The other day we mentioned that a barbecue restaurant had set its sights on a storefront at 359 Grand St., the former home of Shalom Chai Pizza. We now have a few more details based on a liquor permit application filed with Community Board 3.
The operator is Jared Male, who ran a pop-up out of the Crown Inn in Crown Heights, made the rounds at the Hester Street Fair and worked in New York restaurants like Hill Country BBQ, and in London.
Randall’s Barbecue would be open from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. seven nights a week. Male also wants to use a backyard space, which he’s planning to keep open until 10 p.m. The application calls for a full bar. It also explains Male’s decision to open his first permanent restaurant in this neighborhood: “He can think of no better place to bring his brand of food and hospitality than to the Lower East Side community. To him, food is about community, connection and the joy of living in the moment.”
The proposed menu includes pork spare ribs, pulled pork, brisket and chicken. Daily specials include house cured pastrami and ham, duck, prime rib and “Sunday Roasts.” There’s also a section titled, “classic regional American dishes,” which include smoked meatloaf, country fried steak and fried clams. See the full menu in the application embedded below.
As previously reported, Male does not have a signed lease for the Grand Street space. The storefront is owned by the Seward Park Cooperative. The co-op’s general manager, Frank Durant, told us that Male will be interviewed by the board of directors, but that many different restaurant operators have expressed interest in the space, which is right next door to the Pickle Guys.
Male is scheduled to appear before Community Board 3’s liquor licensing committee Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m., at the Public Hotel, 215 Chrystie St. He’s also talking with the local block association, SPaCE, about the proposed restaurant.
19- 359 Grand Street_Questionnaire by The Lo-Down on Scribd
