Eastern Garden - Broadway, NYC 1970's
Does anybody remember Eastern Garden on Broadway between 104-105 in the 1970's? It was up a flight of stairs and was a foodie destination in the 1970's from what I remember. Best deep fried tiny spareribs, sizzling rice soup. My parents used to drive us in from Queens to climb those stairs for the best food. Their friends, many literary and foodie types raved about it and I believe met there monthly. There seems to be no record of this place anywhere. Is everyone who ate there dead?
By daf158
on Dec 9, 2011 10:03 AM
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I bet that Chinese foodie Ed Schoenfeld remembers it.
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In 1974 I lived on W 107 off Bdway and vaguely remember an upstairs trendy foodie place like you describe. I think I even ate there once, when I wasnt in C'town or one of the Cuban Chinese places in the neighborhood. However, I remember it as being a Szechuan place so the name might have been Szechuan Garden or Eastern Szechuan Garden (spelled differently?)? I'll try to remember.
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I lived there and went there but my memories of it aren't quite what yours' are. First, I recall it being below 104 Street, closer to 100 Street. It was a rather large space and somewhat on the dingy side (those stairway walls were very green, as I recall.) It was largely a Cantonese-American style place and the prices were very low (which is why my friends and I, at the time, very much thin in the wallet, frequented it.) Literary types eating there? Uh, well, I do remember sitting near Mitch Miller, the old TV song leader, eating there.
Now, up on 104-105, there was Chuan Hong, truly a gem, and a place where people who loved Szechuan food ate--it was not upstairs, however.
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Good call penthouse--the one you are remembering was a reopened editon of the classic 104th St joint. It closed at the 104th st location and reopened again at 100th, where I believe it quickly died. i was never at the new one. Found this from NY Magazine: "1975 RESTAURANTS ~ Eastern Garden is alive and well and serving some of the best Chinese food available in New York! Hurry Back soon! EASTERN GARDEN, 2628 Broadway (at 100th Street)."
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