(American Brass)
March 4, 2020 By Allie Griffin
A waterfront restaurant is now open in the space that was occupied by Riverview Restaurant that offers diners New American brasserie fare like fresh seafood, upscale barbeque and speciality cocktails.
American Brass, located at the corner of 49th Avenue and Center Boulevard, fully opens to the public today. The restaurant is owned by Tommy Demaras and Robert Briskin, who also own the nearby Italian restaurant Maiella that opened in 2015.
The sizeable spot can hold up to 150 dinner guests in the dining room and 20 more in the adjoining bar area. During warmer months, outdoor waterfront seating will open and can accommodate 84 guests with views of Gantry Plaza State Park and the Manhattan skyline.
Helmed by partner and Executive Chef Raffaele Solinas — who also oversees the kitchen at Maiella — the menu offers a variety of New American foods from locally-sourced ingredients.
(American Brass)
An oversized raw bar offers 16 types of oysters and a robust selection of shellfish, clams, seafood salads and tiered towers. There are six variations of mussel pots, as well as shrimp scampi, Atlantic salmon, three-cheese oyster gratin, wild baked mussels, barbecue calamari, spicy salmon tartare, charcoal octopus and clams provençal.
An American Brass house specialty is “The Fat Pig,” a pig-shaped charcuterie board with American ham, peppercorn crusted salami, smoked duck breast, extra virgin olive oil cake, California assorted olives & homemade pickles, goat cheese, truffle pecorino, country truffle pate, champagne grapes, deviled eggs and red wine figs.
Former Location of Riverview Restaurant where American Brass has opened (Photo: Queens Post April 2019)
Other cuisines and daily specials on the menu include cherry-glazed barbecue ribs, red wine-infused mac & cheese, pork belly and caviar lentil, rotisserie suckling pig, smoked cowboy ribeye, overnight pork shank, seven-hour lamb shoulder, grass-fed prime black angus steaks and a 28-day dry-aged burger.
Signature sides include Long Island corn creme brulee, roasted cauliflower steak, sauteed seven bean spicy apple smoked bacon, garlic black kale and maple glazed rainbow carrots. Desserts include banana cream pie, baked Alaska and cotton candy.
The bar offers a variety of local Long Island City beers including seasonal offerings from Fifth Hammer Brewing Co, LIC Beer Project, Big aLICe and Icon Brewing on tap. Aiden Bowie oversees the bar menu which includes house signatures like the pink peppercorn negroni and a hard cherry cola — a wink to the former Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in the neighborhood.
Demaras with Kate Hudson at Maiella in 2015
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9 Comments
Chef thinks he’s Gordon Ramsey
Best of luck. Despite living practically next door, however, I can’t see myself going more than once or twice considering the price point ($24 for a cheeseburger….c’mon now).
If you live next door i’m sure you can scrounge up some money and eat there. It’s not really that expensive or you haven’t been into Manhattan in a long time. The Smith charges 19$ and 26$ for their burgers and the food isn’t that great & it’s also packed. This place has a Chef who not only is the Chef he’s also a partner there. I’m sure the food is going to be great. Petey’s is right down the street for your burger needs & wants.
$$$ isn’t the issue and I work in midtown.
You’re more than welcome to pay more $ for mediocre food. I simply place a higher standard for my palate.
what Duane Reade do you work at in mid-town? I’ll come visit you and drop you off a five guys hamburger.
Also had dinner here last night (Mar-4th, not 10th Ed).
Food was great – bbq calamari, corn creme brulee, sea bass, charred octopus, pork shank. Staff and exec chef – friendly and attentive. Lack of alcohol (for now) was a non-issue – we don’t drink. The online menu is not up to date (a few items listed there for dinner are supposedly lunch-only and will become available late Spring, early Summer. Welcome and good luck American Brass.
One closes;one opens. Never ending.
Went for dinner last night (Tuesday March 10). They did not have a liquor license. Disappointing. Food was good though but no wine…
Ed- I thought we agreed your ride in the DeLorean was our little secret! Ugh!
-M