Gage & Tollner’s iconic Brooklyn façade circa the 1940s
New York Fashion Week is a time of trend-setting and revival. For some, the optimal see-and-be-seen situation is the front row. For others, it’s seated in the velvet-backed booths of Brooklyn’s iconic eatery, Gage & Tollner.

Nestled on Fulton Street, a short walk from Brooklyn Bridge Park, Gage & Tollner reopened its doors this summer after a 17-year hiatus. A legendary local haunt since 1892, the original restaurant hit financial difficulties, leading to its closure in 2004. Over the next 12 years, the incredible space — famous for its ornate brass and woodwork detailing — was occupied by a series of new tenants, including Arby’s and TGI Friday’s. Fortunately, the building is one of the earliest recognized sites by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and it retained its original charm throughout.

Led by a group of forward-thinking New Yorkers — St. John Frizell, Sohui Kim and Ben Schneider — Gage & Tollner returned in 2021 as an oyster bar and chop house that exudes the same timelessness that captivated diners for more than a century. The menu boasts new spins on classic fare, including desserts like Baked Alaska for Two, crafted by executive pastry chef Caroline Schiff. Thanks to the team’s perseverance and passion, and their ambition to embrace the restaurant’s rich history, Gage & Tollner is once again a New York institution where martinis flow and the who’s who go.

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