Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant

Overview

The Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant is a seafood restaurant on the lower level of Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, New York City. The restaurant dates back to the terminal’s opening in 1913 and occupies a space originally known as the Grand Central Terminal Restaurant.

Before Grand Central Terminal formally opened on February 2, 1913, a dinner was held at the restaurant on February 1 for the architectural firm Warren and Wetmore and about 100 guests. The restaurant was subsequently operated by the Union News Company and became a longtime fixture of the terminal.

The Oyster Bar temporarily closed for renovations following a fire in 1997. Owner Jerome Brody sold the restaurant to its employees beginning in 1999, a move intended to preserve its workforce and union representation. Managers acquired a near-majority interest between 1999 and 2001 and purchased the remaining shares between 2004 and 2008.

The restaurant specializes in seafood, particularly oysters, and is known for its location within the historic railroad terminal. Its dining room is distinguished by the tiled arches and vaulted spaces characteristic of Grand Central Terminal’s interior.