TAVERN ON THE GREEN
One of the greatest parts of living in Manhattan is that I get to spend every day in an iconic city with a piece of history everywhere I look. Then, there are the places that I know that whether or not you are a New Yorker, you must visit to have that truly notable New York experience. You know, like Central Park and more finitely, Tavern On The Green located inside of it.
Opening its doors in 1934 and then reopening them under new ownership and an extensive renovation in 2014, Tavern On The Green is the place to plan to lose yourself in a meal. When I went back recently with one of my girlfriends for lunch, we truly "ladies who lunched" because we left in time to start dinner (yup, a four-and-a-half hour lunch—love my job)!
The gigantic space has two distinct seasonal vibes. Inside, you'll enter a dark wooden space with a bar, couches, a merry-go-round styled chandelier, and a fireplace. Continue walking, and there you are in a winter white sanctuary with a massive open kitchen and rustic wooden pillars that feel reminiscent of a lodge's façade. In the warmer weather, step outside, and immediately, you are under a canopy of twinkle lights in an alfresco summer soiree. Both experiences are truly magical.
Then there's the food. From the Snow Crab Claws to the Jumbo Shrimp, their super fresh seafood towers are outrageous! Mixing that elevated (literally) menu item with sparkling rosé and both of their burger options—The Tavern Burger and The Salmon Burger—made for a far more playful lunch than I had initially expected when walking into a restaurant I knew would be an experience. Like I said, we were there for hours! It was the perfect way to spend Friday afternoon. I want to say, go before it gets cold and enjoy their outdoor dining but since we were there so long and they had to set up for an outdoor event happening that night, we got to move our meal indoors and enjoy dining in there too. You seriously can't go wrong! I can only imagine how beautiful it will look when the surrounding park views are covered in snow. And, now I've officially convinced myself that I need to go back (can't wait)!
