Wild Cherry

Wild Cherry is built directly into the Cherry Lane Theatre, a West Village cultural fixture that has been on Commerce Street for a century. It was conceived as an intimate supper club by the team behind Frenchette and Le Rock, who partnered with the film studio A24 after its restoration of the historic theater. The restaurant occupies a space that was once a black-box stage. Step inside and you’ll find a 45-seat dining room lined with plush green banquettes set against a distinctive white-and-green checkered floor. A cherry leaf motif covers one wall, tying the whole room together. The menu is a confident blend of Mediterranean and American comfort food. A raw bar with oysters, Tuna Crudo, Dressed Dungeness Crab, and even Scungilli anchors the starters, sitting alongside dishes like Frog Legs Kiev and a classic Chicken Liver Mousse. For main courses, the kitchen turns out a well-made cheeseburger, a Lobster Club sandwich, and Kielbasa & Kraut, plus a substantial steak dinner designed for two. The cocktail program is just as considered, with options like the Sherry Cherry Highball and large, shareable Scorpion Bowls that encourage a bit of a party atmosphere. Given its location, the restaurant is a natural stop for a pre-theater dinner, and the staff is adept at timing service to curtain calls. But the room is just as often filled with neighborhood regulars and people celebrating a special occasion. It also functions as a standalone bar, a place where you can walk in for a cocktail without committing to a full meal. The whole operation is often overseen by a welcoming maître d' named Andrea, who keeps the intimate space feeling both lively and personal.