Going to The Public Theater just got a lot more delicious. The downtown Manhattan institution has officially opened The Astor, a brand-new restaurant inside its historic Astor Place building—and it’s bringing serious old-school New York energy to your next night at the theater.
Located at 425 Lafayette Street, The Astor replaces the former Library restaurant and opened September 15. The new restaurant is a collaboration between The Public Theater and the team behind NoHo Hospitality, including Andrew Carmellini and Serge Becker.
The vibe is basically classic New York supper club meets theater nostalgia. The space features wood paneling, red banquettes, vintage photographs, theater memorabilia and a mural by artist André Carrilho celebrating Public Theater figures. There’s even a custom carpet incorporating the names of productions from the theater’s history.
And then there’s the food.
Chef Angel Monge, working with Carmellini, has created a menu inspired by the so-called golden age of New York dining. Expect dishes including steak Diane, clams casino, “Devilish” eggs, pigs in Wellington with bourbon mustard and a French mushroom dip with au jus. Basically, this is not theater food unless your theater food involves considerably more butter.
The cocktail menu leans into classic New York, too, with chilled versions of favorites including martinis, Manhattans and Bijous.
And The Astor isn’t the only new food-and-drink addition. Bar Torino, a new café and aperitivo bar, has also opened inside The Public, serving panini, pastries and Italian snacks.
The idea is simple: make dinner, drinks and a performance part of the same night out.
So next time you’re heading to The Public Theater, don’t just show up when the curtain is about to rise.
Get there early. Order the steak. Have a cocktail.
Your Broadway-adjacent dinner plans just got a serious downtown upgrade.
