Warburg Blog

Serving Drinks Since 1847: An Old-Time Establishment With a Modern Menu

In a city with many claims to history, the Bridge Café is truly in a class of its own. Housed in an old wooden building dating to the late 18^th century, the establishment has been a bar of one stripe or another since 1847 – the longest continuous streak in New York City. That means they were serving drinks there back when the city’s mayor was a member of the Whig party! Once a popular watering hole for dockworkers, the Bridge Café is now a favorite haunt of those who live and work in the Financial District. How the neighborhood has changed!

We spoke recently with owner Adam Weprin about his restaurant, famous for its mouthwatering soft-shell crabs and extensive scotch and whiskey selection. In the Weprin family since 1979, the Bridge Café boasts between 85-100 single malt scotches, 20 blends and 30 whiskeys and bourbons. An all-American wine list contains selections well suited to the entrees.

Speaking of entrees, one of Bridge Café’s most popular dishes is the buffalo steak, shipped in weekly from the Midwest and served with a delicious homemade lingonberry sauce. The grilled hanger steak and lean buffalo burger are must-haves as well.

“The steak we serve is very tender and delicate,” says Weprin. “And when in season we serve soft shell crabs, which are amazing. We have them from April to October and they are flash-fried, meaning lightly fried. I’ve had people from the South, who eat this every day, ask me what we did that gave it that great taste.” Of the buffalo steak, the oldest dish on the menu, Weprin says, “We’ve had different chef’s cook it but when our current chef Joseph Kunst makes it, it is truly velvet in the form of meat.”

With all this talk of meat, you’ll be surprised to know that Bridge Café is decidedly vegetarian friendly. “No one likes to feel left out,” says Weprin. “I know vegetarians come here with their meat-eating friends and they have to eat too!” Options include a scrumptious black bean and portobello veggie burger and the “Strata Bercovici,” named for a onetime regular customer, consisting of grilled vegetables, goat cheese, spinach and sweet pea farrotto.

When New York’s ban on beekeeping was lifted last year, Weprin put six hives on the roof. So not only is he serving up some of the freshest food in the city, he’s also pollinating local gardens. It is a sweet gesture that extends well beyond the Financial District. And while the Whig party may no longer be around, New York City’s mayors certainly are. From Koch to Bloomberg to members of the city council, local politicians know that Bridge Café is a true treasure. Step inside and you’ll discover the charm and appeal of this jewel at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Bridge Café

279 Water Street

New York, NY 10038

One of my favorite things about New York is the ferment of ideas, of viewpoints, of goals, of strategies, into which I have felt thrust since childhood. It has seemed clear to me that New York, and cities like it around the world, are at the epicenter of innovation and its attendant excitement.  So I was not surprised when my friend Joanne Feltman recently sent me a fascinating article about the historic role of cities in innovation (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/10/where-the-skills-are/8628/#.TndgAZNxUVo.email).  The article posits that the gathering together of people in cities, more than almost any other factor, are responsible for civilization’s great leaps forward, that the ferment of interaction, ideas, and viewpoints in cities advances our cultural agenda like nowhere else.  Cities tend to be where the most innovative jobs are, where the most significant breakthroughs are made, and where the compensation levels are highest. It has been this way for thousands of years.

Reading this article did not surprise me. Living here is just so INTERESTING. I go from my job, surrounded by people of different ethnicities, with different histories, levels of education, and perspectives, out into the world of theater, of music new and old, of movies, of readings, of outdoor concerts and athletic events and impromptu socializing in dog runs, in playgrounds, and on street corners. I watch my fellow citizens help the legions of tourists who are constantly asking questions: where is the subway, how do I get to the Metropolitan Museum, where am I (I get this one most often in Central Park)? Where did the notion come from that New Yorkers are not friendly? We are as friendly and opened-minded as we could possibly be!

There is not much room for prejudice when we live surrounded by such diversity. There is not much room for intellectual stagnation when we are constantly surrounded by opportunity, none of it requiring a car. I love the concept, articulated in the article, that social networking, one of the buzz phrases of today’s world, is, in its most basic, face to face form, one of the primary drivers of civilization. I profoundly agree that education needs to encompass social skills which encourage us to debate and discuss, preferably with people of differing perspectives. In the city, you are always in the agora, the marketplace. Your brain is jiggled, you are challenged, solutions pop forth. This is how we build the world, and it is happening right here, right now, day after day.

Walt Whitman, our city’s greatest poet, wrote:
Keep your splendid, silent sun;             
Keep your woods, O Nature, and the quiet places by the woods;      
Keep your fields of clover and timothy, and your corn-fields and orchards;   
Keep the blossoming buckwheat fields, where the Ninth-month bees hum;   
Give me faces and streets! give me these phantoms incessant and endless along the trottoirs!       
Give me interminable eyes! give me women! give me comrades and lovers by the thousand!          
Let me see new ones every day! let me hold new ones by the hand every day!        
Give me such shows! give me the streets of Manhattan!

I’m with Whitman. This is the New York we at Warburg are selling every day to those lucky enough to be a part of it. 

It has been a bad period for Board turndowns. In the last few months, we at Warburg Realty have lost several major deals because of co-operative Board decisions; several more have been fortuitously snatched from the jaws of defeat by industrious agents who would not take “no” for an answer and managed to get the decisions reversed. In the latter cases, the Board saw financial issues which could have been resolved by asking the applicant a couple of questions, but rather than clarify, they voted to reject. It is as if they forget that actual people’s lives are at stake. As a former Board president myself, I know that in the confines of the Board meeting it is easy to forget how profoundly distressing a Board rejection can be to both buyer and seller. Boards should only use this measure as a last resort. The number of prospective buyers who go on to be excellent tenants, even excellent Board members, in a second co-op after being rejected at a first demonstrates the gratuitous nature of many turndowns. But as agents more often than not we are powerless over this outcome after the package is submitted.

While the package is being prepared, however, the agent has the opportunity to wield substantial influence. This influence can make the difference between a perfect package and one which raises questions in the mind of the Board. Preparing the package is like staging a military campaign; it requires both a plan and a strategy. And what we need while we are doing this planning and strategizing, more than anything, is the co-operation of the principals, most particularly the buyer and the buyer’s attorney.

For most buyers the preparation of the package is an inconvenience to which they want to devote as little time and thought as possible. Even if they know from the beginning what the process is, even if they have served on the Boards of the buildings in which they currently live, the completeness of the information required always comes as a shock and an irritant when applied to THEM. And we as agents understand this. But it is our job to manage this frustration to assemble the most complete and well organized document we can. So herewith a few recommendations:

- Make sure your lawyer provides you with enough time to prepare a good package. Usually 15 business days will suffice. And just as your lawyer should negotiate your contract, not your agent, your agent should prepare your package, not your lawyer. They are good at what they do, we are good at what we do.

- DON’T write the personal letters yourself! And don’t send all your friends the same sample letter either. We consistently get letters all of which are written in the same font, or use the same words, refer to the same experiences, sometimes even contain identical paragraphs. As you can imagine, this doesn’t impress Boards much! What you, as the buyer, should do is figure out who amongst your friends writes well, and which five or six of them can write about different aspects of your life – your kids (if you have them), your family of origin, your philanthropic work, and anything else you feel will give these strangers a well-rounded picture of who you are. And always get extra letters. At least one is bound to be a dud!

- Ideally the letters, both personal and business, are between a page and two pages long. The writers should introduce themselves so their identities are clear. One or two sentences of introduction suffice. I am not a fan of the letters in which the writer devotes ¾ of the space to touting HIS credentials.

- For the financials, pick a date, usually the last day of the preceding month or the month before that. Gear every piece of documentation – bank letters, bank statements, appraisal letters etc .– to that date. And remember every Board contains at least one financial compulsive who will review the financials with a fine tooth comb. So you must be precise. The numbers on your Financial Statement should correlate EXACTLY to the numbers on the back up bank, brokerage, and appraisal letters you include.

- Above all, be patient and listen to your agent. Assembling this data into the coherent format which gives the Board a true and accurate picture of who you are and what your circumstances are takes time and effort, and it IS invasive. But in the end you get the home you chose, and in which you will hopefully live happily for years to come. A little inconvenience is not so high a price to pay for such a good result.

Gourmet Grandeur: Kona Crusted Dry-Aged Sirloin in a National Historic Landmark

Can you say Parmesan truffle fries? We certainly can after having tasted some of The Capital Grille’s absolutely delectable dishes. We dropped by recently to speak with Chef Jason Miller about his menu – and don’t worry, we made sure not to talk with our mouths full.

Miller, who was born and raised right here in New York City, has been executive chef of Capital Grille since its Financial District opening back in 2009. His 16 years of culinary experience as executive chef at David Burke Townhouse, Smith & Wollensky and Primehouse – excuse us for name-dropping! – are evidence that he knows how to satisfy the most discerning customers. In other words, he knows what his fellow New Yorkers like to eat.

According to Miller, Capital Grille is never not busy. With 440 seats and three floors (the largest restaurant in the neighborhood), it can accommodate the business crowd, local residents and tourists – all at the same time. “Everyone that comes in here is treated like a VIP,” said Miller. “Capital Grille vows to give customers an exceptionally distinct experience. We go above and beyond by aging and butchering our meats in-house, using only high-quality ingredients, creating our own homemade mozzarella and providing the best customer service.”

Of course, as executive chef Miller is in a position to add his own creative dishes to the menu. Regulars praise the filet mignon, the grilled swordfish with lemon-shallot relish and the sautéed spinach. “We don’t have that one dish everyone comes in for,” said Miller. “We have like ten.”

Over the past several years, the Financial District, or FiDi as it’s now known, has become a modern, upscale residential enclave and Miller believes very strongly that Capital Grille – housed in the historic Equitable Building – has helped contribute to this success. “As the area became incrementally busier, Capital Grille extended business hours from five days a week to Monday through Saturday. Local residents are moving down to Wall Street because they now have restaurants and commodities at their service every day of the week,” he said.

So I guess what we’re trying to say is: whether you’re a CEO on Wall Street or a barista at the local coffee shop, to experience Capital Grille is a MUST. Your taste buds will thank you.

The Capital Grille

120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271

My daughter returned home from a year long stint working in orphanages in Thailand and Vietnam on September 10, 2001. My wife was in Berkeley helping my brother get his kids organized for school while my sister in law was in the hospital. On the morning of the 11th I went to work, and agents began coming into my office urging me to turn on the radio as something unimaginable was going on. I did, and then we moved to the video screen in our conference room, tuned to CNBC. It seemed we had entered an alternate reality. My daughter called, totally disoriented, and said, “You have to come home.” I complied. I will never forget walking out of the office and onto Madison Avenue. There was not a single car in sight as I gazed downtown, but on the horizon smoke was billowing up toward the sky. New York, America, and the world were changed forever.

In the subsequent weeks, as all real estate activity ground to a halt and buyers, one after another, began to default on their contracts, I and all my colleagues had to contemplate our business going forward. What did it mean? What values underpinned it? The answer which emerged for me, and for Warburg, was surprisingly simple: we love New York.

Seeing our city wounded, and so many loved ones, including the son of one of our agents, lost, reinforced that love like nothing else. We were filled with admiration for the bravery of our police and firefighters. We mourned with all those who lost family and friends. We admired the way our arts organizations rose to the occasion with concerts and theater pieces celebrating and memorializing our city, its gifts and its losses. And we were filled with admiration for the indomitable quality of our neighbors, whose commitment to the city remained as strong or stronger than ever, who were not filled with despair, who rebuilt and rededicated themselves to a better world, with New York still at its vital center.

Over and over during those tragic and difficult first weeks I said to our agents “Forget about selling property for the time being. Our job in this crisis is to be the Chamber of Commerce for New York. Sell your love of the city – its glamor, its neighborliness, its cultural richness, its beauty (which seemed particularly poignant in the presence of the absence of the towers). “

Today, even in this time of economic uncertainty, that message remains compelling. The city is more beautiful and brilliant, more filled with food and fun, with art and architecture, with music and mystery, than it has ever been. And for me the message with which I walked away from that terrible day still resonates: in its diversity and cultural differences, in its striving, in its recovery, our city represents the best hope for a more tolerant, more peaceful world going forward. We live together here in raucous harmony. Why? Because we love New York.

The summer rentals are ending, the vacations are winding down, and all over New York City real estate agents are preparing for the fall season. After the economic uncertainty of the summer, it seems likely that both buyers and sellers will be second guessing their own decisions as the season progresses. So let’s try to answer some of the most basic questions here and now:

Why buy?
Although most New Yorkers rent, the answer to the question “why buy?” is a fundamental one which weaves it way through American life. In no other country is the concept of home ownership so enshrined. We give tax breaks for mortgages, tax breaks for real estate taxes, all because we as a nation believe so profoundly in the concept of home ownership. Kids grow up believing that owning a home is an indication of success, proof that you have made it. Home ownership has burrowed deep into the American mind set; it embodies both security and success. Renting is easy, it can be cheaper, but it doesn’t provide the same level of satisfaction or sense of arrival.

Why buy now?
This is a question agents can never answer. I have learned over the years that the smartest and most successful agents are facilitators, not convincers. The customer always has to answer this question for him or herself. I never try to talk anyone into anything. That said, there are always good reasons to buy now. It means you can begin the process of ordering your life around your new home. But…If you find what you want, then the time to act is now. Many buyers I have dealt with over the years have let go of a property they really liked because they were sure the market was too high, or a better one would come along, or that they could somehow second guess the trajectory of the marketplace. No one ever knows what will happen next, and more often than not they end up sorry. When you and your life are ready, be ready to act. The rest is all, ultimately, irrelevant.

What should I buy?
It always makes sense to reach just a little bit. Not to seriously overextend yourself; that is NEVER a good idea. But to try to buy the best space in the best location you possibly can. When my wife and I did that, we lived for a year with a 50 year old kitchen and over 20 years with original bathrooms. It took us a while to afford the renovations, but every day we enjoyed the wonderful location and spacious rooms of our apartment. Maybe it takes a few years to get new furniture. Maybe it takes a few years to tear down those walls or re-imagine that dining room as a family room. But as long as you got yourself good bones in a good spot, everything else will fall into place.

Meet Romain Lamaze. He’s the managing director and co-founder of La Bergamote Patisserie, located in the heart of Chelsea, and a native of France. Hailing from a family of bakers who love to eat, Lamaze is proud of his traditional, Old Country recipes. He always dreamt of sharing his love of and of French pastries with the residents of New York City. The fabulous French cakes, tarts, croissants, Viennoiseries and other mind boggling delicious treats sold at La Bergamote Patisserie are enough to leave you in a Parisian daze.

La Bergamote Patisserie

177 Ninth Avenue

New York, NY 10011

Tell me about the history of La Bergamote.

My partner and I, Stephane Willemin, opened the first location across the street in 1998. Stephane trained as a pastry chef and used to work with my father. At one point, we decided to open up a business together. There weren’t many French pastry shops in New York City in 1998.

How has the Chelsea neighborhood changed since you opened in 1998?

It’s changed completely. When La Bergamote opened in 1998 there was nothing around here —we were one of the only shops. Now you can see there is so much more. Every corner, every storefront is now occupied. It’s like a mushroom town. Buildings keep sprouting up. And we moved to this current location in 2010 because we’re planning on adding a restaurant to the patisserie.

Do you live in the area?

Yes.

What’s your favorite thing about Chelsea?

The short commute!

How did you decide on the menu for your restaurant?

Well, there’s not really a menu. We sell the same traditional French pastries that you would find in a patisserie in France.

Are there any secret ingredients in your cakes?

Our pastries are unique. Stephane took the traditional French recipes and enhanced them into finer recipes. We work with our demand. The cakes are customized for the clientele while maintaining the basic French recipe.

Do a lot of celebrities stop by?

Every day. But I don’t want to give any names.

What’s the most desired item on your menu?

The croissant. Of course.

For more information on Carriage House or to set up a site visit, please feel free to contact me at JTurken@warburgrealty.com, call 212.24 House (4-6873) or visit the website at www.Carriagehouse24.com