The Lion Restaurant
66 W 9th Street, 6,600 Square Feet

“In 1960, Barbra Streisand -then still Barbara -was 18 and unable to find acting work when a friend told her about a weekly talent contest at the Lion, a gay club in the West Village. Uninterested in singing but hungry, she gave it a try, as much for the free dinner (they had a great London broil, she recalls) as for the paid gig that came with placing first. She won that prize, a standing ovation and her first big break. Like so many of the city’s legendary nightspots, the Lion disappeared, replaced by a series of other restaurants on the ground floor of a brownstone on Ninth Street. It recently reopened, as a tavern and restaurant whose owners have labored to restore the spirit of its early-1960s heyday.” - The New York Times eloquent historical description says it best. Working in a space that has been a restaurant since at least 1924 (the first Certificate of Occupancy) and a building constructed in 1839 was challenging but ultimately rewarding. Working with the extremely talented interior designer Meg Sisk, the kitchen was relocated from the 2nd floor to create a compact yet open chef‘s kitchen while the bar, dining and upstairs event spaces were fully remodeled including private spaces on the second level. Work included from initial survey and schematic layout to Landmarks approval and construction supervision.