Frankie and Johnnie's Steakhouse

Frankie and Johnnie’s Steakhouse in the Garment District is a place to relax and enjoy company in the former townhouse of famous actor John Drew Barrymore.

The original Frankie and Johnnie’s, located on 45^th Street, started as a speakeasy in the 1920s. In a way, it represents the dynamic nature of the district because it holds on to history but moves forward with its menu and style of service.

The Garment District has always been a place of wholesale shops and sample sales, but now it’s changing. As of 2003, Frankie and Johnnie’s made 37^th Street its new home. This steakhouse retains a bit of its past while allowing a new crowd to gather in the entryway.

The restaurant has now developed into a mini-chain, with three other locations. At the 37^th Street steakhouse, the bar provides a vibe similar to the days before Prohibition while the restaurant itself has a more romantic ambiance.

Downstairs the bar consists of cozy quarters filled with mahogany furniture, dark wood finishes and bottles lining the shelves. Seating only 187 people, this skinny room feels like a true speakeasy from the 1920s. The dim lighting enhances the updated bar, making it seem like a secretive meeting place for the business crowd that gathers after work.

The atmosphere upstairs is more sophisticated. The deep red of the carpet, the chandelier and sconces, and the large windows illuminate the room. People can imagine themselves in Barrymore’s generation or fill their minds with a romantic imagery of modern day life.

A wide demographic of people visit this house-turned-restaurant. Corporate workers from the surrounding offices come to relax, families arrive to dine and occasionally a few tourists stop by on vacation to see the historic site. People socialize, celebrate and fall in love in the dining room where Barrymore used to host his own house parties.

The Garment District in itself is a melting pot. While walking down the block, people pass by shops filled with formal evening gowns, bedazzled jewelry and fur coats, and construction of a new skyscraper. The restaurant creates a multi-faceted social scene that relates to the diversity of the district.