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Summer in New York is about to get a lot more exciting, especially along the water: On July 17th, the Grand Banks crew is opening The Yacht Club, a 20,000 square-foot, two-floor seafood and nightlight destination docked right along the Hudson in Chelsea. Where would you rather be on a humid summer day than having raw oysters and refreshing cocktails overlooking Manhattan's westside waters?
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Founded in 2004, the maritime-themed hospitality group Crew is the brainchild of brothers-slash-sailors Alex and Miles Pincus. The aptly named Yacht Club is far from the duo's first foray into the world of seafood restaurants—they already own and operate nautical numbers including Pilot, Drift In, High Tide, Island Oyster, Holywater and the aforementioned Grand Banks.
You don't have to own an over-the-top boat or even enjoy the music of smooth, mellow yacht rock greats like Hall & Oats and Toto to enjoy the seafaring vibes at The Yacht Club. You simply need to have an affinity for fresh, flavorful seafood and a fun drinks list. Chef Andres Grundy (formerly of L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Raoul's) curated and created the food menu, which includes maritime snacks like shrimp cocktail, ceviche and both raw and prepared oysters (caviar topped, Creole buttered and so on) as well as more substantial fare including seared Montauk tilefish with summer corn bisque, lumache with littleneck clams and sofrito bianco, and steak Diane, for you non-fish eaters.
There is, of course, plenty of lobster, from in the form of a classic roll (with beurre fondu on a golden brioche), a fried option (crisped up with panko and potato shavings) and lobster salad, as well as a whole crustacean.
Even if you aren't feeling peckish, the drinks menu is littered with refreshing summery choices, including a variety of martinis, Negronis, Day Chasers, and the proprietary Yacht Club Manhattan at the indoor bar. Outside, the Lido Deck bar pours fruity spritzes, frozen drinks, mint Juleps and more. (The venue also has an extensive wine list and a collection of draft and canned beers.)
The Crew's largest venue to date, the 20,000 square-foot, 125-seat restaurant is located on the tenth floor of the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea (212 Twelfth Avenue). With walnut booths, vintage Art Deco sconces, rope-wrapped columns and rentable cabanas, the new spot is sure to be a new summer go-to with its elegant, vintage feel that'll make guests feel like they stepped into a yacht club a century ago or more.