TRIBECA — A TriBeCa bar known for its drinking games and rowdy college crowds is getting a makeover as a family-friendly steakhouse, its new owner said.
Biddy Early's, at 43 Murray St., will lose its beer pong table, jukeboxes, kitschy décor and Irish pub grub menu, in favor of new floors, a fresh coat of paint, and a menu that focuses on steaks and truffle-dusted fries.
"We're really trying to change the atmosphere of it," new owner Erin Garmont told Community Board 1's Tribeca Committee Wednesday.
To run the kitchen, Garmont hired Christopher Hunt, who previously worked at several Downtown restaurants, including the Fulton Street Grill, Suspenders and Moran's, and is currently executive chef at a country club upstate.
The preliminary menu features a 24-ounce Porterhouse steak with potatoes and creamed spinach, a beef and Guinness stew, and "Chicken Woodrow" sautéed in a cream sauce, topped with Swiss cheese and prosciutto.
Murray Street residents — who have long complained about the noise and inebriated crowds at Biddy Early's — said they were glad to hear that a new operator was taking over the space. But they remained concerned that Woodrow's would continue to attract a raucous clientele, especially since Garmont hoped to remain open until 4 a.m.
"It gets louder as it gets later," said Jennifer Parkinson, 34, who lives above Biddy Early's.
She said she was "skeptical" that a family-friendly restaurant needed to stay open until 4 a.m.
After Tribeca Committee members expressed similar concerns, Garmont agreed to initially close at 2 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and 1 a.m. the rest of the week. She can return to the community board in July to try to extend the hours, the board said.
Hunt, the chef, assured residents that he takes his job seriously and wants the focus to be on the food — not the bar.
"I'm not here to let anyone down," he said.
