TL;DR
- A24, the acclaimed indie film studio, has launched its first full-scale dining venue—Wild Cherry—inside the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in New York’s West Village.
- The restaurant is spearheaded by chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson (of Frenchette and Le Veau d’Or fame), offering a supper-club vibe with a menu ranging from oysters and tuna crudo to a signature burger and steak for two.
- Located at 38 Commerce Street and opening in October 2025, it seats around 45 guests and slots in as part of A24’s wider ambition to merge cinema, culture and hospitality.
What’s the concept behind Wild Cherry?
Wild Cherry isn’t just another new restaurant—it’s a deliberate fusion of film-studio identity, historic theatre space and high-style dining. A24 acquired the Cherry Lane Theatre in 2023, rebooted it as a live-events and film-culture hub, and Wild Cherry serves as its gastronomic anchor.
The décor, designed by Zeb Stewart, evokes vintage supper-club ambiences with green velvet booths, chequer-board floors, marquee-style lighting and a 12-seat horseshoe bar.
The menu reflects the dual commitment to elevated restraint and pop culture flair: seafood, inventive twists, strong comfort food—designed for the theatre-going crowd and the downtown style-set.
Why This Matters
For those tracking the intersections of style, entertainment, dining and culture, Wild Cherry is significant for several reasons:
- Cultural convergence: A film-studio launching a restaurant inside a theatre creates a fresh model—where cinema, dining and live events collide.
- Design and drop-culture appeal: The space’s aesthetic and exclusivity (small seating) give it the kind of “scene” energy your audience responds to—stylish interiors, celebrity sightings, aspirational dining.
- Menu as statement: The dishes aren’t just about taste—they’re part of the cultural moment (signature burger, lobster clubs, Scorpion Bowls in Murano glass) which you can tie into style-and-food content.
- NYC hotspot timing: West Village has always been a cultural barometer; the fact this is happening there signals both local relevance and global cachet.
Practical info & visitor tips
- Location: 38 Commerce Street, New York, NY 10014 (inside the lobby of the Cherry Lane Theatre).
- Opening hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, dinner served until 9:30 PM.
- Reservation strategy: Due to limited seating (~45), reservations go fast. For walk-ins expect early arrival; reviews note waitlists even with bookings.
- What to expect: Design-forward space, buzzy bar; menu highlights include seafood starters, burgers, steaks and theatrical cocktails (Scorpion Bowl) in a cinematic environment.
