After facing an uncertain future, a team of restaurateurs have breathed new life into the iconic Central Park restaurant and landmark Tavern on the Green, which will reopen to the public this month.
When the restaurant closed in 2009, tourists and New Yorkers alike bemoaned the loss of the historic ‘fairyland oasis’ of white lights, Baccarat chandeliers and Tiffany stained glass.
But the Philadelphia-based Emerald Green Group has announced that after two years of renovations, Tavern on the Green will reopen with a contemporary and seasonal menu within an elegant, Victorian manor-like setting, reminiscent of an “Italian Villa” or “historic Hudson River Valley manor.”
Helming the kitchen will be chef Katy Sparks, who will produce urban farmhouse fare.
In an interview with the New York Daily News, Sparks has said that diners can expect whole, hearty fare like roasted duck breast with farro, prunes and almonds in verjus sauce; roasted Japanese eggplant with pomegranate, sheep-milk yogurt and herbs; and Serrano ham on Gruyere sage toast with anchovy sauce.
Though scaled down from its original version, the newly revamped Tavern on the Green will include an outdoor garden, a bar, a 300-seat courtyard with panoramic views of the park, a quieter 120-seat South Wing, and a tented South Terrace.
A take-out “Green to Go” space will sell organic sandwiches and snacks and also seat 110 diners.
A preview dinner menu will take place April 24, and a Mother’s Day brunch service is scheduled for May 10 and 11.
The restaurant will hold its full grand opening May 13.
Reservations can be made at www.tavernonthegreen.com.
