The Astor opened September 15 in the former Library space at 425 Lafayette Street, with Andrew Carmellini, Serge Becker and the Joe’s Pub team behind it. The wood-paneled room offers a welcome alternative to making every pre-theater dinner feel like a logistical compromise. This is an opening discovery; there is no established critical verdict yet. Eater’s dedicated Astor report
The meal I’d consider is shrimp cocktail ($25), followed by Ora King salmon with beluga lentils, young coconut and vadouvan ($38), with broccolini and New Orleans chili crisp ($14) to share. Two salmon mains, the shrimp and the vegetable total $115 before drinks, tax and tip. That is a real dinner with a little spice and texture, rather than a pescatarian negotiation conducted entirely through side dishes. Full dinner and drinks menus
Confirm that the lentils and sauce contain no meat stock or cream. The menu also has clams casino with bacon, so the seafood heading alone is not a sufficient guide.
I would try it for the combination of room, location and this particular order. Whether it becomes somewhere to return will depend on cooking and hospitality. Dinner is listed daily, 5–11 p.m.; reservation inventory wasn’t verified. Hours and location