Famed chef Jean-Georges Vongrichten's new Park Avenue restaurant has become the epicenter of a new, post-pandemic phenomenon for Wall Street's movers and shakers: the power hour, Side Dish has learned. As soon as the closing bell rings, traders, investors and C-suite executives flock to Four Twenty Five, which opened last December at 425 Park Ave., the Norman Foster-designed skyscraper that counts hedge fund giant Citadel as its main tenant.
They come not only for the $25 cocktails and bar food that includes $68 egg toast with caviar, but also for the all-important face time needed to make a deal – before racing off to catch their trains. 7 As soon as the closing bell rings, traders, investors and C-suite executives flock to Four Twenty Five. Michael Nagle While many of the city's power brokers decamp to their summer homes in the Hamptons, or fly off to Greek islands or the Italian Riviera, the power hour was in full swing during a recent visit by Side Dish.
There wasn't an empty seat at the bar by 5 p.m and the lounge was also full. Male and female executives in summer suits relaxed while sipping those $25 olive oil-washed martinis or $19 raspberry lychee bellinis.
Finance geeks with backpacks slung over their shoulders noshed on bar food that includes slightly cheaper fare like tuna tartare with avocado for $16, and sea urchin and black bread crostini for $28. "I come once a week around 4:30 to 5:30 to meet clients and friends," one investor said in between bites of his t.
