I’d been hearing about Grand Banks, the floating restaurant with Executive Chef Kerry Heffernan’s menu built around sustainable, wild-caught seafood and seasonal produce, but hadn’t made it there until recently.
It was overcast and drizzling when we arrived and were seated under one of the striped yellow awnings. I figured they’re an open-air boat, they must know how to deal with rain.
We shared the fabulous not-to-be-missed burrata ($16) that came with a few slices of marinated beets, a few slices of fresh fennel and some fresh arugula and basil, all drizzled with Chianti vinegar and chive oil and garnished with croutons topped with an olive tapenade. The portion is small but full of flavors and different textures; I highly recommend.
We had ordered our soft-shell crabs when the rain started coming down heavier. They handed us the bill even before we got our food, then a few minutes later brought us the half-completed buttermilk battered fried soft shell crab ($22) that should have come with pickled smoked okra, haricot verts, and fiddlehead ferns. Mine had only two green beans and none of the other promised components. While we attempted to eat, they rolled up the awning and told us we needed to depart. Oddly, they handled the rainstorm as if it were their first one! Not something to expect from an open-air floating restaurant.
My advice if the weather is iffy, take an umbrella, go for drinks, order the burrata and head to somewhere wonderful in Tribeca for the rest of the meal.
– bonnie
Grand Banks
Tribeca
Pier 25
Hudson River Park
New York, NY 10013
(212) 960-3390
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