After an 18-month closure, the Central Park Boathouse reopened under new management, disappointing customers. The restaurant, operated by Legends Hospitality, offered a lackluster experience compared to its predecessor, Dean Poll. Poll’s tenure was marked by well-prepared American dishes, but the new management failed to deliver the same level of quality.
Customers described their recent dining experience at the Boathouse as atrocious, with slow service and subpar food. The restaurant’s new menu included dishes such as salmon belly crudo and Sicilian swordfish, which were both costly and underwhelming. Even classic dishes like chicken Milanese and baked ham were disappointing in terms of taste and texture.
The ambiance of the newly designed restaurant was also a point of contention, with customers noting tacky decor and poorly maintained areas. Despite a reported $3.25 million spent on capital upgrades, the dining room was described as lacking charm and cleanliness. The joint venture behind the Boathouse reinvented the space with new features like small tables and a blue ceiling that failed to impress diners.
The involvement of consulting chef David Pasternack, known for popularizing crudo in New York, raised eyebrows with the disappointing menu offerings. While there may be hope for improvement as the seasons change, customers were left unsatisfied with the current state of the restaurant after six weeks under new management. The new executive chef may need to make significant changes to resurrect the Boathouse’s reputation and offer a more enjoyable dining experience to patrons.
In conclusion, the reopening of the Central Park Boathouse under new management was met with disappointment from customers expecting the same level of quality and service as before. The experience was marred by slow service, lackluster food offerings, and an underwhelming ambiance. The involvement of distinguished chefs like David Pasternack was not enough to salvage the restaurant’s reputation, and significant changes may be needed to restore the Boathouse to its former glory. Whether the restaurant can bounce back remains uncertain, as customers continue to voice their dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.
