HUNTERS POINT — The owners who took over the space formerly occupied by Long Island City's beloved Waterfront Crabhouse reopened the eatery this week with a new look, menu and slightly different name.
Restaurateurs Skinny Lee and Joseph Licul, who own other restaurants in the neighborhood, transformed the space into the Crabhouse Restaurant — a new eatery that serves seafood dishes like its predecessor, but also operates as a steakhouse.
"We're really trying to give everybody a bit of what they loved about the old restaurant, and give them something new as well," said Amanda Pierce, events director for the new spot.
The new owners took over the Borden Avenue space last year, months after the original Waterfront Crabhouse closed following the death of its longtime owner, Tony Mazzarella.
The restaurant had been in business since the late 1970s, rebuilding after several setbacks, including a fire in 2009 and flooding during Hurricane Sandy.
Its replacement, the Crabhouse Restaurant, has been renovated with hanging chandeliers in the dining room and greenery overhead.
"We wanted to modernize it a little bit, and still pay tribute to its classic exposed brick walls on the inside," Pierce said.
The menu features a number of seafood dishes, from raw oysters, clams and shrimp cocktail to crab cakes and seafood bisque. Diners can enjoy lobster tails or whole lobsters broiled or steamed, as well as sauteed Maryland blue crabs.
Steaks include a filet mignon, New York strip, bone-in rib eye or a massive porterhouse for two, served with sides like mashed potatoes, onion rings, spinach or broccoli rabe.
In addition to the restaurant on the first floor, the new owners are turning the upstairs into an event venue called Gantry Loft, which can fit up to 200 people and be rented for weddings and other special occasions.
Crabhouse had its first official dinner service on Tuesday, and Pierce said neighbors have been excited to see the space back open, with many customers sharing memories of the times they spent there when it was the Waterfront Crabhouse.
"The community has been so supportive and so excited," she said.
Crabhouse Restaurant is located at 2-03 Borden Ave. and is currently open Tuesdays to Fridays from 5 to 10:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 10:30 p.m.
