🚕 A New Chapter for Sutton Place

Good Morning NY!

New York’s restaurant scene is once again balancing farewells, fresh beginnings, and creative ideas that are reshaping how the city eats.

Upper West Side institution Good Enough to Eat is preparing to close its Columbus Avenue location on August 30 after more than 45 years, though some of its beloved breakfast dishes will live on at sister restaurant Fred’s.

Meanwhile, The Derby Club has given the former Neary’s space in Sutton Place a fresh identity while preserving touches of its predecessor, including its cherrywood bar and famous mint jelly.

The city’s restaurant industry is also facing continued financial pressure, with Fireman Hospitality Group filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

On a more innovative note, Wonder is introducing plug-in battery systems at 21 NYC locations to help reduce energy costs and improve efficiency.

And Rusty Supper Club is proving that great dining can start with nothing more than a group chat, seasonal ingredients, and a shared passion for bringing people together.

Good Enough to Eat Says Goodbye

Upper West Side favorite Good Enough to Eat will close its Columbus Avenue location on Sunday, August 30, after more than 45 years in the neighborhood.

The restaurant’s final brunch will give longtime customers a chance to say goodbye before the doors close permanently.

Owner Jeremy Wladis said the decision came after a drop in business and the inability to reach an agreement on a new lease.

The restaurant first opened in 1981, before moving to its current Columbus Avenue location in 2013.

There is some good news for fans, as sister restaurant Fred’s on Amsterdam Avenue will continue serving Good Enough to Eat’s breakfast menu.

Fred’s will also add some of the restaurant’s favorite dishes, keeping part of its legacy alive on the Upper West Side.

Wonder’s NYC Restaurants Get an Energy Upgrade

Wonder is installing plug-in battery systems at 21 of its New York City locations through a partnership with energy supplier David Energy.

The 120-volt batteries charge when electricity prices are lower and discharge during peak-price periods, helping the restaurants reduce their reliance on more expensive power.

David Energy is providing the systems at no cost and expects them to save Wonder thousands of dollars annually at each participating location.

The batteries are being used in Wonder’s all-electric kitchens and are designed to require minimal operational changes.

Many participating locations are also enrolled in demand-response programs that support the power grid during periods of peak demand.

Wonder and David Energy plan to expand the battery rollout to additional locations and are already collaborating on energy infrastructure for Wonder’s planned 2027 New York City sites.

NYC Restaurant Group Files for Bankruptcy

Fireman Hospitality Group, whose New York restaurants have long served theatergoers, tourists, and office workers, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The company says the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to weigh on its business.

According to CoStar, customer traffic did not fully recover until late 2025, contributing to the group’s financial difficulties.

The filing adds another challenge for New York’s restaurant industry, which continues to deal with the aftereffects of pandemic-era changes in customer habits and business conditions.

Fireman Hospitality’s portfolio includes Brooklyn Diner at 212 West 57th Street in Manhattan.

Because the CoStar report is subscriber-only, the publicly available article provides limited information about the bankruptcy filing.

The development nevertheless highlights the ongoing financial pressure facing restaurants that depend heavily on theater crowds, tourists, and office workers.

A New Chapter for Sutton Place

The former Neary’s space on East 57th Street has a new life with the opening of The Derby Club, a restaurant led by chef and partner Ed Cotton with Chris Coco and Craig Hutson.

The new restaurant keeps Neary’s original cherrywood bar and even includes “Neary’s mint jelly” on the menu, but it is designed as a completely new venue.

The Derby Club features red banquettes, white tablecloths, soft lighting, a Sutton Place mural, and a vintage Waldorf-Astoria chandelier.

Its menu includes a Wagyu beef hot dog, crab-stuffed shrimp, Thai-style salmon, miso-broiled black cod, and rack of lamb persillade.

The restaurant also takes cocktails seriously, offering classics such as a daiquiri alongside house drinks including knockout punch.

After a July soft opening drew strong neighborhood interest, the team decided to open to the public earlier than originally planned.

NYC’s Supper Club Born in a Group Chat

Rusty Supper Club, a laid-back dinner-party pop-up run by Matt Greene, Greg Preston, and Brandon Siu, has been bringing people together over food since 2022.

The trio develops its dinners through an active group chat, often starting with a seasonal ingredient from local farmers markets.

They then build a five- or six-course menu, finding unconventional ways to use the featured produce.

One corn-themed dinner, for example, included fried cannolis filled with esquites and cinnamon fritters with basil-corn ice cream.

Each member brings a different specialty, from smoking and pastry to sauces and front-of-house service.

The group says its goal is to create a fun, relaxed atmosphere centered on food, conversation, music, and community.

Rusty Supper Club hosts monthly dinners through Airbnb as well as private events.

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