Southern-inspired West Village restaurant 33 Greenwich has joined the neighborhood, with a headline-garnering chef at the helm. Anne Thornton was most recently the head chef at Little Pine, musician Moby’s popular-but-panned Los Angeles vegan restaurant that she was tasked with turning around. Before that, it was a stint at Waverly Inn, though Thornton’s name is most recognizable from her controversial two-season Food Network show Dessert First.
This time around, owners Danny Volk (The Upsider) and Brian Fitterer brought Thornton on board for a concept that diverges from a traditional American menu, progressive vegan fare, or dessert. Instead, she’s going for fried chicken for two, gouda grits, a meatloaf burger, and a muffaletta board. “I believe that any good chef should be able to play in a lot of different types of food. The vegan food forced me to be so much more creative, but it’s been wonderful to take foods that I grew up loving and add a lighter, more feminine touch,” the Southern-born Thornton told Eater.
The art is a standout in the design of three distinct spaces in the 86-seat restaurant: a casual communal area, an open kitchen and bar, and a rectangular dining room. Kelly Framel and partner Zachary Lynd of Kizmet collected the works, pulling in art by drag queen Steve Willis, gallerist Joel Mesler, collage artist Miguel Rangel, and muralist Kelly Beeman. In every corner, there’s a framed piece or mural at which to gaze — including the bathroom, which displays commissioned drawings.
As for the drinks, bar director Darren Lampione of the now-shuttered Kingswood put together a cocktail list that updates classics, like the Mr. Manhattan with unaged rye whiskey, smoked sweet vermouth, Dolin Blanc, Basement bitters, and brown sugar. It’s a small wine list, with just 10 whites, 10 reds, and four sparkling bottles, most available by the glass.
33 Greenwich is now open Monday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday dinner and weekend brunch will join shortly.
33 Greenwich Menu by Eater.com on Scribd
