Here's a look at the first floor of Harry and Peter Poulakakos's restaurant megaplex, Pier A Harbor House, which soft opened on November 14, and is now operating at full speed as a beer hall/oyster bar. Above it are several restaurants — The Commodore Room, The Harrison Room and a yet-to-be-named Hudson-Valley inspired restaurant — on the second, and a private event space on the third, all of which are slated to open later this year
But this is not your average gigantic restaurant complex. This is the first time that the 128-year-old building, which used to house the city's dock department, has been open to the public. Four years ago, it was a crumbling wreck, but now everything has a sort of nautical feel, and there's lots of blue both inside and through the windows, which look onto New York harbor. There's seating for 400 inside, and nearly as many outside too, for when it's not snowing. The beer hall is serving large soft pretzels with mustard and cheese dips, plus sliders, and raw bar options. The restaurants upstairs are slated to open in January.