Will the Eighty Six Stick Around?

"Can a diner be 86'd in advance? That's the interpretive riddle at the heart of the Eighty Six, the new tenant at the forever-infamous former Chumley's at 86 Bedford Street in the West Village. Chumley's, which operated through Prohibition, is said to be the birthplace of the phrase "getting 86'd," as in getting tossed out - in the bad old days, the fate of too-drunk patrons through Chumley's side door, the better not to attract the attention of the police."

"Eugene Remm, the impresario behind the Catch restaurants and a partner in the ( likewise heavily defended) Corner Store, took over the location after its previous occupant, the trollish Frog Club, self-86'd in December. The Eighty Six is a small restaurant - 35 seats total, including the bar - so some discretion on behalf of management is necessary to control the crowd, but even by the standards of New York's strictest doors, the Eighty Six is borderline impenetrable."

"Reservations are theoretically available online but hover, like Tantalus' fruit, forever out of reach. Walk-ins are welcome to try their luck at the door, but the two women who approached ahead of me on a Monday night in search of bar seats were summarily turned away. I was able to broach the perimeter myself only as a ride-along with a better-connected guest and, even then, only once, rather than the multiple times customary before writing a review."

The Eighty Six occupies the former Chumley's at 86 Bedford Street, preserving the heavy green door and a name that recalls Prohibition-era lore. Seating totals 35, including bar spots, prompting selective admission to manage crowds. Reservations exist online but are nearly impossible to secure; walk-ins are frequently turned away. Eugene Remm, owner and partner in other guarded venues, runs the venue with a guarded, club-like atmosphere. Previous tenant Frog Club closed in December. High demand and stringent door policy make entry difficult, and the restaurant operates with an almost members-only exclusivity despite public reservation listings.

Read at Grub Street