After an extended temporary closure, the popular upscale smoked steakhouse speakeasy, Holy Ground, is looking to reopen at 105 Eldridge Street in the Lower East Side, co-owner and chef Frank Vlasic confirms.
Its now-defunct flagship opened in 2018 at 112 Reade Street in Tribeca. It was helmed by restaurateurs Vlasic, Matt Abramyck and Nathan Lithgow who are also behind the French restaurant, Yves, at 385 Greenwich Street in Tribeca. The team had to close Holy Ground because of the pandemic and pivoted to pop-ups. It was originally seeking a home at 356 Bowery last summer, as previously reported by What Now New York, but Vlasic shared that the team ultimately decided that it wasn’t the right space. The new space, which was formerly occupied by a tavern and music venue, LES Vixens, from 2005 to 2017, is still in the very early planning stages.
Vlasic says it will be the same classic New York steakhouse and cocktail bar meets smokehouse concept run by the same team. However it’s likely not going to open for a while.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Vlasic tells What Now New York.
He says the team is currently focusing on their most upcoming venture, so they probably won’t even start working on Holy Ground for a few months. Their newest concept will be a summer pop-up called Barbeque Taco housed in The Breakers, which is billed as a laid back surf, skate and disco-inspired neighborhood bar in Williamsburg. Barbecue Taco is currently slated to be available six days a week starting mid-June, but the deal has not been finalized yet, Vlasic says.
Holy Ground’s namesake pays homage to the mid-1700s Tribeca neighborhood in which its flagship was housed.
“From the moment you enter, you are transported to the New York of centuries past,” it advertises on its website. “Secretive in nature and with a dimly lit atmosphere, Holy Ground creates a seductive and hidden away feel.”
It expects to have a maximum capacity of 271 people with its planned hours being 11 a.m. to midnight from Monday to Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.
It’s proposed menu in the liquor license application includes starters like a green apple salad with green apple, fennel, pistachio and green goddess dressing ($14) to grilled prawns with ginger, scallion and pickled chilis ($22), and bar fare from spicy beef jerky with house pickles ($10) to mac n’ cheese with mornay sauce ($10), Manhattan wings with smoked and char grilled with ranch ($12) to hamburgers with aged white cheddar, garlic aioli, house made pickles and french fries ($25). It also entrees such as brisket ($28), pork shoulder ($30), and branzino with salsa verde and watercress ($30). You can take home their Holy Ground House Sauce for $7/bottle.
Abramyck currently operates Smith & Mills, a small plates and cocktail restaurant, at 71 North Moore Street in Tribeca. It is also opening a second location soon at the Rockefeller Center, according to its website. He also runs The Golden Swan, a classic upscale New York restaurant, at 314 West 11th Street in the West Village. He formerly operated Warren 77, Navy, Superlinda, A Summer Day Café, which Vlasic was also involved with, Maison O and The Beatrice. Abramyck is the founder of the New York City-based hospitality management consultancy, Neighborhood Projects, which is behind Yves, Smith & Mills, and Holy Ground.
Lithgow is also the wine director for Neighborhood Projects. He was formerly involved with Nomad Hotel, Nolita Hospitality Group, Allswell Restaurant and Jack the Horse Tavern, according to the liquor license application.
