Regulars call it "the numbers," and it's the oldest restaurant in New York City named for its address.
Renowned as one of the world's most dynamic eateries, the '21' Club is truly an American legend. Dating back to 1929, this four-story brownstone, former swank speakeasy has served as a rite of passage for every president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Founded by two collegian cousins from the West Side, Jack Kriendler and Charlie Berns, the '21' Club quickly became the most exclusive establishment in town - a place where the young, rich socialites of the Roaring Twenties spent wild nights dodging the raids of Federal Agents. The famous two-ton brick wall, secret "door" still serves as the entrance to the private dining Wine Cellar and remains a constant reminder of those infamous days.
Eclectic symbols of the people, companies and interests of the many powerful patrons abound both inside and out. Beginning in the early 30's, the first "toy" donned the ceiling of '21's famed Bar Room - a model of British Airways "Flying Boat." Not to be outdone, Howard Hughes promptly appeared with one of his new TWA planes. Soon the ceiling was awash with model planes, trucks, cars, buses, footballs, baseballs, bats, tennis rackets, oil derricks, tankards, telephones, ice skates, ballet slippers - all with a story about an industry mogul, world leader, celebrity or other well-known personality attached to it.
Today, the '21' Club remains a bastion of the quintessential New York dining experience. Still a world-famous, favorite haunt of the rich and influential, it is said that more deals are made at '21' than on the stock market floor.
