In France, I have seen lines to get into small restaurants which look empty. The first time I saw this I was quite puzzled. A little examination, however, revealed what every seasoned restaurant goer already knows - they were waiting for tables outside. Al fresco dining and the search for pleasant garden space is a quest made by diners around the world. In New York City, we are not blessed with very many pleasant streetside cafe spaces - see my posting here - Insult to Injury and this great New York Times article - Curbside, We’ll Never Have Paris.
This is the time of year where many relish being outdoors, so, if you want a really pleasant al fresco meal insulated from the elements of urban assault, a back garden is the place to find. Often, these places are completely hidden from view - a front sign may or may not be present announcing the garden’s existence. So for those of us who like urban adventure and the process of discovery, this is not the technique best employed. Better to do a bit of research prior to meal time.
In the case of The Waverly Inn and Garden, at 16 Bank Street, the garden has a side entrance visible from Waverly Street. The location is in the heart of prime West Village - one of the most charming and bucolic areas in the entire city of New York. I have written of this neighborhood several times before (see the links below).
Regarding the restaurant itself, I have not eaten there, but I enjoyed reading the reviews which range from 1 to 5 stars. If you want to have fun, read some of the 74 reviews here at Yelp.com. Apparently, this place is a magnet for the rich and famous and many of the very negative reviews reflect customer experiences with snobbery, service and attitude. On August 12, 2008, the New York times wrote an article - An Insiders Clubhouse (Apply at the Door). One of the owners is Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter - some have referred to the establishment as “Graydons private club.”
The article speaks of the “combination of billionaires, movie stars, intellectuals and fashion designers, with a rock icon or sports legend thrown in” who frequent there. “There are still powerful folk who would rather dine uptown at the Four Seasons, Michaels or Le Cirque. But for celebrity power deep enough to lure paparazzi night after night, few outposts in New York today rival the Waverly Inn.”
This historic place exudes charm inside and out - for now it appears it’s the got the buzz and bling 
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