Bringing Back Old World into the New, Gage & Tollner Restaurant, set to open in Fall.

Charles Gage and Eugene Tollner originally opened their Oyster and Chop House restaurant Gage & Tollner in 1879, then in 1892 moved to 372 Fulton Street, Brooklyn and has remained at that location for over 127 years, placing, not only the building proudly on the Historic landmark list, but in 1975 became NYC’s third landmarked interior, following after the New York Public Library and Grant’s Tomb. Built in 1875, it is a four-story late Italianate style brownstone building, the painted wood exterior was added when the restaurant opened.

Back in the day entering you were greeted by a white gloved maitre'd with a linen napkin draped over their one forearm, while the other arm extended out towards the dinning area, welcoming you to this wonderful establishment. Decorated with burgundy velvet lined walls and mirrored panels, gas lamps over each of the tables , and a beautiful dark mahogany bar the length of the restaurant,. What they were serving was just as rich as the interior. She Crab soup, steaks, chops, oysters, good hearty solid fare served with warm hospitality. It became a destination restaurant for many, including the who's, who of the area and surrounding areas, politicians, lawmakers, movie stars to authors that included actress Mae West, , early 20th-century financier “Diamond” Jim Brady. and author Truman Capote. It also was home to many celebrations of the people living in the neighborhood, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, as one brooklynite put it, "a celebration to the nines, from Soup to Nuts" with an old world backdrop accompanied by hospitality at it's finest.

Unfortunately in 2004, Gage & Tollner shuttered it's doors, leaving this beautiful establishment in ruins for more then a decade.. Last year a group of Brooklyn restaurateurs out of Red Hook, St. John Frizell, owner of Red Hook’s Fort Defiance, along with Good Fork owners Ben Schneider and Sohui Kim, teamed up and decided to revitalize and resurrect this once happening space. With original fixtures still intact, it will be more like a renovation then a reconstruction, bringing the old world back into the new, while including an expansion of two private dining rooms, The Sunken Harbor Club a Tiki-themed cocktail lounge which will be upstairs, and still being able to house a 70-seat dining room for lunch and dinner.

With the many changes that have gone on, not only with neighborhood, but the rise of the more contemporary, artisian fare, Chef Sohui Kim decided to keep the menu an iconic Chophouse original, while elevating the favorites like the Classic Caesar Salad, Creamed Spinach and a perfectly cooked Rib Eye, “My goal is to elevate these classics without reinventing them or making them gimmicky, using meticulously sourced ingredients and diligent technique" in her words. Frizell, will be creating and serving up the drinks by a few notchs that include, new takes on the classic cocktails, a deepened wine list, along with local sourced beer. Planning to open in the Fall of 2019 , it will be massive, epic to proportions and completely classic to it's original iconic state, truly experiencing the dining of years gone by...