The Odeon

"The Odeon has set the theme for Tribeca dining since the 1980s, and provided a swinging backdrop to cast parties, anniversary celebrations, and evenings away from the loft for neighborhood denizens. Also its a good place to drop by for a casual lunch of a croque monsieur or yellowfin tuna burger. Yes, the place strives to be French, but partly fails, and the casual-seeming menu has more variety than you might expect, with prices that seem reasonable for these days." - Robert Sietsema

"Opened in the ’80s, the comely neon-lit Odeon “is a movie set that doubles as a restaurant,” according to a decades-old piece in Vanity Fair. Opened by Lynn Wagenknecht, her then-husband restauranteur Keith McNally, and his brother Brian, it’s still run by Wagenknecht (while Keith has gone on to open a restaurant empire). In spite of the many lives New York has lived since it opened in what was then remote Tribeca, the Odeon feels both of the ’80s and of the moment. And your Odeon burger, three-egg omelet, or croque monsieur will be as satisfying as you would hope." - Eater Staff

"The classic founded in 1980 by restaurateur Keith McNally and then-wife Lynn Wagenknecht is just as cool today under Wagenknecht’s leadership. Its retro neon, perfect lighting, cushy banquettes, excellent playlists, and classic menu items make it a Manhattan mainstay. Get the shrimp cocktail and Odeon burger, the steak tartare, or the three-egg omelet with fries." - Eater Staff

"The Odeon is a New York City classic. This restaurant has been around since 1980, long before these Tribeca streets became lined with Vespas and well-dressed children. We weren't around back in those days, so we're not going to be the ones to give you a detailed history of the place. But if you're looking for a really good read that will definitely make your meal at The Odeon more interesting, take in all six pages of this Vanity Fair article before dinner. Let's just say...we missed all the good stuff. As for the current state of affairs at The Odeon, it's still a beloved fixture of the neighborhood. It may not be the same downtown destination that it was thirty years ago, but they still serve very respectable bistro food and stiff drinks, and brunch is always reliable. But there's really nothing on this menu that's going to blow your mind. As a matter of fact, I suspect that this restaurant probably never served particularly spectacular food, but traded more on the currency of having Andy Warhol and John Belushi amongst their list of notable regulars. I guess when those people are hanging around your restaurant, all you really need to serve is a good plate of fries, and maybe some good drugs. Not that we'd know anything about that. These days in Tribeca, you're more likely to stumble into a Patagonia store than you are a good time. At least The Odeon is still around to remind us of what we missed. Food Rundown Country Frisée Salad A classic frisée salad, done right. We're always surprised at how bad people manage to screw these things up - so often they're over-dressed and soggy. But not here. This salad is exactly what it's supposed to be, though we will say that it's pretty small for the $15 price tag. Salmon Tartare Fresh salmon, freshly ground. This is a nice option for people who don't get down on steak tartare, but are craving some other kind of animal dip. Tuna Burger This one is a fan-favorite these days at The Odeon, and that's probably a really good indication of how times have changed. I can't say I can imagine John Belushi cramming a tuna burger down his throat with a side of whiskey. But it is pretty damn tasty. Croque Monsieur The classic French sandwich with ham, Gruyère cheese, and mornay sauce. Put an egg on it to make it female, and also better. Grilled Prime Hangar Steak The best of the steak options at The Odeon. You want this instead of the NY Strip Steak Frites. Just be sure to order a side of fries with it." - Chris Stang

"The Odeon, co-founded by Keith McNally, now run by Lynn Wagenknecht, prevailed as a Tribeca hotspot throughout the ’90s, when dining options were slim in the area. The cool quotient mellowed out some over the years, but it’s also become popular again and is still a reliable classic decked out with recognizable red awnings and pitch-perfect brasserie interiors. The menu ranges from bistro stalwarts (steak tartare as an appetizer or entree; French onion soup; steak frites) to more less French offerings like an Impossible burger or a vegetarian purple sticky rice bowl." - Eater Staff