Emerging from the Financial Crisis: The Once Most Profitable Restaurant in the U.S., Tavern on the Green, Reopens

▲ Tavern on the Green reopens again (Photo / Screenshot from Wikipedia)

By Yvonne

Located in Manhattan’s Central Park, New York City, Tavern on the Green was once one of the most profitable restaurants in the United States. It was closed for nearly five years due to operational issues in 2009, but reopened on April 24 this year. Tavern on the Green was at its peak during the 1980s, and with its reopening now, it is bound to attract food lovers from around the world again.

▲ The “Tavern on the Green” which first opened in the 1970s was always packed. (Photo / Screenshot fromTavern on the Green)

The restaurant’s Victorian Gothic architecture dates back to 1870. It was originally built as a sheepfold for the sheep that grazed on the nearby meadow, and was reconstructed in 1934 under a park renovation plan, transforming into one of America’s most famous restaurants—“Tavern on the Green.”

Today, the largest lawn in Central Park is a popular gathering spot, but from 1864 to 1934, this area was used for grazing sheep. If you dine at the restaurant, why not take a stroll through Central Park as well?

▲ New York’s Tavern on the Green reopens. (Photo / Screenshot fromThe New York Times)

Hollywood heir Warner LeRoy took over the restaurant in 1974, transforming it into an irregularly sprawling banquet hall, which at the time was the highest-grossing restaurant in the U.S., earning over NT$1.1 billion (USD $3.8 million) in 2007. However, it was severely hit by the 2008 financial crisis and by 2009, it had fallen to the point of auctioning off its high-end interiors and furnishings.

The restaurant’s glamorous setting has attracted more than 20 films to shoot here since the 1980s, including many well-known classics such as Wall Street, Ghostbusters, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Dining here often brings back memories of familiar scenes from these movies—it’s truly a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds.

▲ Tavern on the Green reopens again. Exquisite cuisine showcases renewed ambition. (Photo / Screenshot fromTavern on the Green)

▲ Tavern on the Green reopens, attracting tourists from around the world with its fine dining. (Photo / Screenshot fromTavern on the Green)

▲ Tavern on the Green reopens, with a menu that dazzles. (Photo / Screenshot fromTavern on the Green)

Interestingly, during the restaurant’s heyday, Tavern on the Green wasn’t known for its food, but rather for its lavish and extravagant interiors and the celebrity clientele who frequented it. Stars like Grace Kelly and John Lennon dined there, yet even then, the Yelp reviews of the time criticized the food as being only as good as canned beef stew. Now, the latest menu, overseen by Chef Katy Sparks, represents a huge leap in quality, featuring dishes like hot squid salad, braised lamb chops with a special fresh herb sauce, and the heirloom deliciousness of fennel-crusted pork chops—all sure to draw food lovers from around the globe.