The East Pole
New American restaurant · Upper East Side
133 E 65th St, New York, NY 10065
Highlights
Farm-to-table American dishes, cocktails, and private dining rooms.
Farm-to-table American dishes, cocktails, and private dining rooms.
"The original T.G.I. Friday’s opened as a singles bar on 63rd and 1st in 1965, apparently so that the owner could meet women. (Please take a moment to imagine the pick-up lines shared over an appetizer sampler.) Then that location closed down, leaving the east 60s without a place for people to socialize, eat calamari, drink martinis, and tastefully proposition others for casual sex. That is, until The East Pole opened in 2014. Unlike any T.G.I Friday’s we’ve ever graced, The East Pole takes up the first two floors of a beautiful brownstone. It’s the sort of classy place where servers look forward to emphasizing the “heritage” when they talk about the heritage pork chop with chicory greens. Heritage or not, The East Pole’s American food won’t spin you into ecstasy or outrage. It’s all about seven dollars more than you want it to be (there’s a decent kale pesto cavatelli for $24 and better-than-decent grilled snap peas for $16, for example). The East Pole’s greatest quality is its reliability as a social epicenter. So even though the Scottish salmon tartare might not blow your mind, keep this spot in your mental restaurant rolodex the next time you’re meeting up with a date in the area or you want to sit at the bar, drink a cocktail, and imagine what went down at the first-ever T.G.I. Friday’s. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE Food Rundown Scottish Salmon Tartare A totally fine $24 puck of chilled, chopped salmon. The addition of sesame seeds helps give this some crunchy textural contrast, but it will probably blend in your mind with most other salmon tartare dishes you’ve eaten. Pan Roasted Snap Peas The next time we go to a farmer’s market and see snap peas, we’ll think about this lemony, crunchy pile of them. They’re really tasty. Kale Pesto Cavatelli An extremely herbaceous plate of cavatelli. It’s covered in pecorino cheese. You’ll like it. Martini The bar is a perfect place to drink a martini and look like you’ve been on Forbes 30 Under 30. We’d suggest you try it." - Hannah Albertine
"The East Pole is a downtown restaurant that just happens to be uptown. So if you’re on the Upper East Side, and you need a nice place that doesn’t feel lame, come here. It’s in the bottom of a brownstone, and has a bar up front and a dining room in the back with a few big booths that are perfect for small groups. The menu can get a little pricey, but they have some standard things like a burger and a kale caesar, and, unless everyone wants their own fluke crudo, it won’t get too out of control." - bryan kim
"All you’ve had to eat since getting to the park is a street cart hot dog and a bag of Ruffles. If you want some high-quality food close by in a place that still feels casual, get one of the outdoor tables at The East Pole. This Upper East Side spot serves a bunch of healthy options all day, along with a very good bacon cheeseburger with duck fat steak fries." - matt tervooren
"You go to The East Pole’s outdoor tables in pursuit of pork chops, a beautiful brownstone background, and the perfect martini. This upscale spot in the East 60s is s open for outdoor dining on Monday to Saturday from noon to 10pm, and on Sunday from noon to 9pm." - hannah albertine, nikko duren
"If The East Pole were in Nolita, it would still be full most nights, but it’d be the kind of utility spot you’d suggest after agreeing to a last-minute dinner with your new friend from yoga class. It's on the UES, though, so not only is it a solid utility move, it’s also one of the most popular casual restaurants in the neighborhood. There’s a long bar area that’s great for early-in-the-game dates, as well a big dining room that works for groups, and the American menu has options for everyone." - bryan kim, matt tervooren
