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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Financial DistrictOur Traditional Thanksgiving Day Menu. http://bridgecafenyc.c...
Announced 1 week agoFulton St-Broadway-Nassau (2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, M, Z)
Chambers-Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (4, 5, 6, J, M, Z)
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I love places with history and this place has a lot of it. It was Ed Koch's favorite establishment when he was Mayor. The food is 5 stars for sure. The wine list is excellent (all American wines) and 30% off on Mondays. Their whisky selection is massive and offers tastes for relatively cheap.
The Bridge Cafe people know what they're doing and they do it well.
I hate restaurants like this. You find them, you fall in love with them, you decide to go on Yelp to share the tip and discover that there are already 55 other people who love the place just as much as you and had as amazing meals as you...
So, I won't talk about how it is hidden down at the end of the block, or that the building is 200 years old, with a secret tunnel in the basement that may actually go as far as Penn station...
And, I won't talk about how the Buffalo Burgers, Lamb and Gnocchi are all out of this world.
Or that the team of anorexic eastern European waitresses are all actually incredibly nice and professional.
Instead, I think the thing to focus on is Adam. A few reviews have mentioned him already, but I really think he makes this place. The restaurant has been in his family for I don't know how many years, and he clearly loves it in his soul.
He is friendly, warm, funny and immediately makes you feel like you are a part of the family business.
However, he is also an incredibly savvy restauranteur. He watches carefully to make sure you are having a great experience, and doesn't hesitate to throw you a free (incredible) carrot cake or key lime pie, if you look anything less than delighted.
He is a delight to chat with and the Bridge Cafe is truly a delight to dine at. One of my favorites in the city.
There is a reason this place has been in business for 200+ years.... and I'm sure it's not because the chef is that old. Maybe they add a bottle of whiskey to the menu for each year they are open (yes maybe I'll ask next time). They have EVERY whiskey imaginable here. Although it is the last thing on earth I would put into my body, I appreciate the unique touch it gives to this ancient cafe.
The food is healthy, refreshing, and delicious! It's very veggie-friendly and has a solid variety of meat and seafood dishes. The fried oysters are... amazing. The wine list is also good... they have a nice selection of Zinfandels, which so many restaurants skip out on... do people not know how awesome this wine is??
If you are from out of town and your parents are coming to visit. Bring them here.
It feels like someplace I used to go to in the mountains of my grandparents hometown upstate. (Funny, they have a whiskey from there too!!!!)
I dig, I dig.
i'd give the food a 4
the service a 3.12345
and the history factor a 5
i'm a history nerd, so this is why i came. in that aspect its pretty rad to think of how old the place is and all that good stuff. but the food is not enough to make you want to go back, and at times the service was enough to make you want to leave. go for a decently priced meal, atmosphere, and history and you will be satisfied.
Tucked away in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, this was a great find! Many interesting things on the menu, I went for the Buffalo Burger, however, buffalo steak is what I got. The manager acted at the right time, offering to give me the steak at the same price as the burger. A heck of a deal, and I'm actually glad about the mixup! My new meal was great, and I got a glass of house Pinot Noir to go with it.
The manager came over and spoke with my wife and I for a couple of minutes during desert, and was very friendly, trading stories about working in resturaunts. A great place for a quiet evening, can't wait to go back again!
If you're looking for tourists, you definitely won't find them here! Bridge Cafe is so out-of-the-way on a seemingly devoid-of-businesses block, that one would never think to wander down here to find such good food! I think they need to put up a big, glowing sign though so it's easier to find. I wandered around looking lost and hungry (lol) for a bit before finally finding it. ;-p
I tasted the following:
Soft shell crab - It can be ordered as an appetizer or main dish. It had an amazing sauce with lemon, butter, scallions, and some other flavors I couldn't pinpoint, but it was wonderful!
Mussels appetizer - served in a really scrumptions, tomato-based sauce with chunks of andouille sausage. Once you eat the mussels, you're left with a bowl of delicious soup! ;-p
Striped bass - Perfectly cooked in a citrus-based sauce. Served with a generous serving of asparagus (I substitued veggies for the potatoes it normally would've come with so I could save room for dessert!).
Lamb chops - Very tender and nicely seasoned served with chunky mashed potatoes and sweet fried plantains (otherwise known as maduros... the true way to my heart! haha..). Delicious!
Fresh fruit plate - I love fruit, and this was a beautifully sliced and arranged medley of apples, pears, strawberries, blueberries, and other colorful pieces of "nature's candy." :)
Did you think that was the only dessert I was gonna get?! ;-p I think not! haha... Finally, my date and I shared the...
Warm chocolate indulgence - It was your standard, circular, rich, molten, oozy-centered, chocolate dessert. It was very tasty and served warm as it's name indicates. I do however prefer my oozy chocolate desserts served more towards being hot. I somehow still managed to eat all of my half though! ;-p It was also served with ice cream and a long, curled, dark chocolate stick. That's always a welcome addition on any dessert plate of mine! No garnish goes un-eaten around me! ;-)
The waitress was so cordial and perfectly attentive. I also love that when I was unsure of which wine to order, she offered to let me taste several. Perfect! I sampled 3 options and chose a spicy Petit Syrah (which she had recommended as her favorite), and I SO enjoyed it! :)
This is a very old restaurant which is cool to dine in a place with so much history, however I did feel that it looked a bit outdated.
Food: 4.5 stars
Service: 5 stars
Decor & out-of-the-way location: 3 stars
If you're in the area and you manage to find it, definitely go in and enjoy!
My friend and I went to have dinner here, but the story starts quite before we actually ate.
I called Saturday afternoon to make a reservation, and no one was there, so I left a message asking the GM to call me back. Instead, the executive chef, Joe, called me about an hour later. Joe had me on the phone for a good 20 minutes - chatting about the menu, talking about Yelp and the history of the restaurant (it is in the oldest wooden building still standing in New York, it used to be a bar that opened in the 1700s). I loved Joe immediately and canceled the other reservation I had made at a different restaurant. There is nothing like going to a place where you know the people who own it and work there take extreme pride in everything they do. I knew it was going to be a good night.
We got there around 8:45PM and my taxi driver had a very difficult time finding it. The building is tucked away in South Seaport, easiest to get to by going up Water/Pearl and turning right on Dover. Our table was ready and the place was pretty crowded, cozy but not too small. Great ambience - it would be a perfect date place. I liked that we could hear each other (over the dim Bob Dylan playing in the background) but that our conversation was still private.
The owner's son came to find us because Joe had told him about our conversation. Adam was just as great as Joe. He stayed and talked food with us for awhile. Let us taste-test a bunch of different wines and helped us pick out a good white and red wine for dinner. What a wonderful guy!
The food was delicious. Fresh sourdough bread was brought immediately, great American wine. My friend had the breaded parmesan chicken which she loved. I had the Farro salad which was a cold salad comprised of garbanzo beans and fresh grilled vegetables. I also had a side of grilled asparagus that the waitress recommended. Everything was delicious.
Then, to our surprise, Adam brought out two desserts for us on the house: key lime pie with white macadamia nut crust and a chocolate bunt with warm fudge/dark chocolate in the middle. I'm salivating just writing about it. I loved the combination of the white macadamia and tartness of the the key lime - it was superb.
We were not shoved out after dinner, we stayed and chatted over another glass of wine. We made sure to thank Adam and send our compliments to Joe before we left. I will definitely be going back many times to Bridge Cafe.
If you ever find yourself starting to feel a little worn down by the NY scenes--the hipsters, the fashionistas, the B&T-ers, the tourists, the lines, the unmarked doors, the taxidermy--I swear to you, go to Bridge Cafe and you'll fall in love with New York all over again.
Tucked under the Brooklyn Bridge just far enough past the South Street melee, Bridge Cafe's location is the mirror image of my apartment across the river. Appropriate then, that I felt just as at home here as I do there. The feel is decidedly Old New York, but it's effortless (probably because it really IS a 200 year-old business space) and pretension-free. Nice but not too nice, laid back and neighborhoody. At 9:30 on Friday our group was warmly greeted and seated within minutes in the bustling dining room; I can't remember the last time that's happened to me without a reservation, which is kind of sad, really. The clientele are refreshingly label-free--old, young, possibly a stray tourist, but in general uncategorizable.
And then there was the matter of the whiskey list. RIDICULOUS, and you *know* how I am about whiskey. They've got at least 50 bottles of single-malts, plus maybe 30 bourbons, including small batch and single barrels, all for around $10 a pour. I had a Basil Hayden Old Fashioned, and while the bartenders are apparently of the "fruit salad" Old Fashioned camp, it was delicious nonetheless. Also delicious? The duck empanadas, two oversized puff pastries stuffed with some of the most tender and juicy duck I've ever had, and served with a yummy black bean sauce.
If Bridge Cafe were on the other end of the Brooklyn Bridge, I'd be here every night; it's the kind of place where you know you're going to be friends with the staff after like two visits, and the kind of place that makes you wonder why you'd ever go anywhere else.
Was looking for an off-beat/romantic place to charm a posh lady. We came in late, and they were only 2 other couples in this 20-table joint. The place was established in late 18th century as a tavern and that vibe is still there.
Good service, great house wines (we had cab and pino), and delish food. We had a crab/spinach/artichoke fondue (must have!), fritters (good), mussels (very good), and crab cakes (good).
If you feel bored with going to only to the trendiest place, CB would provide a nice departure... and if you don't like the scene, MarkJosephs' is literally next door :-)
eh i wasn't imprssed... why? service is wat killed it for me for one... even though its tucked away in the south street seaport area, seems like only locals and no business people come here really unless they have the whole day to kill
food was not bad... nothing to scream and come back to though
- fried corn and onion fritters - um kinda stale for me... the yogurt like corn sauce helped make the fritters have more flavor... otherwise failed hush puppy attempt
- soft shell crab appetizer is one lil crab... bernaise like sauce was fav of the table... but chips on the side super oily and not crispy enough
- mussels - too seafood tasting... maybe not cleaned properly?
- grilled asparagus - why is it bitter tasting?!?!
- house made gnocchi - best dish... creamy, bouncy, flavorful
dessert
yay they remembered it was my friend's bday...
- chocolate souffle thingy was warm devotion indeed, best way to close the meal
but wat killed the mood was how long it took for us to receive the check and process our credit cards... and from there i dock them stars sorry
Despite being out of asparagus, I have nothing else to complain about on my second visit to Bridge Cafe. The food here is REALLY good, portions are big, and it's a great deal. What else can I ask for? Bridge Cafe has become my go-to place by South Street Seaport because there aren't many good and historical places like this one in the area, believe me.
Best gnocchi I have ever had, no kidding. This is the cutest place, and the food is very good. I… Read more »
What a neat little place! Historical significance aside, the place had charm. But the fact that it is the oldest drinking establishment in NYC gave it an allure...we had to check it out.
First off, I don't believe I've ever found a more diverse AND exciting Scotch and Bourbon list. The single malt list is pure heaven. Speyside is well represented.
We went on a Monday evening and found ourselves in a quiet atmosphere. We ordered a Zin from Sonoma county and it was very lush. It went well with my Buffalo steak dinner. Yes, Buffalo is served here! A true first for me, it was savory and lean. There were some tough spots to get through, but hey, it's buffalo and supposedly better for you than beef.
The dessert for the evening was creme brulee; much like you can get elsewhere. However, the ambiance and quality make for a nice dining experience.
Does this place ever know how to cook meat. OH MY GOD. I went here a few months ago and I still remember how the lamb melted in my mouth.
I found this place on Yelp after looking at a bunch of reviews that said it was a hidden gem in the South Street Seaport Area. The cafe was quite literally located right under the Brooklyn Bridge. Apparently it's the one of the oldest continuously running businesses in NYC - it's been a bar, restaurant, and a brothel over the years...maybe that explains the pounding we heard over our corner table during dinner...
Like I said, the meat was spectacular. Perfectly seasoned and cooked. It more than made up for the chunky risotto that we tried for an appetizer. (I liked the flavor but the vegetables were undercooked) We also had a good, cheap wine and excellent service!
I would suggest this restaurant to anyone for a lovely, relaxing evening of good food and ambiance. Sit back and enjoy the meat dishes on the menu!
After a long day of walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, down Broadway, a crossing on the Staten Island Ferry, (seeing Marine One land right next to us!) and a trek back up Water Street in the middle of a large Dutch tour group led by people waving rainbow plastic light sabers, our intrepid trio had started to feel a tad peckish. After nearly getting sucked into the vortex of the SouthStreetPierFishermansWharfWhateverthehellishni ghtmarethatplaceis, by our hunger, I whipped out my iPhone and touched the magic Yelp* button, which after warning us away from "the worst money I have ever spent on food in my life", led us to this total fucking treasure of a restaurant. We opted for the "listing to port" sidewalk tables, with the view of:
1. A large bridge abutment
2. A scaffolded building
3. The top of City Hall
4. An endless parade of Guidos circling the block in Escalades looking for parking
The very friendly and pleasant wait staff attended our needs and filled us in on the daily specials, which included fresh soft shell crab. I went with the SSC appetizer, with a burre blanc and green onion sauce and also the best damn gnocchi I've ever had; the wife had calamari with a splendid sun dried tomato aioli and our friend had the panko crusted chicken.
Now nothing really blew me away, aside from the gnocchi, but I could tell instantly that this is the kind of place I will recommend to every single person I know that lives in, or is headed to New York. They obviously take great pride in their food. I'm hoping to squeeze in one more visit while in town, which is saying a lot in a town packed with great food.
I came here a couple months ago for dinner and this place was quality. Its location is a little tricky as its located right underneath the bridge but if you know where your headed then its no sweat. The items on the menu were a little pricer then the average meal but thats ok because their food is superb.
I had a glass a wine with dinner as it seemed like the more sophisticated choice which was decent but I hear they have excellent selection of whiskey so I'd go back to give them a try.
Things to appreciate about this restuarant are; the history of the place, its cozy, its food is worth the price, and thats its in close proximity to the Brooklyn Bridge.
A slight downfall though is their bathrooms are teeny tiny.
tucked away under the brooklyn bridge, bridge cafe can only be described as intimate, comfortable, and cozy. the grilled lamb is heavens above halal (when you're feeling a little classier than street meat for dinner), they have an entirely separate menu for whiskies (!!swoon!!), and...
of utmost importance to my ever discriminating boyf:
no hipsters!
minus one star because Bridge Cafe totally gyps you on any respectable view of the bridge.
Best mac & cheese I have ever had and I feel pretty confident in saying one of the best out there. I am not a mac & cheese fan and usually feel it's a waste of time as there is no meat in it but this mac & cheese is astounding. Also, this place supposedly used to be a brothel, how f'ing cool is that!
Outline of my experience:
-Great atmosphere & decoration, one of my favorite in NY
-Exceptional waitstaff
-Mac & Cheese, $5 per serving: phenomenal
-Buffalo Steak / Lingonberry Sauce, House Made Potato Gnocchi, $29: This was my disappointment here. I like meat (especially buffalo & grass fed beef) and I like my steaks rare with few seasonings/sauces. Perhaps I should have asked for no Lingonberry sauce as I personally didn't think it complimented the steak. The potatoes were good, but the vegetables seemed to be there more for decoration than actually eating as they appeared to be immature asparagus that had been blanched.
-The restaurant was empty when we arrived and left, but they only gave us a limited seating choice as they said they were expecting some larger parties. Perhaps it was cause I was dressed rather casual (t-shirt & jeans), but I thought that was kind of lame.
Conclusion: A definite must if you are in the area, though the menu can be pretty pricey so if you are on a limited budget I would suggest just going for some mac & cheese.
This is a story of love, and of heartbreak.
There I was, on a typical and lonely Friday night, getting drunk at another nameless dive, wallowing in my self-pity.
Unexpectedly, I lock eyes across the sea of drunken old people, with a beautiful brunette who had just walked in. I subtly try to get my wingman, Brian B, to go over and talk to her for me. I look up to realize that she's watching me tell him. Doh. She smiles shyly, and comes over to me.
She asked me what I do. I told her I work on bridges. She goes, "OMG, the Brooklyn Bridge is my FAVORITE spot in the city!" So I flash the Brooklyn Bridge tat. It was on. We proceeded to make out for the next hour. Date was on for the next night.
It was a no brainer when it came to picking a restaurant: Bridge Cafe. Swanky. Cute. In the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. Romantic. Nostalgic. 7 and 7's. Wine. Panko Chili Crusted Chicken with a Southwest Style Beurre Blanc and Pepper-Jack Mashed Potatoes. Vegetable Strata with goat cheese. Her crystal blue eyes met mine across the candlelight. Her glowing smile illuminated the dimly lit room. Conversation flowed. Sparks flew.
After dinner, we took a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The city was laid out in front of us. Our hands lightly touched. I saw her blushing cheeks under the glowing moon. The scene was reminiscent of movie love montages with Savage Garden playing in the background.
So we reach the Brooklyn end of the bridge. We shyly exchange glances back and forth. We arrive at the subway. The mood was set. The night was perfect. All except for that looming goodnight kiss.
We turned towards each other, my heart fluttering out of my chest. We reached out. I closed my eyes and leaned in...
And kissed nothing but air.
An ass-out hug is all I got.
I walked the lonely streets for the rest of the night with a flask in hand, slurring White Snake.
Bridge Cafe. You failed me.
A friend of mine talked this place up to the heavens, mainly because he knew my love of whiskey and… Read more »
Possibly the best restaurant in the downtown area.
Grilled Prime Bone-In Ribeye is absolutely amazing.
Soft Shell crabs are awesome when they're in season.
Grilled Petite Lamb Chops are grilled to perfection and the mashed potatoes are incredible.
And the Baked Mac n Cheese is the best I've ever had.
This place is a must eat place if you're in the area.
This place is a hidden gem.
The mac n cheese is the BEST I have ever eaten anywhere.
It's almost hidden on the end of Water St., right under the Brooklyn Bridge. The cobble stone street that you walk down to get here is charming, and the inside is very elegant.
This is one of our all-time favorite restaurants. It has wonderful service, an outstanding bar, and terrific food. Our favorite dishes: the chicken, any of their fish dishes, and their mac&cheese (which most people just think of as comfort food) is truly amazing - - I don't even like mac & Cheese; but this is wonderful stuff! In addition, the Bridge has one of the best bar selections anywhere. In summary, this is one amazing place!
Anyone that actually has Tomintoul in their lineup gets special recognition from me. Really, this place has a STELLAR single malt scotch selection.
But since I came here for lunch on a Thurs, I had to lay off the sauce.
Instead I had the Corn and Red Onion Fritters, Half Pound Buffalo Burger, and Fried Fish Tacos. If you're reading through the reviews here, I'll give you 1 guess who I split this lunch with :-)
My only real complaint with the meal was WHERE WAS THE SPICY!? Chipotle and Jalepeno abound on the menu, but you have to focus like you are taking the SAT to detect those flavors in the dishes. Even the pepper jack cheese on the burger was uncommonly mild.
HOWEVER, almost everything else about the dishes was outstanding. If I were to be picky, I'd say the tacos were a BIT dry and the chili-chipotle crema was SLIGHTLY too runny.
The burger was one of the best buffalo burgers I've had. Perfect char to meat ratio in the flavor. It wasn't super dry like many I've had, and the seasoning on the hand cut fries was light but addictive.
If the chipotle situation was rectified and the prices were $2-3 cheaper, then this would be a 5 without question.
Water Refill Meter: 5/5
Granted it was mostly empty, but I could tell that they kept constant eyes on the water levels here. Never empty.
Just had brunch here and it was great. 22 bucks gave me 1 mimosa with fresh squeezed oj, tomato and crab soup, and brioches French toast. Waitor very attentive waitress sweet ad pie. Highly recommend.
Love the spot and the location. You can't beat eating in an d brothel! My advise is order the fried… Read more »
Best rib-eye I've ever had!!! Went with 2 of my friends one had fish, and the other a veggie sandwich, they both loved their food, one plate can feed two. Great service! :)
The best steak I've had in 2009, hands down.
The Bridge Cafe is quite literally located right underneath the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side. If there was ever a "hole in the wall" neighborhood gem, this is it. I'm even willing to look over the "meh" risotto dish we had as an appetizer because the service, the (rest of the) food, and the ambiance easily merit the 5 stars.
And by the by, being a first generation Italian-American, I do not forgive easily when it comes to improperly prepared risotto...
Some fun facts about the Bridge Cafe:
- it's the oldest running bar in the city (it gets this title because it did the "oh noes!" of serving alcohol during the Prohibition era)
- used to run a brothel. Not a big deal, but did make me wonder when we heard some pounding on the ceiling from the floor above...
Oh, and bonus points for letting us taste the wine before we decided whether or not to indulge in a $10 glass or $50 bottle!
I can't find enough good words to review this place... so I'm going to let you do it, mad libs style. Ready? Okay.
Holy (expletive)! This place is (expletive)(adjective)! Seriously. If you don't (verb) here, you're a (noun with negative connotation). Firstly, the buffalo steak is (adjective). And, really, I'm not just saying that. I can't think of many (plural noun) that are that (adjective). It was enough to make me want to (verb) right there, on the table.
The same can be said about the (adjective) lamb, and the Bridge Cafe Salad... though normally I (verb) blue cheese.
The staff is (adverb)(adjective), (adjective), (adjective) and (adjective). In fact, some of them are so (adjective) that there are times where you want to stand right up and (verb) them. But I digress.
And while some might say the prices are (adjective), those folks can (verb) a (noun). The portions are (adjective) enough to choke a (collective noun) of (plural noun).
Even the desserts and cappuccinos are (adverb)(adjective). In short, you should (verb) here. Today.
But you don't have to take my word for it.
Holy Yum. Thank goodness I didn't order an appetizer, because their portions are HUGE! I got the cod, which was perhaps the best cod I've ever eaten. My friend ordered the buffalo, which she said was good, but the pan-fried gnocchi was amazing. I ate two of those little pieces of heaven. Yum. Before we left we asked the manager to take a picture for us as we were celebrating my birthday. As we were walking out he came running after us with a piece of carrot cake with a candle. The carrot cake was great (admittedly not as good as my carrot cake, but still great. :) ). I loved the decor and how homey it felt. I totally, totally recommend this place.
Brothel?
Bar?
Haunted House?
All of the above?
Off the beaten path of FiDi lies this renovated gem. Not only is this the oldest watering hole in NYC (1794 - I verified this via the saloon license hanging on the wall), but it was also once a brothel, or 'Disorderly House'. (#2: Pete's Tavern 1851, #3 Fanelli's Cafe 1857, #4 McSorley's Ale House 1862). Whether it be Sadie the Goat, scary bouncer Gallus Mag or paranormal investigations, this place is full of history and stories. It was practically empty at 1pm on a Thursday afternoon. The place reeked of aged wood as I walked in. Fortunately the interior was not compromised during the recent renovation. Even my black pepper grinder had metal gears. It is notably Ed Koch's favorite restaurant. I was impressed by the latitude of top shelf liquors they had here. I was equally impressed by the freshness of the made to order food. However, it fell short in the sauce category. Desserts are handwritten on the black chalkboard daily. The price point is kinda steep given the marginalized location, but the food makes up for it.
Ordered:
-Corn and Red Onion Fritters ($7) [Jalapeno Cheddar Sauce] - fritters were perfect, you get about 6, sauce was not dense enough, wasn't spicy at all, where's the kick?
-Half Pound Buffalo Burger ($18) [Onion & Parmesan Aioli Hand-Cut Fries] - nice and meaty, considering it was buffalo meat, it wasn't super lean like i'm used to, perfect char on the outside, fluffy brioche, slice of raw red onion and tomato on the side, side of ketchup, hand-cut fries were sans skin but good
-Fried Fish Tacos ($18) [Chili-Chipotle Crema, Roasted Corn & Black Bean Pico De Gallo] - you get 3 big pcs, barely tasted any chipotle, corn & black bean pico was on the dry side but fresh and good
Total came out to $27/pp after everything
Pics: http://www.meetup.com/...
Bridge Cafe serving patrons liquor and eats since 1794. It's the oldest bar in New York City.. and before the Bridge that hangs over it was built, and before landfill... the East River used to be right up to it's building.
They serve both decent food and drinks. It's close to the Water Street and Wall Street areas, so it brings in both the salty dogs, and the banker suits.
Ribeye rocks. Staff is super friendly. Portion size is appropriate.
Rumors of a secret washroom for small people may not be true. But we didn't look everywhere.
What an awesome, totally New Yorky hidden gem...
My best friend and I met for dinner here on a random Thursday night and were pleasantly surprised to see how cute and real it felt. So many restaurants in New York are trying to seem one way or another or recreate something and Bridge Cafe does this by being authentically New York. Full of character and class, but slightly cramped, reminding you of the intimacy such a big city hides in places like this.
Of course we timed it as such that there was a big gathering going on, which took up about 2/3 of the space. Nevertheless, the service was on par and all of our waitress's recommendations (especially for wines by the glass) were awesome. I had the ribeye in a slightly out of character move, and it was greeeat. I only finished half of it, because I was so enamored with the blue cheese mashed potatoes and onions complementing my steak. I was bummed that I couldn't make room to finish my steak - it seriously cooked to medium rare perfection.
Come expecting to spend 50, and expecting to enjoy yourself.
Best Entree-Ribeye. The seasonings are amazing.
Best side-Gnocci. My mom makes thee from scratch so I know what's going on. I'm used to them in red sauce. These seem to be panfried with olive oil and herbs. Wow!
Perfect menu for 2 would be the HUGE ribeye( which comes with Veg and potato), side of gnocci, and a dessert
i love the old new york feel, and the food was great.
I feel strongly about eggs benedict - if you put it on the menu, you better deliver deliciousness. which Bridge Cafe did.
the walk through the seaport area is nice too. I would recommend it for brunch, especially if you're in the downtown area.
You really get it all here - character, atmosphere, good service and great food. This little gem is tucked in an old building under the shadows of the Brooklyn Bridge. I think I counted maybe 15-20 tables end-to-end. I decided to sit at the bar and order. The bar-keep was really cool - served me up a nice Petite Syrah, and allowed me time to unwind a little bit. I ordered the PEI Muscles as an entrée, and they were incredible! Fresh tomato broth, andouille sausage and a hint of jalapeño . . . I was spooning up the chunks of my andouille with my left-over shells - I'm sure I looked a bit silly. I also ordered the garlic spinach which was fresh and wonderfully delicious. Towards the end of my dinner, the bar-keep came by and asked me if I wanted any dessert. I told him that for dessert, I'd like the fried muscles. He laughed, cleared my plate and poured me another glass of wine. I waited, and waited a little more until it became just a little bit uncomfortable. Finally, it clicked - he REALLY did think I was kidding. I tracked him down and told him I was serious, and we both had a good laugh (need to keep reminding myself that not everyone's a food whore like me). They were worth the wait. The only thing I'd do differently, is add a little (or a lot) of tobasco to the accompanying aiola. The person next to me had an order of the fried gnocchi's - I think I'll try those next - or maybe the soft-shell crabs? Can't wait!
Really nice place for brunch. Food was great (though the panninis looked huge! share one with a friend!), and service was polite and friendly.
Also bonus points for serving organic, free range eggs! If only this could catch on in the rest of the city.
Wouldn't have know about this place if it wasn't for Yelp!!!
The location is really great. Away from the crowds and right at the Brooklyn Bridge's footstep makes for a very nice atmosphere.
The waitresses only add to the experience by providing excellent service. I asked if she can get me a hot chocolate which wasn't on the menu and she was quick to whip one up. Not bad considering it was the creamiest, most delicious, not-to-sweet hot chocolate I've ever had!
I'll admit, I went in having already eaten recently so I only order an appetizer and dessert, but the food was still top notch. The baked macaroni was just perfect and not too filling. The chocolate dessert whose name escapes me was also terrific.
Honestly, there's nothing I would change about this place. It's somewhere I would definitely sneak off to with someone on a special occasion. Doesn't hurt that I only live a block away.
And once you do a little detective work and find out Bridge Cafe's "history" it gets all the more interesting...
Based on everything I'd read about the Bridge Cafe, I went in for Sunday brunch with high expectations. So it's with a tinge of regret that I can only give it two stars.
Pros:
-Historic value--it's been around since the late 18th century and it used to be a brothel. That's cool no matter how you look at it.
-Location--we live nearby and also it's kind of fun to eat under the famous Brooklyn Bridge
-Decor--Cute and cozy
-Rolls and breads and muffins--Oh my god they melt in your mouth
-Eggs benedict--see above
-Price--Inexpensive
Cons:
-Coffee? Where? I ordered it twice and practically had to beg for it after we were almost done with our meal. I'm a caffeine addict, so this is a huge no-no in my book.
-The orange juice in my mimosa was rancid.
-The servers kind of ignored us and never came to see how our food was
-The potatoes were swimming in grease, which made them inedible
Overall, I imagine that if we went back, maybe for a different meal, things would be much better. The problem is I can still taste that orange juice. Blech.
Really liked it here. I love the wee bathrooms, made for wee 18th century people. George Washington would've bumped his head.
I have one thing to add to these reviews. You should see all the scotch behind the bar. I don't know if they have tastings, but they certainly take it seriously.
This little hideaway is one of my favorite places for a nice weekend breakfast or lunch. You walk in and really feel the vibes of its history (a restaurant has been in operation here since 1794!).
Service is friendly, the menu is interesting and along with regular favorites has creative takes on new dishes. The breads are great.
If you are in this neck of the woods and seeking a quiet respite from the crowds, try it! Sandwiches, soups, omelets, salads, all are great. Save room for dessert!
Prices are moderate, a welcome respite from so many overpriced NYC eateries!
If you do happen to have a car, there is plenty of parking right under the bridge. Just be careful to avoid tow-away zones.
I went here yesterday with some friends for an Easter Brunch and I had a great time! The location is phenomenal, I don't think I've ever been that close to the Brooklyn Bridge without driving over it. The brick streets in this area and South Street Seaport are amazing. It has that old New York charm and history feel.
The food was really good. We made reservations since it was Easter and they had a special Easter Brunch menu (which was the same as the regular brunch menu but was $12 more, which is why they aren't getting 5 stars).
The mimosas were really good and I had some lobster and crab fritter for an appetizer which was delicious. My pancakes were so so good- slightly buttery with a delicious walnut butter on top. The syrup was amazing--definitely not Mrs. Butterworths!
Their coffee was also really good! The wait staff was very patient with our large party and the billing. I'd recommend coming here, maybe just not on Easter.
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Delis
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Restaurants
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