Key facts
- The Astor restaurant has opened inside The Public Theater.
- The new restaurant replaces the theater's previous dining space, The Library.
- The Astor is designed to resemble old New York taverns and supper clubs.
- Andrew Carmellini, Serge Becker, and the Joe's Pub team are behind the new venture.
- The menu features classic American dishes and cocktails.
- Artist Andre Carrilho created a mural depicting writers whose work has shaped The Public Theater.
The Astor, a new restaurant from NoHo Hospitality Group, has opened its doors within The Public Theater in New York City's NoHo neighborhood. Located at 425 Lafayette Street, the venue replaces the theater's former dining space, The Library, and aims to capture the ambiance of old New York taverns and supper clubs with its wood-paneled design. The opening also includes a new cafe, Bar Torino, which is a second location for the establishment.
The venture is a collaboration between NoHo Hospitality partners Andrew Carmellini and Serge Becker, alongside Joe's Pub team members Kevin Abbott, Josh Pickard, Paul Salmon, and Michelle Cunha. The partnership with The Public Theater, led by artistic director Oskar Eustis and executive director Patrick Willingham, seeks to integrate the restaurant as an essential part of the theater-going experience.
Chef Andrew Carmellini is leading the kitchen, offering a menu of "parlor snacks," "savories," entrees, and accompaniments that draw inspiration from classic American dishes. The drink menu, curated by Bar director Darryl Chan, focuses on traditional New York cocktails. Artist Andre Carrilho has contributed a mural to the space, depicting writers associated with The Public Theater, and portraits of past artistic directors and founder Joseph Papp.