New York City has no shortage of restaurant drama, but Donald Trump’s feud with The Waverly Inn has a particularly delicious shelf life. Long before political rallies, Truth Social posts and presidential campaign slogans, Trump and Waverly Inn owner Graydon Carter were already locked in one of Manhattan’s more entertaining celebrity feuds.
The backstory goes way back. Carter, the longtime Vanity Fair editor, had famously mocked Trump during his years at Spy magazine, including the now-legendary nickname “short-fingered vulgarian.”
So when Carter took over the West Village institution The Waverly Inn, the restaurant naturally became another piece of the rivalry.
Then came the restaurant review nobody asked for: Trump publicly attacked The Waverly Inn’s food, calling it the “worst food in city.” The particularly amusing part? According to Eater, Trump had never been confirmed to have actually eaten there.
That, however, did not stop Carter from turning the insult into restaurant marketing.
For years, the Trump jab was reportedly printed at the top of The Waverly Inn menu, essentially transforming a presidential-grade insult into free advertising. Because if New York restaurants have learned anything, it’s that controversy pairs nicely with a reservation.
Today, The Waverly Inn remains one of the West Village’s most iconic celebrity restaurants, known for its discreet atmosphere, fireplaces, artwork and famous clientele. The restaurant even prohibits photography inside, a policy that helps preserve its old-school celebrity hideaway appeal.
And that may be the funniest part of the entire Trump-Waverly Inn saga. Trump wanted to insult the restaurant; instead, he helped add another chapter to its mythology.
The Waverly Inn still serves dinner seven nights a week and weekend brunch, according to its official site.
In New York, there are plenty of ways to get famous. At The Waverly Inn, apparently one of them is getting roasted by Donald Trump—and putting the quote on the menu.
