Pasta, Pastries, Bourbon and Brews: Poulakakos Family Alters Lower Manhattan Dining Landscape

The Lower Manhattan dining scene has dramatically changed over the past several decades. What was once strictly a nine-to-five district with few options outside steakhouses is now brimming with a diverse menu of options.

Few have impacted that shift more than restaurateur Peter Poulakakos and his father, Harry. The duo now runs seven restaurants, bars and cafes below Chambers Street, with plans for more on the way. Most notably, the family recently was chosen as the proprietors of the soon-to-be-renovated Pier A, where they plan to open an oyster bar and beer garden, event space and upscale restaurant overlooking the Hudson River.

“Lower Manhattan is absolutely fascinating, the Pier A project will be great to pay homage to what came before us in the area,” Poulakakos said.

To learn more about how the neighborhood has changed and about the family’s future plans (they include a bar for dogs and their owners!), the Downtown Alliance recently sat down with Peter for a Q&A as part of an ongoing series of guest columns and conversations featured on the Lower Manhattan Diary blog.

You can read the conversation with Poulakakos here.