The Dish

I can’t wait to go back – Posted by jenkin

I went for my first time last Friday night and was blown away. The specialty
drinks are so original…you’ll never get one like it anywhere else. For dinner
I had the diver scallops with brandy cream, citrus linguini, woodland mushrooms.
It was perfect. I can’t wait to go back. Make reservations.

Pros: seafood, service

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

Fantastic Food, casual setting — Posted by willis69

The modest, yet inviting, look of the place belies the high end ingredients
and fantastic cooking. All four of us ordered fish and each dish was excellent,
but the meat dishes we saw coming out of the kitchen looked equally good.
Desserts were great as well. There’s obviously a very talented chef here and
despite the out of the way location I plan on going back to what is now on my
top ten list in NYC, you should make the trip too!

Posted by Anonymous

Consistently Amazing

A little hard to get to, but that’s half the fun. I agree with a below
reviewer that you feel as though you were transported to 100 years ago, but
that’s a good thing. (After all, it’s claim to fame is “the oldest drinking
establishment in New York.”) The service makes you feel at home, and the food is
delicious (recommended: corn & onion fritters, calamari, buffalo steak.) Alas,
the portions are too large for me to have ever had room for dessert. Hope you
have better luck.

Also an awesome bar! Posted by kweingold

Yes, the food is fantastic. But what no one seems to mention is that they
have one of the best-stocked bars in the city. The bourbon and scotch selections
are unbelievable, with some stuff not even the Brandy Library has! And here’s a
hint: they have sample sizes so you can try a few things for much less than a
regular glass, plus a great way to try something before investing a lot of money
in a bottle for yourself

Hidden treat Posted by where2be

You might have to circle around the block a few times to find it, but it’s
worth the effort. I’ve been probably 6 times and each time the food was just as
good as a I remembered it. The Buffalo hanger steak is great, as is the panko
coated chicken (if it’s on the menu then, it seems to come and go). The wine
list is good while also being reasonable (good smaller WA and CA labels, many
bottles in the $40-$60 range). The place is small and the dark wood bar
dominates along one wall. The small size and wonderfully dated interior give it
a really nice almost homey feel. Service has always been prompt and nice. Dinner
for two is reasonable with a shared salad to start, two entrees, bottle of wine
and a shared desert seeming to run about $110, which for the quality of the food
and being in the city is pretty good.

Pros: Great food, Wonderful atmosphere

Posted by Anonymous

Great Little Cafe

Hopefully, this quaint little out of the way cafe will never become one of
the trendy, self-absorbed overpriced rip-offs found throughout the city, as
there in lies it’s unique charm. Our recent experience at the Bridge Cafe was
one of tasty food and excellent quality, prepared perfectly and served promptly
with an attitude of appreciation and customer satisfaction. The portions were

clearly intended to satisfy our appetites. If your desire is to see and be
seen, and pay outrageous prices for frilly little garnishes d more for
appearance than sustenance, the city is full of places where you can feed your
ego and empty your wallet. But if you prefer an excellent meal at a fair price
where the focus is on quality and the customer rather than hype, the Bridge Cafe
may be just what you’re looking for.

Posted by BetterthanBruni

I love this place!

Simply a must for simply the best buffalo steak on the planet, consistently
outstanding! Great service in a great part of town, a real treat! Go! Go! Go!

Great food, great service, great unpretentious old-time NY charm!

A friend of the hubs from Prague was in town and wanted to eat somewhere near
the bridge. My good ol’ pal Yelp led us to the Bridge Cafe. It’s tucked away on
a pretty cobblestoned street almost under the bridge, and our friend liked it a
lot. The Seaport was pretty quiet on this chillyish weekday evening, but the
place was half-full with people rotating in and out the entire time we were
there.

The drinks were good and the food portions generous. I had the lobster pot
pie special and the menfolk the mahi-mahi. We also had a crabmeat/artichoke
fondue appetizer. Everything was EXCELLENT. Prices Especially since it’s an easy
walk from our apt, we plan to be back! I’d like to try the brunch after reading
some of these reviews.

Great food, great service, great unpretentious old-time NY charm!

What an awesome, totally New York 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.

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.

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.

Very good food and excellent location. The portions are generous and a big
plus for me. We had a special New Years eve menu that was excellent. Great
selection of scotch and whiskey. They were very helpful in helping me try a few
since I know nothing about single malt, etc. Great fun and a neat up and coming
location.

WOW.

Go here.

Went on NYE with Jeff B. and was extremely impressed with EVERYTHING: the
wine, the service (omg, every sip of water was refilled), the food! the food!
the food! – it was soooooo good! Foodies will love it, families will love it,
20-somethings…

seriously, so nice. The type of place you go when you need a guaranteed good
experience

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.

Posted by Howard

Historically Wonderful

With 213 years of history, the Bridge Cafe allows for you to enjoy a
wonderful meal and imagine the past. Set in ‘Old New York’ where cobblestone
streets find trading houses and the Seaport nearby, the Bridge Cafe somehow
survived prohibition, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and post 9-11 issues.
My wife and I had the pleasure of dining here last night and had a terrific
meal. We both started with soup: a sweet creamy butternut squash with hint of
spice and rustic bean and collard green; they were equally delicious. Our
waitress was very sweet and confirmed our desires to try their famous buffalo
steak. We enjoyed it alongside the homemade potato gnocchi and crisp garlic
broccoli rabe. Our other entree, the pine-nuts and parmesan coated chicken was
served with a marvelous buere blanc sauce over garlic mashed potatos and
carmelized carrots. The Chocolate Indulgence is a flourless cake served with
fresh whipped cream and vanilla gelato was a great way to end the meal. We plan
on making the trip from the Upper East Side back down to Bridge Cafe again real
soon.

Posted by Anonymous

Simply Wonderful!

My husband and I love this place! The atmosphere is cozy and you don’t have
to shout to your tablemates even when the place is full-up. It’s casual and
homey with more than just a touch of class. The staff are pleasant and make you
feel welcome and comfortable. I have a friend who has serious food allergies and
they went out of their way to make sure she could eat everything on her plate,
and they were so gracious about it. Even when I make special requests like
cooking my eggs Benedict almost well-done, they do just as you ask, with no
attitude like I’ve seen in other places. And the food, or should I say aaaaah,
the food! Simply delicious. I have yet to be disappointed by a meal here. For
brunch try the eggs Benedict, they are perfectly done and the Hollandaise sauce
is creamy and buttery without tasting greasy. The applewood smoked bacon is a
treat. For dinner try the buffalo steak and gnocchi. The steak is lean and tasty
with no gamey aftertaste, and the gnocchi is to-die-for. They are a bit heavier
than traditional gnocchi, but they are grilled and have a bit of cheese
sprinkled on top. I could make a meal of them alone! Their soups are also good
too. They often have a tomato-based soup and it’s never sour like some often
are. The corn fritter appetizer is spicy and tasty. Of course you must leave
room for dessert. The selections change from time to time, but if they have the
butterscotch pudding you must try it! The prices may seem high to some people,
but you certainly get what you pay for here. If your budget is tight then find a
way to plan for it. You will not be disappointed.

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!

Posted by Doofus

Amazing!

We went here one rainy evening a few weeks ago, but still had a gorgeous view
of the city over the wind and rain-swept river. The best part however was the
food! As someone who has dined in some of Manhattan’s best restaurants, I have
to say that Bridge Street Cafe is right on par with the best of Manhattan. I had
scallops followed by a huge prime cut steak, and my date had pancetta-wrapped
rabbit followed by veal. After 2 delicious chocolate-infused desserts and
after-dinner wine, we availed ourselves of the restaurant’s town car service
back to Manhattan for $25, which is about the same our cab ride cost from
Chelsea. Amazing evening!

Great, hidden, quiet place just under the Brooklyn Bridge. Had a hard time
finding it at first but was a great experience once I was in. Coincidentally, I
came in on a Wednesday and enjoyed a bottle of wine at half price.

Had a lobster risotto which was cooked to perfection. The rice was great and
the lobster… well, I still think of that dinner though it was at least two
years ago.

Did you know Bridge Cafe has been around since 1794?? It’s a small but
intimate and cozy restaurant under the brooklyn bridge, pretty far hidden from
everything. I had a really hard time finding the place since the streets in that
area of town start to make absolutely no sense. But once inside, you know you’ve
found a gem. (The mood was elegant but quiet, so it’s a better place to take a
date than a bunch of friends). The food was absolutely amazing. We had calamari
and mussels for appetizers. For entrees I had the almond crusted cod while my
date had a lobster pot pie. Nothing super fancy, so pure, quality seafood. It’s
very close to the old Fulton Fish Market, so I can just imagine the freshness of
their selection before.

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…

Posted by Brittany

Southern Hospitality hides here!

This is the place to be if you are missing home. They treat you like family,
and the food warms your heart. This is the best meal I have had since living in
New York, and I carry my Zagats guide with me at all times reviewing everywhere
I go. From the hostess to the chef, you’ll know them by name before you go,
because you’ll want to personally thank them all for giving you a fantastic
dinner.

Posted by Stranger

Gorgeous & Unforgettable …

Walked in by chance, I was very lucky to find here wonderful dishes (Steamed
Mussels, Bridge Café Salad and the Pineapple Martini) and very friendly &
professional personnel. A very nice and romantic historical location of this
place near the Brooklyn Bridge is supplemented by its special warm and
unforgettable atmosphere inside… A place I would certainly come back during my
next trips to NYC…

Talk about a great hidden gem. It’s off the beaten path along the side the
Brooklyn Bridge(Manhattan side). I had seen it on Food Network and I’m a sucker
for vintage restaurants of new york. I was there on the 4th of July and was
asked if we had reservations(which we did not) I thought we were going to either
wait forever or just give up when all of the sudden our waitress came back and
got us a table. It’s a small space so don’t come here for privacy. The food was
great. I had their Bridge Burger which is the best burger I’ve had in new york.
It was a huge piece of meat and great home made chips. I’m definitely can’t wait
to try more of the menu.

“Bridge anyone?”

The vest-pocket size Bridge Cafe is an oasis of dining in a warren of small
restaurants and fast-appearing bars in the South Street Seaport campus. (J.P.s
review of this restaurant is right on). But don’t get me wrong, The Bridge
appeared many moons..er..centuries ago. The chalkboard outside reads “Serving
Since 1794″ .. whew. But this area is changing rapidly since the demise of the
Fulton Fish Market and promises to be a lot more crowded than it is now.

Inside, its dark wood interior is smattered by a few antique signs like
“Kidney Pie – 54 (cents not dollars lol); this is the only place I’ve been where
a sign like this has been authentic and not just part of the patina thrown on
the wall. A well-stocked bar runs the entire length of one wall and there are
about twelve 4-top tables that can be reconfigured if you have a larger group.

The menu is modest in length with daily specials always present. Food quality
is excellent and they excel in bending the flavor of their savory mashed
potatoes to suit the dish. Their sauces are also excellent. Tip: If you are a
carnivore, the buffalo steak is a delicious leaner alternative to beef and the
meat juices are ambrosial.

Four Historic Stars

I was at Bridge for Easter and was quite impressed. The pork chops were
absolutely amazing, and the ambience was great as well. A former mayor of NY
used to trek down to the Bridge Cafe for lunch. Yes, it’s that good.

Posted by Delighted

Absolutely enchanting evening

Celebrated a special occasion here and found everything to be beyond
expectation. The food was wonderful, the setting was charming, and the service
was top-notch. I couldn’t have enjoyed the meal and the occasion any more. It
was simply perfect.

Posted by Great Hideaway

A Hidden Jem

Perhaps the best in Manhattan; the service, food, and anything else you can
think of are exceptional!

Posted by O.Lee NYC

Fantastic!

Went to the Bridge Cafe with my girlfriend last week to get out of a rain and
did we find a find! All we wanted was warmth from the elements and we got Great
food, Great wine and the best down to earth service we could ask for. Going
again this week and if it is just as great an experience this will be our new
favorite! We had the Ribeye, tasted great and we took some home for the next
day. And my girlfriend had the Hanger Stake Special, just as good. Thank God
they had a great cabernet by the glass to help with our cholesterol. Thanks
Bridge Cafe and we will see you soon!

Posted by mac6

Wonderful Surprise!

Picked this one out of a hat and got extremely lucky. We are not from NY and
didn’t have a clue where to go. Chose the Bridge Cafe off the Internet and
surprised my husband for our anniversary. One of our nicest evenings ever. Great
food, service and atmosphere. Very relaxing and not at all rushed. Almost didn’t
go in because it looked very small inside. That would have been a huge mistake.
Plan to go back again soon.

Posted by shennie

Cozy and romantic

I took my husband for his birthday and we both loved it! We enjoyed the
fritters especially. We left feeling very full and delighted. The servers we
very eager to make sure that my husband’s birthday was special.

Posted by FoodGuru

Simply Delightful

We have been to this cozy and wonderfully historical restaurant on several
occasions. Each time the food has been excellent. It is apparent that the
freshest ingredients are being utilized here and the chef has a clear
understanding of how to use them. The service is kind and attentive from the
charming and elegant wait staff. The wine list is good and fairly priced. The
Scotch list is impressive. The menu items are a little pricey, but in the end
the food, service and times we had are well worth it. When of New York’s must
visits. You are sure to enjoy!

Posted by Anonymous

Excellent!

One of the best restaurants I have been to in a very long time! The small
restaurant had a cozy atmosphere, very authentic. The service was great; the
people were friendly and considerate. The chef, Joseph Kunst, I believe, even
came out and spoke with us. The food was impecable, and I will, without a doubt,
be going again.

Anonymous

Surprisingly Great!

I’ve only been there once, but definitely plan to go again. This very small
,but cozy, place has very pleasant and warm service. Me and some friends ate
dinner at the bar and had some amazingly good food for the price. The fish dish
that we had was so fresh and tasty. The chef even came out and talked to us and
sent out a complimentary dish of dumplings. On Wednesdays they have discounts on
all the wines. Amazing food, service, and value.

"The Oldest Drinking Establishment in New York"