Greenpoint’s Johnny’s Cafe Transformed Into Manhattan Inn

Dining and Wine, Greenpoint, johnnys cafe, manhattan inn

15 Nov, 2009 by admin in Dining and Wine

Greenpoint foodies begrudgingly head over to the nabe next door, Williamsburg, if they’re looking for a culinary experience.  That’s not changing anytime soon, but the ‘Point is getting hipper by the day.  Case in point, the new Manhattan Inn, by the people behind subversive rock scene Glasslands, on Kent Ave.  The place is now open so check them out.

Glasslands Gallery proprietors Rolyn Hu and Brooke Baxter are happy to announce the grand opening of their new bar and restaurant, Manhattan Inn on Wednesday.

Formerly Johnny’s Cafe, this large dining house and full bar located in Greenpoint on Manhattan Avenue (between Bedford and Nassau, one block from McCarren Park); will be serving new American cuisine with tapas-like fare. Daily specials will coincide with seasonal produce sourced from local suppliers, including Rooftop Farms and Farm to Chef. Specialty dishes will include: Berkshire Pie (slow cooked Berkshire pork topped with creamed roots) and Pumpkin Butternut Squash stew.

Seating around 75, Manhattan Inn houses a grand piano with stellar acoustics for live musical acts. The bar will serve new and old fashioned cocktails, as well as a unique wine and beer list selected by James Endicott, formerly of Per Se and Allen & Delancey.

Chef Jesse Carpenter will be at the helm. His cuisine combines the accessibility of southern comfort food he enjoyed while living in Kentucky, the rustic flavors he experienced on the West Coast, and the varied, sophisticated dishes he mastered in New York City kitchens. The owners will be working closely with him, sharing recipes from both our respective backgrounds– Brooke’s British family and Rolyn’s traditional Chinese upbringing.

Manhattan Inn is proud to display the design of hOmE, a collaborative effort of Evan and Oliver Haslegrave who redesigned the most current incarnation of Glasslands Gallery. Manhattan Inn was built with a nod to the current detailed woodwork and playful whimsy of the Gallery — repurposed doorknobs as tap handles, school desks as dining tables.

Come January, Manhattan Inn will be open for breakfast and lunch, and will serve a full menu of espresso beverages.

Hours of operation:
Monday – Thursday: 4pm – 2:30am. Dinner served 6pm – 12:30am
Friday: 4pm – 4am. Dinner served 6pm – 2:30am
Saturday: 11am – 4am. Brunch served 11am – 4pm; Dinner served 6pm – 2:30am
Sunday: 11am – 4am. Brunch served 11am – 4pm; Dinner served 6pm – 12:30am

photo: Manhattan Inn, via Eater