The new diner comes with an outpost of Sawada Coffee, known for its painstakingly crafted drinks
It’s a good time to be a burger fiend in NYC: Next week Tribeca welcomes its own location of Au Cheval, a wildly popular Chicago diner whose burger has risen to national acclaim.
It’s a simple American classic, made of two griddled four-ounce patties with American cheese, dijonnaise, and pickles on a toasted bun. Some say it’s the best in the country, though Eater critic Ryan Sutton wasn’t so charmed by a similar version of it at 4 Charles Prime Rib in the West Village.
Au Cheval also serves other neo-diner fare, such as potato hash with duck heart gravy, matzah ball soup, and chilaquiles. Here in NYC, this second-ever location will be a 75-seat space serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The diner is owned by prolific Chicago restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff, who is also behind West Village steakhouse hit 4 Charles Prime Rib.
Sodikoff is also introducing an outpost of Sawada Coffee at the same address. It’s his Chicago cafe, which was born from a collaboration with renowned Japanese coffee artist Hiroshi Sawada. There, the coffee shop serves skillfully crafted coffee, matcha, and tea drinks, as well as a selection of spiked hot coffee and milk drinks and doughnuts.
Au Cheval welcomed friends and family Thursday night, but its official opening date is Tuesday, March 5. Both the diner and cafe will open on that date and be open daily, with limited hours at first. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night meals will be on tap at Au Cheval, while Sawada Coffee will open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.