Tavern On The Green NY

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (seafarer john)

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:11:51 GMT

It's not quite so simple as the union being the culprit - there's plenty of blame on just about everyone's part to pass around.

The biggest problem was the mess left behind by the previous owners who had run the business into the ground, and this condition was compounded by the intrangiance of the union and ownership and the incompetence of the NYC authorities.

Anyhow, the place was living (and dying) proof of my axiom that "The prettier the view, the worse the food". It will not be missed by anyone who likes good food.

Cheers, John

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (jaylhorner)

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:58:02 GMT

The place was bad news!

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (bartl)

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:42:47 GMT

Well, I'll tell you that at least the last time I was at Tavern on the Green, they were selling frozen dinners (the restaurant kind).

However, here's the story as far as I know it. When the city made a deal to transfer ownership of Tavern on the Green, they included a requirement that a specific union be used. The union insisted on terms which essentially allowed the union to run the restaurant (for example, the union would determine how many waitstaff members would be on duty on any given night). The potential owner (who was running the very successful Boathouse) determined that it would be physically impossible for him to make any sort of profit under the union rules, and, rather than operate the restaurant at a loss for the benefit of the union leaders, he backed out. I find this to be credible due to the fact that the city could not find anybody even willing to TRY to run the restaurant.

Bart

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (MiamiDon)

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:53:17 GMT

It's not that the restaurant business with the name of "Tavern on the Green" folded. It's that the beautiful physical facility is not a nice dining establishment any more.

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (Foodbme)

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:59:54 GMT

the ancient mariner

There are many landmark places in NY and the Tavern was one of them. Everyone knows, if they have been there or not, that it was a special place. It is a shame ---it's setting, it's class should have made it important to keep, but it bit the dust. I guess i will have to go back to my old haunts "21" and the "4 Seasons"---Keen's and Gallagher's. The Tavern was special, a nice place to take a date-----a special date.

Sorry to see it go but it lasted longer than most restaurants in NYC. In NYC, "Restaurant Longevity" is an Oxymoron!
Is the 4 Seasons still in operation? Erase, Erase! I just pulled up their web site. It's good to know their Spicy SPAGHETTI, Sea Urchin, Crabmeat is 0nly $32!!!

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (jaylhorner)

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:39:18 GMT

This was a beautiful setting, but the food was overpriced and mediocre!

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (the ancient mariner)

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 13:52:33 GMT

There are many landmark places in NY and the Tavern was one of them. Everyone knows, if they have been there or not, that it was a special place. It is a shame ---it's setting, it's class should have made it important to keep, but it bit the dust. I guess i will have to go back to my old haunts "21" and the "4 Seasons"---Keen's and Gallagher's. The Tavern was special, a nice place to take a date-----a special date.

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (David_NYC)

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 13:14:45 GMT

According to a statement by the mayor a while ago, the current configuration is an interim measure.

From accounts I read, the place just got too expensive to run.

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (1bbqboy)

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:16:15 GMT

maybe lament is a better word than blame?
I'm 3000 miles away. Just always interesting why venerable old beasts fall over and die.
Changing tastes, mismanagement, quality decline, changing location demographics etc.....
Maybe food carts are more in keeping with today's tastes.

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (billyboy)

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:05:32 GMT

Hey Mariner, wish I could say I was surprised but it was in flux for the past few years and ownership had been in limbo along with a decline in quality and service (at least from what I read in the papers, I had never actually been), Most of my weekly runs in Central Park begin and end at the Tavern.

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (the ancient mariner)

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 10:59:50 GMT

Who in the world said I was blaming anyone, Bill?
I am simply stating a fact as reported in today's NYCity newspapers and on AOL.

Re:Tavern On The Green NY (1bbqboy)

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 09:44:04 GMT

I'm confused as to who you are blaming for its demise.

Tavern On The Green NY (the ancient mariner)

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 08:41:29 GMT

In case you are looking for the "OLD" Tavern on the Green in Central Park-----DON"T.
It re-opened in a new disguise ------Imagine, those of you who knew the "OLD"
lovely restaurant, it is now a food court for vendors and a visitor center.

Where has the wonderful OLD NEW YORK gone? Gone to the dogs sez I.