Good news, everybody! A beloved 10-year-old restaurant that previously closed in response to the pandemic is now gearing up to come back with a vengeance.
Working as a restaurant reporter during a pandemic era can take its toll. Witnessing so many beloved restaurants closing in such a short amount of time can become discouraging, so it’s always a sincere pleasure to report on a previously closed restaurant’s reopening.
Chef Jeremy Spector’s Brindle Room was one of the most popular restaurants in the East Village. Open since 2010, the restaurant served a variety of polished American dishes, but earned particular acclaim for its burger. Touted by many in the neighborhood as “one of the best burgers in the East Village,” the Brindle Room’s specialty burger was made with ultra-premium meat from partner Dean Piccolo‘s New Jersey Steakhouse. While Jeremy never intended for his restaurant become a burger spot, the burger’s reputation proceeded itself and cultivated a mystique all its own.
For a long time, the burger was hidden from the menu, available only to the customers savvy enough to already know what they were looking for. Sadly, just as The Brindle Room’s reputation was reaching its apogee, the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Shutting down his doors at 277 East 10th Street, Jeremy continued to offer take out for a while before the location was taken over by Chic-Hen.
While things looked grim for the beloved restaurant in the short term, we’re happy to report that Jeremy is planning on bringing The Brindle Room back, opening a brand new location at 647 East 11th Street. Moving into the space that was previously occupied by Virginia’s, the location is spacious enough to comfortably seat about about 50 guests at one time. Currently in the process of applying for a liquor license for the new location, Jeremy intends to operate the restaurant daily from 11AM – 12AM, weekdays and weekends alike. In addition, Jeremy is also proposing a sidewalk café that will close every night at 11PM.
By complete coincidence, I actually used to live in the apartment complex at 647 East 11th Street, so I can personally vouch for the beauty of the neighborhood and the quality of the location. Thanks to Jeremy’s revival of The Brindle Room, I’ll finally have an excuse to revisit the old stomping grounds. It’s a great area with plenty of parks and kind people, and locals are sure to be relieved to hear that The Brindle Room is finally coming back.
