Welcome Back Hoexter’s
An Iconic Upper East Side Restaurant from the ‘70s and ‘80s Returns
Alexandra Shapiro grew up in New York City where her parents, Bobby and Laura, ran restaurants — spots like Flex Mussels, and their beloved Hoexter’s, which opened in 1977 and closed in the mid-80s. Now, with her parents and chef Lauren Schwichtenberg, Alexandrea has reopened Hoexter’s, reviving her parents’ first restaurant just a few doors down from where the original location opened almost half a century ago.
“I’d have to say this is the most personally meaningful project I’ve worked on,” said Alexandra. “My parents opened the original Hoexter’s in 1977, before I was even born, and it laid the foundation for our family’s life in hospitality. We’re in the neighborhood I grew up in, down the street from our beloved Flex Mussels, and I could not be more excited to bring Hoexter’s back to life, right around the corner from where it all began.”
Shapiro turned to chef Schwichtenberg, who most recently cooked at Brooklyn’s LaLou, to showcase Hoexter’s history and bring their version of classic, American brasserie-style dining back to the Upper East Side.
The menu includes starters like Gorgonzola Garlic Bread (a nod to the original Hoexter’s iconic Gorgonzola Garlic Bread); Beef Carpaccio with celery gremolata, parmesan, and beef fat croutons; French Onion Soup with “so much Gruyere” and sourdough crouton (and with an optional off-menu French Dip add-on); Fried Calamari Arrabiata with cherry peppers and tomato sauce; Hoexter’s Chopped Salad with Romaine, salami, Provolone, roasted peppers, black olives, and a house vinaigrette; and a selection of Raw Bar offerings including Shrimp Cocktail with “perfect cocktail sauce” and dijonaise; Oysters on the half-shell; and Golden Osetra Caviar served with potato chips and French onion dip.
Main courses include a variety of easy, satisfying dishes that might make a regular out of you: Pork Milanese with endive, button mushrooms, and dijon vinaigrette; a Cheeseburger featuring a double smash patty, American cheese, pickles, “specialest sauce” and fries; Whole Branzino with lemon vinaigrette and caviar; Salmon with smoked butter beurre blanc, roasted chanterelles, puntarelle, braised leeks; Roasted Half Chicken with whole roast garlic, delicata squash; Strip Steak au poivre, or bordelaise, or gorgonzola cream, and french fries; and a roasted Duck Breast with duck fat potatoes, Swiss chard, and gooseberries.
Hoexter’s, which is designed by acclaimed interior designer Sasha Bikoff, pays homage to the restaurant’s storied past with classic Upper East Side elements such as a black and white penny tile floor, checkered bathrooms, plaid wallpaper, channeled-back banquettes and an assortment of antique leather chairs. The 90-seat restaurant has a 10-seat bar, perfect for drink and a bite.
And for that bar, Hoexter’s beverage program also draws inspiration from mid-Century New York City, with classic and classic-inspired cocktails, and a 100-bottle wine list featuring several bottles from the original Hoexter’s cellar, and a variety of vintages from the restaurant’s first run.
Among the cocktails are dueling Martinis: a Dry Martini with Vodka/Gin, Carpano Dry Vermouth, Mineral Water, Perfectly Chilled, or a Dirty Martini with Vodka/Gin, Olive Leaf Liqueur, Mineral Water, Perfectly Chilled, and Castelvetrano Olives. There’s also an Eastside with Gin, Lime, Demerara, Cucumber, Mint; a Hemingway Daiquiri with Aged Rum, Fresh Lime, Pamplemousse & Maraschino Liqueurs; and an Espresso Martini with Vodka, Cold Brew, Mr. Black, Montenegro, Demerara, Lemon Zest.
Newly-inspired cocktails include a Caviar Martini with Hoexter’s Special Infused Vodka, Carpano Dry Vermouth, Caviar, Cracker, Cheese; a Desert Rose with Tequila, Prickly Pear, Pistachios, Lime, Basil, Agave; the Kentucky Stallion with Bourbon, Fresh Lime & Apple, Falernum, Demerara; and the Elixir of Immortality with Amburana Cachaca, Turmeric, Ginger, Honey, Lime, Seltzer.
Dining on the UES just got a lot better.
Hoexter’s is located at 174 E. 82nd Street. It will be open daily, Sunday-Thursday from 5-10:00 pm, and Fri-Saturday from 5-11:00 pm. For more information, go here.