At his eponymous Manhattan restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther draws on his Alsatian heritage rooted in his family’s farm life. That upbringing instilled a commitment to showcasing exceptional ingredients. “Our responsibility is to highlight good products and producers,” says Kreuther.
The modern, 80-seat dining room—set along the edge of Bryant Park—offers lunch and dinner, with various prix fixe menus, a chef’s tasting, and à la carte selections. The space is both grand and inviting, framed by rustic wooden beams reminiscent of Alsatian timber houses, abstract paintings, and a crystalline sculpture of 42 cranes suspended from the ceiling. The menu draws from Kreuther’s Alsatian roots, elevated by his French training and decades in New York’s top kitchens before opening Gabriel Kreuther in 2015.
Every meal begins with an amuse-bouche and a mini bundt of Kreuther’s savory kougelhopf—an Alsatian cake traditionally served sweet—reimagined here with whipped fromage blanc and chives. It’s a perfect example of how Kreuther gives classic dishes his personal touch. Other signatures include foie gras served in multiple iterations with accents like wild rice streusel; crisp tarte flambées with rotating toppings ideal for the bar; and the iconic sturgeon and sauerkraut tart dramatically revealed beneath a glass dome filled with smoke.
Some traditions remain: white tablecloths, a rolling cheese cart stocked with French delicacies, a wine list rich in Alsatian, French, and German selections, and a decadent chocolate tart soufflé with a sidecar of whiskey sabayon.
For Kreuther, creating an approachable environment is essential—especially to encourage younger diners. Nothing, he says, should be so pristine that it makes someone feel unwelcome. “I like connecting people to [food],” he says. “I want to find something that moves them, gives them a good moment, and lets them have the sense that ‘Yes, this is for me, I belong here.’”
