Prices and ratings

    Upscale
    • Almost Perfect
    • Exceptional
    • Generally Excellent
    • Very Good
    • Good
    Cheap Eats
    • Best in Category
    • Excellent
    • Delicious
    • Very Good
    • Noteworthy
    • Very Expensive
    • Expensive
    • Moderate
    • Cheap
  • Reader Rating:

    8.5 out of 10

      |  

    2 Reviews | Write a Review

  • Cuisine: American Nouveau, Eclectic/Global
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Photo by Shanna Ravindra

Official Website

eatgoodinny.com

Hours

Sun-Mon, 11:45am-10pm; Tue-Thu, 11:45am-11pm; Fri, 11:45am-midnight; Sat, 5pm-midnight

Nearby Subway Stops

2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, M, Z at Fulton St.-Broadway/Nassau

Prices

$22-$32

Payment Methods

American Express, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

  • Bar Scene
  • Brunch - Weekend
  • Classic NY
  • Good for Groups
  • Lunch
  • Notable Wine List
  • Romantic

Alcohol

  • Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

Profile

The oldest surviving tavern in New York and one-time home to a brothel, the Bridge Café is located in a simple wood-frame building erected in 1794. Although times have changed and the Brooklyn Bridge has since been built next door, the old speakeasy continues to thrive thanks to a modern mix of eclectic American entrées. The uniformly excellent menu includes standouts like a tender buffalo steak with lingonberry sauce. — Sandra Nygaard

Recommended Dishes

Calamari with spicy tomato aioli, $9; buffalo steak, $28

8.5 "Highly Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10		 Write Your Own Review
100% Would you go back?
100% Would you take a date?
0% Would you take kids?
50% Would you go on business?
100% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 9.0
Service: 8.5
Décor: 9.5
Value: 9.0

ambience

Francisxmc from 11361 | Posted on 1/3/09

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)
Food: 8
Service: 8
Décor: 10
Value: 9

The food and service are very good. Almost more inportant is the building's spectacular history. Food and drink have been served here since 1794 thus making it the oldest drinking establishent in New York City. This history includes time spent as a hangout for waterfront pirates; at least two 19th century murders; several decades as a sailors' dance hall and brothel, and several police raids for various transgressions. All this has been verified. Ask to see their printed history

Fantastic!

dogfish from | Posted on 12/20/05

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Food: 10
Service: 9
Décor: 9
Value: 9

I was taken to the Bridge Cafe by my folks and I expected it to be for the older set; I was way wrong. Young to middle age crowed, good looking. Treated like we were VIP's. This place made me feel like I was with the Queen of England. No just my mother. Anyway,I have been back with my Girlfriend for her birthday and now it is a weekly treat. Great food, great wine list and the wait-staff knows our name and gets us "our" table! The ribeye is my fav and my girlfriend gets the hanger stake or special fish when she is being healthy. The Bridge Cafe is a treat!

Read All 2 Reviews >>

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