Danny Meyer is celebrating thirty years of Union Square Cafe with a series of special culinary events
Who: Danny Meyer and the Union Square Hospitality Group
What: Thirtieth Anniversary of Union Square Cafe
Where: 21 East 16th St. at Union Square Park, 212-243-4020
When: March 16, June 15, August 31, November 9, $99 (plus $65 for optional wine pairing), 5:30 – 9:45
Why: Restaurateur Danny Meyer has a lot to celebrate these days. His Shake Shack franchise recently had a very successful IPO, and now his signature restaurant, Union Square Cafe, is turning thirty. Meyer, who was twenty-seven when the eatery first opened, will be celebrating with, among other events, four quarterly seasonal dinners, featuring a prix-fixe menu designed by chef/partner Carmen Quagliata, highlighting classic dishes from the last three decades, with an optional wine pairing. The winter menu consists of Yellowfin Tuna “Mignon” with Wasabi Crisp, Sweetbread Ravioli with Winter Roots and Black Truffle, Roast Peppered Duck with Meyer Lemon and Endive Marmalade, and Banana Tart 2.0. In addition, the restaurant will host Morning Market Meetings with Meyer and Quagliata beginning May 20 ($75, allocated by lottery), wine spotlights, and Greatest Hits Chef’s Table Menus from the Union Square Cafe menu archives (starting at $55 for three-course lunch and $85 for dinner). The restaurant is scheduled to relocate at the end of the year because of rent hikes, so this is your last chance to experience the sophisticated casual charm of one of New York City’s most beloved dining establishments.