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Acclaimed Chef Melissa Rodriguez Debuts Crane Club in West Chelsea
November 19, 2024, 8:01.40 pm ET

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Photos: Crane Club/Evan Sung

Chef Melissa Rodriguez, celebrated for her inventive approach to fine dining, has opened the highly anticipated Crane Club in the iconic 85 Tenth Avenue building in West Chelsea. This new restaurant marks a significant departure for Rodriguez, who steps beyond the confines of traditional Italian and French cuisines to present an entirely fresh culinary perspective. A partnership with Tao Group Hospitality, known for its unparalleled dining and entertainment experiences, Crane Club also benefits from the backing of Mohari Hospitality, a global investment firm specializing in luxury lifestyle ventures.

Crane Club brings together a team with deep roots in the space, including veteran restaurateur Jeff Katz. Having worked alongside Rodriguez for more than a decade at Del Posto and her Michelin-starred Al Coro, Katz reunites with a front-of-house and kitchen team that feels more like family. Pastry Chef Georgia Wodder and Executive Chef Katherine Rock, both trusted collaborators, join Rodriguez in the kitchen. The beverage program is equally ambitious, with a cocktail menu crafted by Chris Lemperle, who previously opened Crown Shy and Overstory, and a wine list curated by Cat Fanelli, formerly Wine Director at Al Coro.

Crane Club’s menu reflects Rodriguez’s years of experience while embracing a bold, contemporary vision. Anchored by a custom-designed 12-foot Mibrasa wood-fired grill, the expansive menu includes dishes such as oven-baked Cherrystone Clams with a garlic bread and buttercrust and a spicy pepper butter sauce poured tableside, savory Sfogliatelle with potato and fontina topped with Classic Osetra Caviar, and a decadent Duroc Pork Double Chop with urfa, fenugreek, and mushrooms. Other standout dishes include Baked Shells filled with ricotta and mascarpone and topped with a black truffle jus, and the Potato Sarladaise, prepared with duck fat, smoked bacon, and sherry. Desserts, crafted by Wodder, are equally show-stopping, including a playful Chocolate Vienetta and a Banana Layer Cake served with guava sorbet.

The cocktail program, led by Lemperle, reinvents classics with innovative twists such as a Beet Gibson featuring gin, vermouth, beet and pickled onion, and Two Birds One Stone, a mezcal-based cocktail with preserved nectarine and habanero. Many drinks are also available in non-alcoholic versions. Fanelli’s wine program, spanning over 1,000 selections, further enhances the dining experience with pairings from around the globe.

The restaurant’s design is a stunning blend of modern luxury and historical elegance. Tucked within the former Nabisco factory, the reimagined space combines double-height ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows framed in red velvet, and archways that create an intimate yet grand atmosphere. A 12-seat red marble bar anchors the bar room, while gold leaf accents and herringbone floors nod to the building’s storied past.

Crane Club opens daily at 5:00 PM, with hours extending to midnight on weekends. Reservations can be made via OpenTable and Resy. For more information, visit Tao Group Hospitality and follow @craneclubrestaurant on social media. Chef Rodriguez’s latest venture promises to set a new standard for dining in West Chelsea, seamlessly blending culinary innovation, artistry, and historic charm.



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