Greenwich village is one of my favorite neighborhoods in New York. The architecture, the parks, the busy NYU students disrespectfully cutting in front of you, it’s a living neighborhood filled with a very unique energy. Of course, with such a unique character, you’re sure to find some strange birds in the neighborhood…
As the founder of Strange Bird Hospitality, restaurateur Natalie Freihon is a welcome resident of the neighborhood. Originally from Los Angeles, Natalie moved to Greenwich Village with a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry. In New York she lead the development of some of the neighborhood’s most popular restaurants, like The Fat Radish on Orchard Street, and Nat’s on Bank. With these two restaurants, Natalie quickly established herself as a name to be reckoned with in the industry.
Now, it appears that Nat will be expanding her signature restaurant with a brand new outpost at 33 West 8th Street. The new restaurant, which is tentatively titled Nat’s on 8th Street, is described by Natalie as a “neighborhood restaurant specializing in classic American dishes in a whimsical environment.” Uniquely, while many of the restaurants we cover here are well-known for the drinks they serve, Nat’s plans on serving extensive non-alcoholic beverages in addition to their traditional wine and program.
Experiencing the joy of specialty crafted drinks shouldn’t be reserved exclusively for alcohol drinkers. As more and more Americans have been re-evaluating their relationship with alcohol, it’s critical for restaurants like Nat’s to make the laudable decision to offer delicious and unique alternatives to alcoholic cocktails. There is so much more to the cocktail experience than the alcohol inside it, and providing engaging non-alcoholic and low-ABV beverage alternatives is a much-needed step to make bars and restaurants more accessible to all New Yorkers.
Of course, cocktail lovers shouldn’t feel too left out, as there will be plenty of especially boozy beverages for your late nights and brunch parties. In addition to a wide selection of beer, wine, and cocktails, Nat’s is expected to serve a similar menu to its bank street location, offering lunch and dinner with a relaxed, New American spin. As Nat’s describes it, they serve “elevated, New York classics but with a touch of whimsy. Healthy, yet sinful when you wish.”
Moving into the spot at 33 West 8th Street, Nat’s will be taking over the space from YUCO, a Yucatan restaurant that launched in 2017. Offering 2,330 Square Foot of space between the ground floor and basement, Nat’s will have plenty of space to create the inviting neighborhood restaurant that Natalie has been envisioning. The location is also very strong, only a block away from Washington Square Park and the many students known to gather there. While Natalie and her team are still very early into the process, you can always visit Nat’s on Bank to get a taste of what to expect.
