Redeye Grill is one of those places that should only belong in Manhattan. The iconic NYC hotspot just opened its doors again after a kitchen fire shut it down for a period of time, but that was the furthest thing from my mind when me and my friend dined there recently and was blown away by everything they offered us from beginning to end.
Redeye Grill has sat across from the world famous Carnegie Hall for 25 years. That’s saying something when the average lifespan of a restaurant in NYC is maybe a year or two as of late.
Redeye Grill is from Shelly Fireman, the accomplished NYC restaurateur who has run dining establishments since the 1960’s. Now he owns and operates eight popular restaurants located at high profile locations in NYC and Washington, D.C. — including Trattoria Dell’Arte, Brooklyn Diner, Bond 45 (Times Square), and Cafe Fiorello (Lincoln Center). In addition, Fireman is an avid sculptor and passionate art collector, with his work being featured in his restaurants.
There’s a reason why this place is so beloved and cherished. It’s something I noticed the minute I walked inside and took in all it has to offer when it comes to the hospitality their staff provides as well as how majestic its space really is.
This is a place that appears to be the size of a museum. It is that big. You don’t find spots like this anymore unless they are on the conglomerate side of things, so naturally I was impressed about this being a one-off.
There’s an upscale atmosphere to it that ranges from the sprawling bar to the beautiful seating to the knowledgeable wait staff that serve you throughout the course of your stay. I love any and all kinds of dining experiences in Manhattan, however there’s nothing wrong with going high class for a night out on the town.
The food at Redeye Grill is sensational and goes beyond what you would find at a spot like this. There were unique items worth highlighting that I would go back for time and time again.
Their Duck Quesadillas (pictured above) and Redeye’s Sushi Burger were out of this world fantastic. Duck is a tricky ingredient to make work. You have to cook it properly otherwise it won’t taste well. The chefs at Redeye Grill prepared the meat perfectly inside a mouthwatering bite that came with the usual fixings of guacamole and sour cream. Yum and then some.
The Sushi Burger (first image at the top) was unique and so much fun to look at first prior to eating it. The dish comes with spicy yellowfin tuna, wakame seaweed salad, watermelon radish, ginger and avocado wedged between a tamanishiki rice bun. You get all the flavorings of what a sushi roll would be only in the form of the burger, which was simply awesome.
Redeye Grill also has fantastic items in their seafood, meats and pasta sections of the menu like their Miso Glazed Black Cod and Ribeye Steak Sandwich that will fill you up and then some. The Black Cod, a delight of a fish to eat, was amazing and the sweetness that came from the miso glaze was incredible. Their steak sandwich will satisfy any type of meat eater as well as the ribeye comes plentifully prepared underneath a dressing of parmesan cheese sauce, sauteed onions & peppers.
Overall Redeye Grill satisfied every part of me and gave me a reason to love New York City that much more given its classic execution and modern taste.
For more information on Redeye Grill, click here.