(212) 227-3344

279 Water St
New York, NY 10038 40.7085 -74.0012

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Neighborhoods: Financial District (Wall Street), Downtown, Financial District

BRIDGECAFENYC.COM

Years in business

Established in 1979

Price:

$$$

Last updated 7.20.11

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Brunch, Lunch Spot, Date Spot, Group Dining

Cuisine:

Seafood

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Bridge Cafe

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – With its yellow slat walls, nautical art and well-worn oak bar, this onetime fishermen's lair is now a snug little neighbor to both South Street Seaport and the glass sequoias of nearby Wall Street. The creaky restaurant dates from 1790 and lies just under the massive shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. – – The Food – Not surprisingly, seafood is a strong point. Start with fresh mussels in a peppery tomato broth or the crisp and buttery soft-shell crabs, which are a house specialty. The lean-but-flavorful buffalo steak and burgers also put on a good showing. A…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
After lunch or dinner, stroll along historic Water Street, then on to the South Street Seaport museums and shops.
When to Go:
Sunday brunch ($22) includes a complimentary juice, mimosa, bloody mary or screwdriver, a first course, and a choice of entrees such as eggs Benedict, buttermilk pancakes and fresh fruit crepes.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Seated promptly, attentive service, excellent food (no, you can't make this at home), wine list with reasonable prices, charming old NY decor, great place to take a date.”
  2. “There's obviously a very talented chef here and despite the out of the way location I plan on going back to what is now on my top ten list in NYC, you should make the trip too!”
  3. “There is a real old-world atmosphere, which makes this an excellent dinner or brunch idea.”
  4. “Great place for a quiet romantic dinner”
  5. “The service was also great as was the atmosphere, small not crowded, not snooty, great backfround music and soft lighting.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “Dinner for two is reasonable with a shared salad to start, two entrees, bottle of wine and a shared desert seeming to run about $110, which for the quality of the food and being in the city is pretty good.”
drinks
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “We do not drink that much, but they had some very nice wines by the glass.”
  2. “seated promptly, the waitress was more than helpful extremely pleasent, never felt rushed or hurried, food was pretty good wine prices were resonable.”
  3. “The wine list is good while also being reasonable (good smaller WA and CA labels, many bottles in the $40-$60 range).”
  4. “Also an awesome bar!”
  5. “Dinner for two is reasonable with a shared salad to start, two entrees, bottle of wine and a shared desert seeming to run about $110, which for the quality of the food and being in the city is pretty good.”
  6. “Seated promptly, attentive service, excellent food (no, you can't make this at home), wine list with reasonable prices, charming old NY decor, great place to take a date.”
food quality
90.62999725341797% positive
  1. “ordered their famous buffalo steak which originally would come with homemade potatoe gnocchi but I chose the sauteed spinach with garlic instead, which turned out to be exceptional.”
  2. “cant stand fish, but the scallops were delicious.”
  3. “Seated promptly, attentive service, excellent food (no, you can't make this at home), wine list with reasonable prices, charming old NY decor, great place to take a date.”
  4. “All four of us ordered fish and each dish was excellent, but the meat dishes we saw coming out of the kitchen looked equally good.”
  5. “The important thing is the food was great, not so many selection but every time I went there the food was so good.”
  6. “seated promptly, the waitress was more than helpful extremely pleasent, never felt rushed or hurried, food was pretty good wine prices were resonable.”
  7. “Dinner for two is reasonable with a shared salad to start, two entrees, bottle of wine and a shared desert seeming to run about $110, which for the quality of the food and being in the city is pretty good.”
  8. “The food was great, it even had vegetarain options.”
  9. “Staff was friendly and the food was very good.”
  10. “The omlette was perfect, the eggs benedict was probably the best my bf ever had.”
  11. “The bread they serve is delicious and warm and they will bring you more if you want.”
  12. “The Buffalo hanger steak is great, as is the panko coated chicken (if it's on the menu then, it seems to come and go).”
  13. “It was an excellent sidedish and the spinach was fresh and not overdone.”
  14. “Yes, the food is fantastic.”
  15. “The crepes and bacon were also enjoyed by our guests.”
  16. “I've been probably 6 times and each time the food was just as good as a I remembered it.”
menu variety
90.0% positive
  1. “The service was helpful and the menu had a lot of choices.”
  2. “The important thing is the food was great, not so many selection but every time I went there the food was so good.”
  3. “The Buffalo hanger steak is great, as is the panko coated chicken (if it's on the menu then, it seems to come and go).”
  4. “Great service, everything on the menu looked good.”
  5. “The food was great, it even had vegetarain options.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Seated promptly, attentive service, excellent food (no, you can't make this at home), wine list with reasonable prices, charming old NY decor, great place to take a date.”
service
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. “The service was also great as was the atmosphere, small not crowded, not snooty, great backfround music and soft lighting.”
  2. “Staff was friendly and the food was very good.”
  3. “The service was helpful and the menu had a lot of choices.”
  4. “attentive staff, not rushed at all, nice out of the way cafe”
  5. “Great service, everything on the menu looked good.”
  6. “Seated promptly, attentive service, excellent food (no, you can't make this at home), wine list with reasonable prices, charming old NY decor, great place to take a date.”
  7. “seated promptly, the waitress was more than helpful extremely pleasent, never felt rushed or hurried, food was pretty good wine prices were resonable.”
  8. “The waitresses were really attentive to our needs - always refilling our glasses and making sure everything was ok.”
  9. “Waitress were nice and friendly as well.”
value
75.0% positive
  1. “Decent value for downtown restaurant week”
  2. “seated promptly, the waitress was more than helpful extremely pleasent, never felt rushed or hurried, food was pretty good wine prices were resonable.”
  3. “Seated promptly, attentive service, excellent food (no, you can't make this at home), wine list with reasonable prices, charming old NY decor, great place to take a date.”
  4. “The prices are also affordable.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/13/10

????

by lilisha

?

4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/14/08

I can't wait to go back

by jenkin

I went for my first time last Friday night and was blown away. The specialty drinks are so original...you'll never get one like it anywhere else. For dinner I had the diver scallops with brandy cream, citrus linguini, woodland mushrooms. It was perfect. I can't wait to go back. Make reservations.

  • Pros: seafood,service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/14/08

Fantastic Food, casual setting

by willis69

The modest, yet inviting, look of the place belies the high end ingredients and fantastic cooking. All four of us ordered fish and each dish was excellent, but the meat dishes we saw coming out of the kitchen looked equally good. Desserts were great as well. There's obviously a very talented chef here and despite the out of the way location I plan on going back to what is now on my top ten list in NYC, you should make the trip too!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/13/08

Also an awesome bar!

by kweingold

Yes, the food is fantastic. But what no one seems to mention is that they have one of the best-stocked bars in the city. The bourbon and scotch selections are unbelievable, with some stuff not even the Brandy Library has! And here's a hint: they have sample sizes so you can try a few things for much less than a regular glass, plus a great way to try something before investing a lot of money in a bottle for yourself.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/01/08

Hidden treat

by where2be

You might have to circle around the block a few times to find it, but it's worth the effort. I've been probably 6 times and each time the food was just as good as a I remembered it. The Buffalo hanger steak is great, as is the panko coated chicken (if it's on the menu then, it seems to come and go). The wine list is good while also being reasonable (good smaller WA and CA labels, many bottles in the $40-$60 range). The place is small and the dark wood bar dominates along one wall. The small size and wonderfully dated interior give it a really nice almost homey feel. Service has always been prompt and nice. Dinner for two is reasonable with a shared salad to start, two entrees, bottle of wine and a shared desert seeming to run about $110, which for the quality of the food and being in the city is pretty good.

  • Pros: Great food, Wonderful atmosphere
  • Cons: Hidden

The Details on Bridge Cafe

Place Categories:

  • never pretty good food
  • helpful attentive service
  • nice waitress
  • nice attentive staff
  • romantic dinner
  • great everything
  • delicious bread
  • affordable prices
  • best eggs benedict
  • great desserts
  • very nice dining
  • good bottles
  • perfect omlette
  • decent value
  • good great service
  • excellent fish
  • excellent dish
  • very talented chef
  • outstanding fritters
  • enjoyed bacon
  • great buffalo hanger steak
  • snooty nothing
  • great place
  • delicious scallops
  • awesome bar
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