Lafayette Grill & Bar (Tribeca - City Hall - New York City)

Operating out of a historic building and establishment, the Grill offers your eyes a glimpse into the glory years of Old New York. While there, your ears will be surprised and pleased to find the exotic treats of many cultures, and your body will move like you never knew you knew how. Your mouth, though, will not be left out of the party. Your taste buds will sail a wonderful cruise, as they savor the best dishes from across the Mediterranean Sea, from Spain, to Greece, to Lebanon, you will have a taste of each and end up in heaven.

Located near City Hall in Tribeca, on Franklin Street (of Ben Franklin), between Lafayette (of Marquis de La Fayette) and Broadway (of Old Broadway), this place offers a rare gateway into the past of the great old town, and a getaway from New York at the same time.

As you enter, you’ll pass an old bar that could have served William Bradford, the founder of the city’s first newspaper in 1725, or Rudolph Giuliani in his early DA days. Hang up your coat, like men once did, and don’t be fooled by the cozy, narrow passageway that meets you at the door, as it leads to an auditorium style dining and dance area within. The décor is Old New York, with old wooden floors that beckon your feet to dance. You’ll love the paintings that adorn the walls, and if you like one enough, it can be yours, as everything is for sale thanks to the neighborhood friendly owners and talented Tribeca artists.

Lafayette Grill is owned and operated daily, I mean hands on, by three Greek brothers and the spirit of the fourth, God rest his soul. Billy will serve you drinks and Dino will help you plan your events. Host Eduardo, will set you up for an evening of fun, and take care of you once you have arrived. You’ll truly feel like family from the moment you enter, and before you leave, you’ll feel as if you had just enjoyed an unforgettable party with friends.

Tango Dancing, Middle Eastern/Greek Music & Live Performances

Lafayette Grill’s daily schedule offers a little bit for all, so pay attention, and please see the restaurant’s website for fresh updates. The Lafayette Grill hosts a "Tango Salon" each Monday night, with lessons from 8 pm to 9 pm ($10 cover and $5 for each class). After nine, Lafayette kicks into high gear, and a Tango party runs through 1:45 am. The Tango fun continues on Tuesday as well, with the Milonga Recuerdo Party, featuring live music and performance. You’ll enjoy a lesson Tuesday as well, as they run from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The dance party runs til 1:30 am on Tuesdays, and the cover costs $12. Lafayette keeps the party going into Wednesday too, with the Libertad @ Lafayette Party, with hosts Magdalena y Lexa. You can catch a lesson from 8:00 to 8:45 pm, and dance the night away until 1:00 am or so. No Tango on Thursday’s at Lafayette, but check the website as the bar features live performances by Ethiopian, Jazz and other artists regularly. There’s usually something going on at the Grill, and so the calendar at the site is updated regularly, or just call in and ask “what’s going on tonight?” Odds are, it’s something hot and fun. On Friday nights, New York’s historic party bar offers something special, its Middle Eastern Music & Greek Night. The Grill’s Greek Night also features a belly dancing show to break up the evening.

Prix-Fixe Menu & Breakfast for Your Court House Schedule

The restaurant offers a "Wine & Dine" dinner special every night of the week except Sunday. The deal runs from 5 to 9 PM each evening, and offers a prix-fixe menu set at $25. You’ll get a glass of wine, a choice of salad or appetizer from a short list, the entree’ and a choice of deserts as well. That’s quite a deal. Take note that an 18% gratuity will be added to the bill so the service is not forgotten. Finally, The Grill has court goers taken care of as well. Get a comforting breakfast before your court date at the luncheonette next door, owned by the same.

Our Dining Experience

We were delighted to find the true Mediterranean menu, with a tapas style tasting of so many of the sea’s wonderful treats. We wanted to try a bit of each, and so we started with the most expensive option in the Soup & Salad section of the Dinner Menu, the Tabouli Salad with Falafel ($12). You can enjoy a Greek Salad for $9 or a French Onion Soup for $8. And if you miss your Greek mother, you’ll find a rare treat, an Avgolemono (egg, lemon & chicken) Soup on the menu too for $7. There are various other options as well. Our Tabouli Salad with Falafel was a wonderfully warm, spicy treat, with a perfect blend of spices and refreshing tahini sauce.

We followed that up with an old favorite from the Mezedes section of the menu. Billy says he has the best Grecian Style Octopus ($15) in New York, and we found a definite contender for that title before us. Sautéed with herbs in an olive oil vinaigrette, the meat of the sea was cooked perfectly, a soft delight for our taste buds. This is definitely a good choice for diners seeking a taste of Greece. You might also like the Saganaki, the sharp Greek cheese that is delicately coated and fried with a touch of ouzo. The Mezedes menu also offers Empanadas, two of them in fact, with a choice of chicken, beef or crabmeat for $9. Another sweet option for a party of a few is the Pikilia, or mixed grill, offering a tasting of Loukaniko (grilled Greek sausages), Keftedes (fried meatballs), Lamb & Chicken Kebab, and a Gyro for $23. With a little ouzo, this platter will give dancers a reason to take a break. This is the kind meal a parea, or group of friends, might enjoy on the Greek islands or under the Acropolis.

We decided to go traditional in closing out our meal, and enjoyed Lafayette Grill & Bar’s patented Marinated Lamb Chops for $29. The Grill’s Entrees range from $17 to $35. This tasty lamb option offers meat lovers plentiful, properly cooked and wisely wined lamb chops. We were extremely pleased to find enough chops to keep both our chops happy. And the buttered mash potatoes were to die for, though you’ll do just as well with the oven baked potatoes, which are a Greek staple. Finally, on the side, the vegetable salad was a perfect combination, as a famous Greek singer with a song by the same name and from the New York area might put it. The veggies were cooked to a medium mark, making them a lovely taste and texture combo for our mouths’ treat. We noted celery, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower in the mix, all of which perfectly complemented the main course.

Zorbas Says, "Did you say dance?!"

While our tummies were lavishing in the luxury of our choosing, our ears and hearts were soothed with wonderful live music from a true Mediterranean band, playing tunes in Greek, Turkish, Persian and Arabic. There was a break in the dancing, offering a chance to rest and watch a Radio City Hall type delight. We thoroughly enjoyed the flavor of a family friendly and colorful belly dancing show that lasted just long enough. Only in New York! And then we danced… and we danced some more. You can dance the night way at the Grill on most evenings in fact. Just be sure to see the schedule at the restaurant’s website, so you know what to wear.

Lafayette Grill is a great place to go with a good sized group of friends, whether old or new. It’s a fun option for dates that break the norm, giving a couple something novel to do. The place will break the ice without effort for new friends, and it will bring old friends into warm hugs and old laughs.