Wild Cherry
Restaurant · West Village ·
Frog legs kiev, iconic burger, and Old Hollywood elegance
Frog legs kiev, iconic burger, and Old Hollywood elegance
"I’m smitten with this restaurant inside the theater now run by A24: the lush little room, the perfect horseshoe bar, a fun soundtrack, and Jorge Riera’s excellent wine list set the tone for straight-ahead food that ranges from an outrageously great cheeseburger to a memorable sausage and kraut, with simple yet memorable desserts like a chocolate custard leveled-up with a drizzle of Chartreuse ($16) and a voluminous, white, and fluffy coconut cake ($16) with feathery frosting from pastry chef Michelle Palazzo that might best Claud’s decadent chocolate slab for visuals. The duo behind Tribeca’s Frenchette and Upper West Side revival Le Veau d’Or teamed up with indie film studio A24 to create the buzziest downtown restaurant this fall; attached to the reopened West Village Cherry Lane Theatre, every seat — even the tiny horseshoe bar — is a good one, with a high chance of celebrity-spotting from the likes of Bradley Cooper and Sabrina Carpenter while enjoying a varied menu from frogs legs Kiev to that excellent cheeseburger. An oversized slice that tastes of the tropics in a room this fun fits with the creative current flowing from A24 next door." - Nadia Chaudhury
"A match made in hella-cool heaven, this buzziest downtown restaurant from chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson with indie film studio A24 is attached to the reopened West Village Cherry Lane Theatre, where every seat is a good one — even the tiny horseshoe bar — and there’s a high chance of celebrity-spotting from the likes of Bradley Cooper and Sabrina Carpenter. My server recommended the seafood cocktail, a tangy mix of squid, mussels, shrimp, scallops, and big avocado chunks served with long crackers; the cheeseburger is damn good, with a hefty medium-rare patty draped with melted cheese and strewn with onions; the in-house kielbasa with sauerkraut is one of the best in the city; and dessert custards are standouts, particularly the rich chocolate with a Chartreuse drizzle. The space is utterly hip and boisterous yet warmly inviting, all dark woods, an archway with marquee lightbulbs, and green plush booths, with delightful cherry-themed matchbooks presented with checks. Reservations are already hard to snag and, even with a 7 p.m. reservation, I had to wait — it’s bustling — so don’t come with a strict schedule; if you do wait, grab a cocktail from the lobby concessions. If you have a ticket for the theater, let your server know so they can time out your meal, and you can order your entree to go for pickup when your event ends. The varied menu ranges from frogs legs Kiev (truly) to standbys like burgers." - Nadia Chaudhury
"Attached to the reopened Cherry Lane Theatre, the buzziest downtown opening from Frenchette’s Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson with A24 makes every seat—even the tiny horseshoe bar—feel like a winner, upping the celebrity-spotting odds (think Bradley Cooper or Sabrina Carpenter) while offering a playful menu from frogs’ legs Kiev to a standout cheeseburger." - Tierney Plumb
"The chef duo behind Tribeca’s Frenchette and UES Le Veau d’Or, Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, are preparing to open here on Friday, October 3 in the A24-run Cherry Lane Theatre, sources say, with the studio aiming to turn the space into a clubhouse for events and film screenings. Grub Street reports possible dishes ranging from seafood starters like tuna crudo and conch with celery to mains such as kielbasa with sauerkraut, alfredo pasta, and a steak dinner for two with baked potatoes, plus desserts like Key lime pie. One of the most anticipated items is a new cheeseburger from the chefs who introduced the Minetta Tavern Black Label burger years ago, raising the question of whether this updated cheeseburger will become the signature dish. Drinks will include oversized Murano glass goblets filled with Scorpion Bowls—a nod to tiki culture without actually being tiki—alongside a dirty martini, a Bee’s Knees, and the Sherry Cherry Highball built with amaro." - Melissa McCart
"The duo behind Tribeca’s Frenchette and Upper West Side revival Le Veau d’Or , chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, teamed up with indie film studio A24 ( Moonlight , Past Lives ) to create the buzziest downtown restaurant this fall. Attached to the reopened West Village Cherry Lane Theatre , every seat at Wild Cherry is a good one, even the tiny horseshoe bar, so you’ll have a high chance of celebrity-spotting from the likes of Bradley Cooper and Sabrina Carpenter while enjoying a varied menu ranging from frogs legs Kiev to standbys like an excellent cheese burger." - Melissa McCart