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The verdict is still out on food halls in New York. Although the format has proliferated in recent years, with destinations like Market 57, Urban Hawker and the ever-expanding lineup at Rockefeller Center betting big on communal dining, not every project has managed to become a daily habit for New Yorkers.
But if there's one food hall poised for success, it might be Shaver Hall, the sprawling new culinary destination taking over the former Lord & Taylor flagship building on Fifth Avenue, now home to Amazon's New York offices.
Although the space doesn't officially open until June 26, Time Out got an exclusive first look inside and, after touring the venue, this writer is optimistic for two reasons: the carefully curated roster of permanent vendors and the location itself seem to be the right combination for success. Shaver Hall sits inside a building housing roughly 2,000 Amazon employees and is surrounded by some of midtown's busiest office corridors and public spaces. Between the built-in lunch crowd and several concepts designed specifically for grab-and-go dining, the hall already has a strong foundation.
Eleven eateries and three full-service restaurants
According to the team behind the project, the goal was simple: bring together some of New York's best food purveyors under one roof. That's a lofty promise, but the approach is smart. Rather than filling the space with competing concepts, Shaver Hall selected one standout operator for each category—one pizza spot, one pasta destination, one hand-roll counter, one taco concept and so on.
Whether they're the absolute best in the city is, of course, subjective. What's not up for debate is that these are respected operators.
The lineup includes F&F Pizzeria from the team behind Frankies 457 Spuntino, Tonchinette serving noodles and ramen, Mediterranean concept Zazu, Pastasole (of giant Parm wheel fame), hand-roll go-to Norihana, Korean-inspired fried chicken joint Chick Chick, Taqueria Al Pastor and Bidrina, whose gelato has developed a following at its Brooklyn restaurant. This marks the brand's first standalone gelato shop. (Pro tip: order the fior di latte, a flavor that is everywhere in Italy but is nearly impossible to find in New York.)
Just outside the Amazon lobby entrance sits a Sweetleaf Coffee outpost, clearly designed to serve the building's office crowd. On the opposite side, Tompkins Square Bagels enjoys its own direct connection to the lobby, creating what feels like a highly strategic breakfast corridor for Amazon employees.
Alongside the eateries, which all share the hall's communal seating areas, are three full-fledged restaurant experiences.
First is an intimate 12-seat omakase counter operated by the same Chicago-based Michelin-starred chef behind Norihana, BK Park. Although still under construction, an early peek revealed a sleek and sophisticated room that fits seamlessly into the rest of the hall.
Then come the two crown jewels of the project.
Tallow Steakhouse, operated by the FB Society hospitality group, marks the company's first brick-and-mortar New York restaurant. The dining room is all plush banquettes and understated elegance, with subtle nods to the building's former life as a luxury department store. Vintage Lord & Taylor jewelry boxes appear throughout the space and artwork references the building's retail history.
The menu deserves special attention. Steaks sourced from local butcher Pat LaFrieda will anchor the offerings, with three cuts available daily for $49 each, served with salad and Tallow's signature fries. A handful of classic steakhouse sides rounds out the menu. The restaurant seats 135 guests and includes a private dining room accommodating up to 16 people.
The other headliner is Pick & Cheese, arguably one of the most talked-about British imports to arrive in New York in recent years.
The viral London concept replaces sushi plates with cheese on a conveyor belt. Diners sit around a conveyor belt carrying small plates featuring one of 28 cheeses. About 15 selections will remain constant while the rest rotate seasonally. Each cheese arrives paired with a carefully selected accompaniment, whether that's a jam, chutney or cracker.
The concept translates surprisingly well to New York. As founder Mathew Carver puts it, American cheese hasn't always received the recognition it deserves. Here, many of the cheeses are sourced domestically and presented with the same level of care often reserved for wine tastings.
Guests can also order bread service and cheese-focused desserts, including a collaboration with Bidrina. Plates are color-coded so servers can easily track pricing, with most selections ranging between roughly $6 and $9.
A midtown bodega
Near the Sweetleaf location, the team has created Around the Corner, a colorful bodega-inspired retail shop that nods to classic Lower East Side corner stores while feeling decidedly more elevated.
Expect shelves stocked with viral pantry staples, specialty snacks, home goods, umbrellas and other useful items office workers might need throughout the day. Products like Graza olive oil share space with design-forward household items and curated impulse buys.
Adjacent to the shop is Bodega Bar, featuring 20 self-pour taps dispensing beer, wine and cocktails. Guests pay by the ounce, making it easy to sample a wine before switching to a cocktail or vice versa.
Not just food
At the center of the hall sits Layaway, a massive bar whose name references the old retail practice popularized by department stores, where shoppers could reserve merchandise and pay for it in installments before taking it home.
The cocktail program mixes classics like dirty martinis and Negronis with a menu of spritzes inspired by pioneering American women. The theme honors Dorothy Shaver, the influential president of Lord & Taylor from 1945 to 1959 and widely recognized as the first woman to lead a multimillion-dollar business in the United States.
The Dorothy Shaver spritz combines rosé and raspberry notes. The Lilly Daché features rhubarb and orange, while the Muriel King incorporates cucumber, mint and elderflower. The Claire McCardell leans summery with watermelon, pear and lemon.
Behind the bar sits a stage anchored by a massive screen that will broadcast World Cup matches while also hosting a steady schedule of live entertainment. Expect soul performances, comedy shows and other events beginning immediately after opening.
The venue's opening celebration will include a production created specifically for Shaver Hall in partnership with Broadway Dreams, the nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides training, mentorship and performance opportunities for aspiring musical theater artists.
Any large-scale hospitality project in New York is ultimately a gamble, and food halls in particular remain a tricky proposition. But if success starts with attention to detail, thoughtful curation and a clear understanding of who your audience is, Shaver Hall appears to have done everything right.
Whether New Yorkers embrace it remains to be seen. But after a first look inside, it certainly feels like the rare food hall that already knows exactly who it's for.