The venerable 85 Tenth Avenue building, once the birthplace of America's favorite cookies, has been given a dramatic second life. Introducing Crane Club , the brainchild of chef Melissa Rodriguez –– the Michelin-starred maestro behind Al Coro –– and her longtime co-conspirator, Jeff Katz. This latest venture is not merely a restaurant — it's an extravagant overture, a daring leap from the confines of French and Italian fine dining into a world brimming with bold possibilities.
Rodriguez and Katz have summoned their culinary dream team — veterans of Del Posto and Al Coro — to reprise their roles in this thrilling production. Pastry Chef Georgia Wodder and Executive Chef Katherine Rock take the stage alongside cocktail savant Chris Lemperle and wine whisperer Cat Fanelli. Together, they deliver a symphony of flavors and textures that feel both refreshingly modern and deeply rooted in culinary tradition.
The venue's opening was a star-studded grand affair. Among the glitterati who made the cut: Bethenny Frankel , Aaron Paul, Justin Theroux, Bill Maher , Pharrell Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Winnie Harlow, Sofia Vergara, J Balvin and Chelsea Clinton . At the heart of this gastronomic wonderland is a custom-built 12-foot Mibrasa wood-fired grill, a Spanish import that serves as the restaurant's smoky soul.
It's the secret behind such dishes as the exquisite Sfogliatelle — a flakey pastry filled with potato and fontina, crowned with Osetra caviar — and the indulg.
