The Verdict
The Odeon opened in October 1980, when Lynn Wagenknecht and the brothers Keith and Brian McNally turned a Tribeca cafeteria into a Paris-style brasserie. Wagenknecht still owns it, and the neon-lit room has barely changed.
It became shorthand for downtown New York — Warhol and Basquiat in the booths, the cover of Bright Lights, Big City in 1984 — and it still serves steak frites and steak tartare to a late crowd. You come for the history, the bar and the consistency, not for novelty.
The Kitchen
The Odeon opened in October 1980, when Lynn Wagenknecht and brothers Keith and Brian McNally turned a Tribeca cafeteria into a Paris-style brasserie; Wagenknecht still owns it. The kitchen keeps to brasserie classics rather than a chef's signature: steak frites built on an 8oz aged prime New York strip ($54), steak tartare of black Angus ($38 as a main, $25 to start), moules frites ($34) and a country frisée salad with lardons and a poached egg. Its early menus, under the late chef Patrick Clark, earned two stars from The New York Times in the 1980s.
The Room
The Odeon sits at 145 West Broadway in Tribeca, its neon sign and Deco-tinged room little changed since 1980. Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring were early regulars, and the restaurant became downtown shorthand when it appeared on the 1984 cover of Jay McInerney's Bright Lights, Big City. The bar still draws a late crowd, and the kitchen runs to 11pm Tuesday through Saturday.
Best for a Late Night
Book the Odeon for a late dinner because the kitchen serves to 11pm at the weekend, the bar is a destination in itself, and the room flatters a 10pm table. Order steak frites and a martini and you are eating the same meal downtown New York has ordered here for more than forty years.
Not For
Not for diners chasing the newest tasting menu or a hushed, quiet room. The Odeon is a busy brasserie that trades on history and consistency rather than novelty, and the bar can be loud at night.
Reservations
The Odeon takes reservations on OpenTable and keeps walk-in seats at the bar. Dinner runs Sunday and Monday to 10pm and Tuesday to Saturday to 11pm, with weekend brunch from 10am. A two-course dinner with a drink lands around $60 to $90 per person. Dress is smart casual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Odeon worth it?
The Odeon is worth it for a classic Tribeca brasserie dinner with genuine downtown history; it opened in 1980 and still serves steak frites and steak tartare to a late crowd. Owner Lynn Wagenknecht co-founded it. It trades on consistency and atmosphere rather than cutting-edge cooking.
What should I order at the Odeon?
Order the steak frites ($54), built on an 8oz aged prime New York strip, or the black Angus steak tartare ($38 as a main, $25 to start). The moules frites and the country frisée salad with poached egg are reliable. Finish at the bar with a martini.
How old is the Odeon?
The Odeon opened in October 1980 at 145 West Broadway, when Lynn Wagenknecht and Keith and Brian McNally converted a Tribeca cafeteria into a brasserie. It featured on the 1984 cover of Bright Lights, Big City. For more downtown options, see our New York City dining guide.
Does the Odeon have a Michelin star?
The Odeon does not hold a Michelin star. Its credentials are historical: a two-star New York Times review in the 1980s under chef Patrick Clark, and four decades as a downtown landmark. Expect dependable brasserie cooking and a great bar, not fine-dining ambition.
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