It's Not All Shutters on Ludlow: Meet Imperial Tavern

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Sad about the eventual loss of Pink Pony and Max Fish? No worries. The owners of what was once the Paladar space on Ludlow write in to Eater and send the above pictures to announce tonight's opening of Imperial Tavern. The restaurant, they say, is "the right restaurant at the right time, a newamericangastrotavern which is a cross between the Ear Inn and the Minetta Tavern." Is it a good time to mention they serve a burger sandwiched between two doughnuts?

They tell us in the front room, they'll be serving 5 Ninth alum Nick Grosz's take on "foodie stoner" food, so yes that burger but also mac 'n' cheese, fried chicken and biscuits, roasted bone marrow, spicy calamari, and about two dozen other items. The back dining room will have more serious fare, or, per the owners, "Imagine the Waverly Inn for the younger hipper set!"

And that record album decor? If you see an album you like, you can ask your server to play it. Other design flourishes include the above posters and the old Superdive/Paladar neon Fun sign.

[Ed: Below description is Imperial Tavern's]

This is the “super stoner” bar menu which basically is food you wanted to eat while listening to albums in your parents’ basement. There will be a special weekend late nite version.

It is a rotating menu of gourmet foodie versions of time honored bar snacks, street fair and state fair staples

BAR MENU

KETTLE CORN 5
Rosemary, Duck Fat, Truffle Salt
LOCAL BABY LETTUCES 6
Shaved Fennel, Manchego, Pomegranate
PATATAS BRAVAS 6
Garlic Aioli
MENUDO
Honeycomb Tripe, Fall Vegetables, Ginger
ROCK SHRIMP HUSH PUPPIES
Corn, Jalapeno, Ancho Chili Sauce
ST. LOUIS-STYLE BBQ RIBS
Jameson BBQ Glaze, Peanuts, Cilantro
DAYBOAT FLUKE CEVICHE
Grapefruit, Pickled Mustard Seed, Chorizo Oil
ROASTED BONE MARROW
Quince, Shallot, Grilled Bread
CHICKEN SATAY
Sauce Diable
THE IMPERIAL DISCO BURGER sliders
Glazed Donut, House-Made Bacon, Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Fries

ADDITIONAL BAR ITEMS
HOT FISH SANDWICH – PICKLED RED ONION, LETTUCE, TOMATO, HOUSE MADE BACON, secret spicy sauce
THIGHS & BISCUITS – 3 FRIED CHICKEN THIGHS, PARMESAN BACON BISCUIT, HONEY
PULLED PORK SLIDERS – 3 SLIDERS, CHARRED JALAPENO RELISH, FRIES
SMOKED CHICKEN WINGS – SWEET CHILI GLAZE
LOBSTER ROLL – CURRY, SCALLIONS, 2 more secret ingredients
PEEKYTOE CRAB CAKE – REMOULADE, SALSA VERDE?
CHICKEN POT PIE – SEASONAL VEG, BECHAMEL, PUFF PASTRY
MAC AND CHEESE – with double cheese and double crust

IN DEVELOPMENT

-nachos and irish nachos -saus and pepper sand
-cheese balls and mozzarella sticks -fried spaghetti sandwich
-hot wieners R.I. style -hard shell tacos
-pig in a blanket -quesadillas
-atomic calamari -5 layered imperial gordita
-grilled 4 cheese sand on texas toast -fried alligator bites
-meatball sandwich
-jalapeno poppers
-corn dogs and corn on the cob
-funnel cakes and zeppole

Nick Grosz
Chef, Imperial Tavern
· New Owners Add Some Superdive Flair to Paladar [~ENY~]