Friend of a Farmer, a farm-to-table restaurant pioneer that launched in 1986, will be opening its new location at 68 West 71st Street on Wednesday, September 20, the restaurant announced on Instagram.
Reservations can be booked here.
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The space was previously home to Pasha, which closed in September 2021. Two Boots will be opening in the space next door, which was occupied by Big Nick’s Burger & Pizza Joint Too until it shuttered in August 2021.
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This will be Friend of a Farmer’s second location, complimenting its original at 77 Irving Plaza in Gramercy. In a 1998 write-up by the New York Times, the author described the eatery as a brunch “hot spot” before quoting a patron: “Lara Shriftman, a public relations executive, [who] said she gravitates toward Friend of a Farmer because it feels ‘very country, earthy.’”
The restaurant has long been known for its rustic decor — “unlike anything really in Manhattan” says co-owner Weston Morabito – and based on the snapshot above, it looks like they’ll be staying with that theme uptown.
The Gramercy location. photo by @thepickifoodi.
“I think we just take a lot of pride in the ingredients we are bringing in,” says fellow co-owner Taylor Morabito, Weston’s brother. “Our dishes aren’t extravagant, it’s just simple fresh ingredients and care and I think that’s what elevates us above the other competitors.”
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Friend of a Farmer was started by Taylor and Weston’s parents in 1986. They began focusing on breakfast before expanding to brunch and now they offer dinner and cocktails, too. The menus change four times a year.
photo by @thepickifoodi
The brothers recommend the Barn Burger or the Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie. They also describe their Pumpkin Pie Pancakes as “candy,” while highlighting items which have been on the menu for 35 years, like the Terry Alan Chicken, which comes stuffed with Granny Smith apples and cheddar cheese, homemade lemon bread, mashed potatoes and citrus honey raisin sauce. The Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is the same as their mom would make it 35 years ago.
You can visit the Friend of a Farmer website to learn more here.
Our dishes aren’t extravagant, they’re just priced that way. Lots of pretentiousness going on here with the name and the decor IMO. But to each their own.