Bridge Cafe
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
279 Water St(between Dover St & Peck Slip)
New York, NY 10038 (212) 227-3344
- Nearest Transit:
Fulton St-Broadway-Nassau (2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, M, Z)
Chambers-Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall (4, 5, 6, J, M, Z)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
25 Reviews for Bridge Cafe
I loved this place! On a cold, wet and windy Friday evening it had a special ambiance ~ very moody, like being in an old movie. Mix of people eating and a few locals sat at the bar.
Staff were excelllent, food was lovely. Fish was very fresh. Portions were way too generous!!
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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 (which was the same as the regular brunch menu but was $12 more, which is why they aren't getting 5 stars).
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, maybe just not on Easter.
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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 aren't quite as fab as some of the reviews indicate; if I recall correctly, you can get entree portions of the apps for $18 and most of the regular entrees are in the 20s. So it's okay price-wise, but not a cheap meal per se.
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.
What an awesome, totally New Yorky 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.
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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.
Wouldn't have know about this place if it wasn't for Yelp!!!
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Went here for a lazy Sunday brunch - the service staff was friendly and charming, although they screwed up our order :-( The bread platter was absolutely amazing. The eggs benedict, fresh fruit crepes, onion fritters, and mixed salad were all generously portioned and above average, but I don't think real foodies would be impressed. It was a good idea to go there because of the nearby South Street market, and it makes for a pleasant afternoon.
Really liked it here. I love the wee bathrooms, made for wee 18th century people. George Washington would've bumped his head.
I have one thing to add to these reviews. You should see all the scotch behind the bar. I don't know if they have tastings, but they certainly take it seriously.
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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.
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!
If you do happen to have a car, there is plenty of parking right under the bridge. Just be careful to avoid tow-away zones.
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i love the old new york feel, and the food was great.
I feel strongly about eggs benedict - if you put it on the menu, you better deliver deliciousness. which Bridge Cafe did.
the walk through the seaport area is nice too. I would recommend it for brunch, especially if you're in the downtown area.
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Based on everything I'd read about the Bridge Cafe, I went in for Sunday brunch with high expectations. So it's with a tinge of regret that I can only give it two stars.
Pros:
-Historic value--it's been around since the late 18th century and it used to be a brothel. That's cool no matter how you look at it.
-Location--we live nearby and also it's kind of fun to eat under the famous Brooklyn Bridge
-Decor--Cute and cozy
-Rolls and breads and muffins--Oh my god they melt in your mouth
-Eggs benedict--see above
-Price--Inexpensive
Cons:
-Coffee? Where? I ordered it twice and practically had to beg for it after we were almost done with our meal. I'm a caffeine addict, so this is a huge no-no in my book.
-The orange juice in my mimosa was rancid.
-The servers kind of ignored us and never came to see how our food was
-The potatoes were swimming in grease, which made them inedible
Overall, I imagine that if we went back, maybe for a different meal, things would be much better. The problem is I can still taste that orange juice. Blech.
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With a menu as rich as its place in New York history, The Bridge Cafe is the ideal destination for the Gotham enthusiast and foodie alike. This one-time brothel was once run by an old butchering bar maid named Gallus Mag, who reportedly cut off the ears of select patrons and kept them in a jar behind the bar. Supposedly her ghost still haunts the place, as do the ghosts of the pirates that used to visit in the late 1700's. A recreation of The Bridge Cafe even appears in Scorsese's Gangs of New York.
I'd heard great things about the brunch menu, but last week we had time to stop by for dinner, so we did. Nestled under the Brooklyn Bridge near the South Street Seaport, I walked into the small dining room, expecting to see something much different than what I did. I had pictured it being a dimly lit, slightly musty-smelling room with wooden floors covered in sawdust. In actuality, it was a romantically candelit interior, adorned with pictures on the walls and nice tablecloths on the tables.
The menu offered many delicious-sounding options, with all entrees priced between $18-30. I ordered almond crusted chicken with saffron mashed potatoes; the chicken was exquisite, but the potatoes were surprisingly flavorless. Everyone I was with seemed to enjoy their dishes as well, and quite a few specials were offered. The bar serves a spicy/sweet/salty nut mixture that's definitely worth trying, and Brooklyn Oktoberfest was on tap, which is always a good thing.
I can't comment on the desserts, since we were too full to partake, but they sound delicious. The service is bland and faceless, which is a shame for a restaurant with such a vibrant past.
Wanted to go here for a quite a while after hearing from coworkers what a nice place it was. Its literally right next to the bridge, which is pretty cool to see, especially since I ignore the fact that I'm nearby every day. My best friend and I walked in, at first, to an extremely awkward situation. The tables live directly by the door, aka no host area. There seemed to be a large engagement/anniversary/birthday party going on with one half of the already small room. We stood there not knowing to seat ourselves or what- until finally someone at the bar signalled a "one minute" motion to us. He came over and said he had to check what tables were not reserved and then offered us a table. Whatever wine we ordered was very good! There were also unique drinks on the menu and plenty of desserts. The dishes were certainly more than I usually pay, although may be typical to most people (we wound up paying 50 each). However, I thought the food was quite good and worth it. My dish was cod prepared in some tasty and light sauce. Packed with really great veggies and some type of shrimp dumplings. I ate everything on my plate- it was great. Our waitress was really quite good- friendly but not fake, took care of everything we needed, and nice. A cute place, maybe even quaint, with great food. Overall: had an excellent time.
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Wow. Stopped by for a dinner after a long day of thinking, talking and scheming at a conference. The menu sort of has two parts, fancier and simpler. I got the hanger steak with frites off the simpler side and it was a knockout. Adam (I hope I'm remembering his name correctly) was super friendly and recommended a great scotch (Compass Box's Peat Monster, yum) and hooked me up with the perfect seat at the corner of the bar (just right for a slow meal and a read reading). Dishy bartender, too. Outstanding all around. Try the house made bar nuts, too; they were so good I asked for a doggy bag.
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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...
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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.
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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.
Overall, GREAT restaurant for seafood lovers. A bit on the prim and proper side, for those of us who like to pick at dinner rolls with our hands :)
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My friend and I stumbled onto this place by accident one aternoon, peeked inside and decided to have a draft and an appetizer. It was delicious, unforgetable. I will be back to try it out for dinner!
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A hidden gem tucked away under the brooklyn bridge on the Manhattan side. Steeped in history, the food is amazing and a varied menu something for everyone.
They have a wonderful wine list with the prerequisite wineries and the sentimental favourite independent wineries.
Wendesdays is 1/2 price on all wine bottles!! Yes 1/2 price this is a fabulous excuse to try those wines you have been reading about.
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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.
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"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.
On the chalkboard is their ever-changing desert menu which I find fun to read, but haven't been overly impressed with. Finally, if you're going there for dinner (lunch is less) expect to pony up a fair share of scratch, especially if you order drinks. For us, a nice dinner for seven hit the $400 mark with tip.
Four Historic Stars
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Fine dining down under the Brooklyn Brridge, but on the manhatten side. Very small intimate space, with the whole white tablecloth ambiance. Eventhough it does look like a very nice place, and is priced accordingly, the food is even better than you'd expect. Once the fish market is gone, the neighborhood will explode and you won't be able to get a table anymore. enjoy while you can!
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.
The restaurant was a lot smaller than we thought it'd be but it was quaint. The waitresses were really attentive to our needs - always refilling our glasses and making sure everything was ok. The food was average. I had the calamari appetizer, Rigatoni as an entree and Green Apple Sorbet for desert. I'd have to say that the sorbet was a refreshing surprise. For $20 in good company, it was worth it.
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