Brooklyn’s Theodora is hauling its open-fire setup across the water to Governors Island this summer, rolling out a sand-side pop-up dubbed Theodora Beach Club. The Fort Greene favorite is taking over the island’s Taco Vista concession and turning it into a weekend hub for beach parties and communal tasting dinners, complete with skyline views, hulking iron grills, and a smoke-heavy menu built on hanging and slow-cooked techniques.
According to Time Out, the series is presented by Resy with media partner VinePair and will bring in guest cooks including Charly Pretet of Terra Firma, Andrew Clarke of Acme Fire Cult, and Top Chef contestant Lana Lagomarsini. “Our team has spent the past year exploring how live fire cooking can be brought to NYC diners in dynamic ways,” a Theodora spokesperson told Time Out, adding that the crew will be experimenting with hanging meat, fish, and seasonal vegetables over open flames.
Tickets and the experience
The pop-up splits into two ticketed tracks: more laid-back Friday beach parties and slightly dressier Saturday communal coursed dinners. Reservations run through Resy, while Theodora's Beach Club page breaks down the guest-chef lineup and schedule. Listings currently put Friday nights at around $100, including a welcome cocktail and live-fire bites, and Saturday tasting menus at about $200, with beverages sold separately. All of it is subject to the whims of summer weather, so lineups and dates may shift.
How they’ll cook
Theodora plans to plant iron grills right in the sand and fire them with wood, turning out whole fish and slow-roasted meats that are either hung or set above the coals for a deep, smoky char. Time Out notes that the Governors Island stint grows out of the team’s ongoing interest in scaling their restaurant’s live-fire approach into a bigger outdoor format. Menus will rotate, and guest chefs will plug into select weekends as the summer program rolls on.
Plan your visit
Theodora’s home base at 7 Greene Ave in Fort Greene will stay open for service while the Beach Club is underway, and the restaurant suggests booking ahead for weekend nights. Theodora's Beach Club page hosts the calendar and ticketing details for dates across the summer. Anyone heading out should keep an eye on ferry schedules and Governors Island’s seasonal hours when plotting a late-night feast, so the only sprint at the end of the evening is for the dessert course, not the last boat.
