The Oyster Bar opened its doors in 1913, the same year that Grand Central Station opened for operation. Located midway between the main and lower levels, its is surprising on how big this establishment it. I'll go into that a bit later. With train travel being paramount in the United States during this era, businesses such as the Grand Central Oyster Bar flourished providing a necessary stop for passengers to enjoy a meal and cocktails in between trains. But with the development of such innovations as automobiles, interstate highway systems and affordable jet travel the dependency on traveling by train diminished. Hand-in-hand with the decline of the trains went the decline of eateries in train depots such as the Oyster Bar. By the early 1970's, the Oyster Bar was relegated to coffee shop status before going bankrupt and closing its doors. In came Jerome Brody.
According to the History of the Oyster Bar page on the Grand Central Oyster Bar website, owner Jerome Brody describes what he came across when he was asked to take over the fading restaurant:
In 1974, when I was approached by the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority to take it over, the old restaurant had been bankrupt and empty for two years, having become in its last days not much more than a sad, old coffee shop. Reluctantly, I inspected what remained of its former grandness. The elegant marble columns you see in the restaurant today were then painted aquamarine over wallpaper. The wall covering was yellow Cello-tex™. The furniture was upholstered yellow, in unsettling contrast with the red table cloths.
Despite the obvious drawbacks and failures of the old restaurant, I thought that if we could develop a strong merchandising concept, the 440 seat capacity had real potential. But it would be up to us to invent a new restaurant—from menu to decor—which would make us a destination restaurant.Brody was responsible for the management of such New York restaurants such as Four Seasons, the Rainbow Room, Gallagher's Steak House and The Forum of the Twelve Caesars at Rockefeller Center. So guidance of the Oyster Bar was in good hands and as per his words, the Oyster Bar rose from the ruins. A destination restaurant it indeed became and almost 40-years later, the bar caters to both the business and casual diner/drinker. The place is massive with a small bar right near the entrance. More traditional seating to the left of the entrance. Luncheonette style reminiscent of Woolworth's dining area (yes, I am dating myself here) to the right and after that a room called the Saloon which is packed with diners and drinkers looking for more of a pub feel with two separate bars servicing the clientele. Since I thought I was meeting Momma-San, I decided to sit in a visible location. I waited for her at the small bar directly at the entrance. I was not disappointed.
The bartender Marcelo is what I would categorize as an old school, classic bartender. Probably having made drinks in a variety of bars and restaurants over a number of decades, Marcelo is nothing but a professional. To move people around his small bar with the simple act of moving their drinks AND not getting any flak from them for doing so is simply amazing. But, this is something he would do in order to accommodate the clientele that was at his bar for at least one drink. And speaking of the drink, being in a classic place as this, I wanted to go with something classic: The Gin Martini. After looking at the selection, I decided to choose to have Plymouth Gin for my cocktail.
Plymouth Original Strength is a unique, protected style of gin originating from the city of Plymouth, South West England. Since 1793 it has been distilled from a unique blend of 7 botanicals, soft Dartmoor water and pure grain alcohol at the historic Black Friars Distillery - the oldest working distillery in England
THE TASTE
Plymouth Gin has a great depth of flavour with deep earthy notes and a wonderfully fresh juniper and lemony bite. It has a slight sweetness with extraordinary concentration and complexity. No single botanical dominates the overall flavour. The finish is long and dry.
TASTING NOTES
Colour - Crystal Clear.Though it really took an error in ordering my second cocktail to find out how good Plymouth Gin really is. For me, ordering a dirty martini is a blast of flavor for my tastes buds. Doing so with a lesser gin hides the harshness that you might find from some gins that are juniper heavy in terms of botanicals. But the brine in a Plymouth Gin martini doesn't do the gin any justice.
Nose - Rich, fresh aroma of juniper followed by notes of coriander and cardamom.
Palate - Extremely smooth, creamy and full bodies with a slight sweetness.
Finish - Elegant, long, fresh and aromatic
The second cocktail came to be a standard martini and I have to say that it was arguably the smoothest gin martini that I have ever had. It was crisp and clean and while you can feel the botanicals on the tongue, you couldn't say that it was heavier in any one particular flavor. It was truly a delight on the palate. I would find it hard to order another gin martini without having Plymouth as my go-to.
Unfortunately Momma-San never showed, having missed my text messages so we weren't able to partake in any cocktails. So I ended my time at the Oyster Bar at four martinis. I highly recommend visiting the Oyster Bar if you want a quick cocktail or want to have a few oysters before you catch the commuter rail home. Just keep in mind that the last seating is a 9:30pm and the restaurant closes on Sunday. So no Sunday Funday at the Oyster Bar.
Until Then Happy Drinking,
SiscoVanilla
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***Author's Note: This is a post that I had put together and for whatever reason, I didn't post it. It was complete and for whatever reason, it fell through the cracks. Now I do remember that it was from 2015 and to be honest, I'm not sure if the bartender I mention in the article is still at the Grand Central Oyster Bar. Regardless, enjoy the post.
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