Inside New York Eateries

Wijnanda Deroo's fascinating photographic exhibit Inside New York Eateries opened last week at Robert Mann Gallery in Chelsea.  With subjects ranging from plebeian to plush, her images offer a diverse exploration of notable Gotham restaurant interiors past and present.

Except for murals and other decorations, Deroo's photographs contain no human figures, thus allowing the viewer to focus on architecture and furnishings rather than on food and dining.  Moreover, this absence of people creates a unifying tension to her collective work.

Café des Artistes (left), Papaya Dog (right)

Many of the photographs evoke personal memories that span decades.  Who hasn't been to Yonah Schimmel's Knishery, or Lexington Candy Shop?  Or to The Russian Tea Room, 21, Grand Central Oyster Bar, and The Four Seasons?  I still recall pleasant luncheons at Jerry's erstwhile SoHo location, and delightful meals in the spectacular setting of the now-defunct Tavern on the Green.  I also remember romantic dinners at Café des Artistes that were followed by a horse-drawn carriage ride through the park.  My oldest recollection, however, is of the dingy Nom Wah Tea Parlor, an extant Chinatown fixture that looks just as it did half a century ago.

21 Club (left), Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant (right)

Finally, though I've never been to Lederhosen, Deroo's image—a corner table by a kitschy mural of Schloss Neuschwanstein amid the Bavarian countryside—has piqued my curiosity.

Robert Mann Gallery

210 Eleventh Avenue (between 24^th & 25^th Sts),
Floor 10,
Chelsea, Manhattan

(212) 989-7600

Dates:  9 December 2010 - 29 January 2011
Hours:  Tuesday - Saturday, 11:00 A.M. till 6:00 P.M.

Free.

https://www.robertmann.com/

By train:   to 23 Street
By bus:  M11, M12, M23

Comments

[Comestiblog]

Hi Cristina. To me, the absence of people is the thread that weaves this disparate array of eateries into a successful fabric. Thanks so much for your comment.

[Cristina]

How interesting a theme and collection of iconic images of New York eateries. I would luv to stroll through this exhibition. Thx for sharing about it.