I professed my love for Carnegie Diner in this column more than two years ago. Today, my fondness for the restaurant is as strong as ever and perhaps even more.
The flagship location, which my family and I frequent on weekends, is located in Midtown Manhattan across the street from Carnegie Hall. It’s a place that breaks diner stereotypes and serves delicious food using the freshest ingredients and even has a bar with top shelf spirits including Casamigos tequila, Money 47 gin and high-end wines.
The beef in the burgers, the chicken and the eggs are organic, and some of the produce is too. Seafood including Atlantic salmon and branzino are delivered several times a week, and single origin coffee from the cult brand Lavazza and freshly squeezed orange juice also figures in.
Breakfast is served all day and includes lobster benedict, salmon avocado toast and more than a dozen types of pancakes that are oversized and stacked high. Healthy eaters, me among them, gravitate to the huge, tasty salads and grain bowls. And I haven’t even gotten to the lineup of tempting desserts where the 24 Layer Chocolate cake and the creamy, old-fashioned milkshakes are the stars of the show no doubt.
Given the reasonable prices and exceptional service, it’s no surprise that hungry customers can wait for more than hour for their turn to eat.
Now, fans like me will be happy to know that owner and executive chef Stathis Antonakopoulos has expanded his footprint with two additional locations. The first is on 8th Avenue off 50th street. More notably, the second is in Secaucus, New Jersey.
Spanning 6,600 square feet, the space features a similar menu as the original Carnegie Diner that has won over legions of loyalists, a design with subway tiles in a nod to its New York roots and a wall with pictures of famous musicians who have performed at Carnegie Hall throughout its history.
In a new and welcome move, alfresco dining is also offered underneath a canopy of vines.
Admittedly, I didn’t have a reason or desire to visit Secaucus before, but now that Carnegie Diner is open, my perspective has changed. As I said, it’s a destination spot that warrants a trip on its own.
Source: Forbes
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