The East Pole

"The original T.G.I. Friday’s opened as a singles bar on 63rd and 1st in 1965, apparently so that the owner could meet women. (Please take a moment to imagine the pick-up lines shared over an appetizer sampler.) Then that location closed down, leaving the east 60s without a place for people to socialize, eat calamari, drink martinis, and tastefully proposition others for casual sex. That is, until The East Pole opened in 2014. Unlike any T.G.I Friday’s we’ve ever graced, The East Pole takes up the first two floors of a beautiful brownstone. It’s the sort of classy place where servers look forward to emphasizing the “heritage” when they talk about the heritage pork chop with chicory greens. Heritage or not, The East Pole’s American food won’t spin you into ecstasy or outrage. It’s all about seven dollars more than you want it to be (there’s a decent kale pesto cavatelli for $24 and better-than-decent grilled snap peas for $16, for example). The East Pole’s greatest quality is its reliability as a social epicenter. So even though the Scottish salmon tartare might not blow your mind, keep this spot in your mental restaurant rolodex the next time you’re meeting up with a date in the area or you want to sit at the bar, drink a cocktail, and imagine what went down at the first-ever T.G.I. Friday’s. Food Rundown Scottish Salmon Tartare A totally fine $24 puck of chilled, chopped salmon. The addition of sesame seeds helps give this some crunchy textural contrast, but it will probably blend in your mind with most other salmon tartare dishes you’ve eaten. Pan Roasted Snap Peas The next time we go to a farmer’s market and see snap peas, we’ll think about this lemony, crunchy pile of them. They’re really tasty. Kale Pesto Cavatelli An extremely herbaceous plate of cavatelli. It’s covered in pecorino cheese. You’ll like it. Martini The bar is a perfect place to drink a martini and look like you’ve been on Forbes 30 Under 30. We’d suggest you try it." - Hannah Albertine

"The East Pole is a consistently crowded restaurant on the Upper East Side that works for everything from date nights to fun group dinners, but the bar area up front is also useful when you’re just looking for drinks. They serve really good cocktails, as well as some good wines by the glass and beers on tap. You wouldn’t spend the whole night here, but it’s a solid option for after-work drinks or low-commitment dates." - Bryan Kim, Matt Tervooren, Neha Talreja

"Capacity: 25 (with an option to add a second room) The East Pole has one of the nicest private dining rooms on the Upper East Side. It’s called the Map Room (doesn’t that just sound nice?), and it has massive windows overlooking 65th Street as well as its own dedicated bathroom. This space seats up to 25 people, but you can also add on some seating in their Copper Bar Room next door, which includes a full bar along with lounge seating for up to 20. If you’re searching for somewhere comfortable-but-not-stuffy uptown, this brownstone restaurant is it. " - Neha Talreja, Bryan Kim, Hannah Albertine

"Between two vegetarians, someone who’s afraid of fish, and another person who claims she hasn’t touched a piece of fruit since 8th grade, your team has very little in common food-wise. Luckily, The East Pole has something for everyone, from a fancy grain bowl to truffle gnocchi and a cheeseburger with thick cut bacon. It takes up the first two floors of a beautiful brownstone in Midtown, and serves as a social epicenter for the area, so they’re a well-oiled machine when it comes to serving big groups. " - Neha Talreja, Bryan Kim, Hannah Albertine

"If The East Pole were in Nolita, it would still be full most nights, but it’d be the kind of utility spot you’d suggest after agreeing to a last-minute dinner with your new friend from yoga class. It's on the UES, though, so not only is it a solid utility move, it’s also one of the most popular casual restaurants in the neighborhood. There’s a long bar area that’s great for early-in-the-game dates, as well a big dining room that works for groups, and the American menu has options for everyone." - bryan kim, matt tervooren