There's A New Oyster Bar On A Historic Ship Docked The Hudson, And It's Awesome
Grand Banks is anchored in the Hudson River, at the end of Pier 25 in Tribeca. The ship is 142 feet long, making it the largest wooden vessel in New York City and one of the largest on the East Coast.
The ship has great views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, as well as New Jersey (if you're into that type of thing).
You'll also get a prime view of the Freedom Tower.
There is a full-service bar, which offers nautical themed cocktails, as well as beers from Red Hook's Other Half Brewery Company.
There's also a smaller, metal-topped oyster bar where the oysters are shucked, prepared, and served.
The oysters are all sustainably sourced from various areas around the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and trust us, they are delicious.
Executive Chef James Kim, who selects and prepares oysters for guests, is a master of his craft. In addition to oysters, there's a selection of small plates like fried squash blossoms and smoked crudo.
There's a dumbwaiter at the rear of the oyster bar, which shuttles dishes to the deck from the fully operational kitchen built in to the hull of the ship.
Arguably the most impressive thing about Grand Banks is that it's a real restaurant built inside a 72-year-old wooden ship.
The hold of the ship also has an educational exhibition space, a built-in cold storage, the ship's original refrigerator, and, of course, bathrooms.
We asked if the waves and rocking boat were even an issue. Owner Alex Pincus told us, "Our crew is used to it and our guests usually get excited by it. I do think the rocking adds the the feeling of escape."
Droves of people lined up to board the ship when it opened at 4 p.m. As soon as the gates opened, the bar was quite busy. Grand Banks is open from 4 to 11 on weekdays, and noon to 11 on weekends.
Grand Banks is perfect for a date. But it's not the only spot in New York to get romantic.
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