There’s a new restaurant in Grand Central Station called Grand Brasserie. It’s located in the Vanderbilt Hall just inside the entrance at 89 East 42nd Street at Park Avenue in Manhattan.
Created by Rick Blatstein, it’s an elegant 16,000-square foot space with a French menu that has the capacity to seat 400 people. That’s very large by NYC standards. The Executive Chef is Guillaume Thivet, who used to be with La Grande Boucherie, one of my favorite French restaurants in the city.
The place’s holiday decorations really stood out to me, so I checked out the menu with plans to eat there as soon as possible. Then, I was invited to an event that allowed me to meet Blatstein and sample some of the cuisine. The main standout that evening were bites of croque monsieur, which were absolutely delicious. I also enjoyed the perfectly cooked pommes frites.
While I haven’t yet had a full meal at the restaurant, I’m looking forward to it after sampling some of Chef Thivet’s specialties. The menus are extensive with lots of options for a diverse party. Brunch, which is served from 5:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., includes classics like eggs benedict and duck confit. Or try a lobster omelette.
It isn’t always easy to find such a large brunch menu available during the week and especially so early in the morning. The fact that’s it in Grand Central Terminal makes it an especially convenient place for business meetings.
A $35 prix fixe menu is also available from 5:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., serving an appetizer, entree, and dessert, which includes everything from quiche to a cheeseburger. The restaurant also has caviar service and seafood towers. Dinner is served until 2:00 a.m. if you want to eat after the theater before grabbing the train.
Desserts include chocolate mousse and profiteroles, and if you’re a wine connoisseur, the wine list is six pages long. Reservations are recommended.
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
I had the occasion to eat lunch at Grande Brasserie…an omelette with salad. Beautifully done and delish!