As the summer heat wanes and crisp autumn air signals change, New York City's dining scene welcomes a new entrant with the opening of The Eighty Six. Set in the storied space at 86 Bedford Street, the cozy, 35-seat steakhouse marks yet another venture from the powerhouse duo behind the quickly ascendant Corner Store and Catch Hospitality Group. According to Eater, the space channels "uptown elegance with downtown swagger," a culinary philosophy reflected in their "easily understood" and "approachable" fare.
With reservations set to hit Resy just seven days before opening, industry insiders predict a scramble reminiscent of the overwhelming response to the opening of the Corner Store, where waits and hype quickly escalated. Bloomberg's feature on the restaurant quotes co-founder Eugene Remm stating, "It’s going to be hard," a nod to the imminent dash for seats within the intimate walls of this historic venue. The interior, as relayed by Bloomberg, is a Rockwell Group-designed haven of "patterned teal velvet banquettes and burled wood walls" that offers homage to the site's illustrious lineage as a literary watering hole.
Behind the burners, Chef Michael Vignola crafts a menu that traverses upscale takes on stapled steakhouse offerings. His kitchen's output is decadent, featuring show-stoppers such as a toast service with bluefin tuna and osetra caviar, heart of palm "crab cakes," and a crowd-pleasing 86 Cheesesteak. Bloomberg notes that, despite the kitchen's diminutive size, the zest for premium meats is unbounded. Vignola is gearing up to serve prime cuts like Delmonico rib-eyes and a 32-ounce porterhouse that pays reverence to New York steakhouse titan, Peter Luger.
Libations don't take a backseat at The Eighty Six, with the establishment showcasing out-of-the-box cocktails such as a bread and butter martini, a fluffy pineapple margarita, and the innovative tomato negroni—a potential crowd-pleaser devised by Dev Johnson, the mind behind the Corner Store's inspired martini selection. According to Eater, the drinks menu takes cues from Prohibition era, a nod to the site's speakeasy past. Wine director Emily Buse curates an "eclectic wine selection," promising options that span a broad spectrum to satisfy various tastes and price points.
