Written by Eva Stryker Robbins
Fairway Market, located at West 74th Street and Broadway, is always buzzing with activity. With every food imaginable lining the aisles, this market is a welcoming place for all Upper West Side residents. And just one flight of stairs (or elevator) above the deli’s meats, baguettes, and produce is a quiet cafe serving delicious food.
Fairway’s 74th Street Cafe, which has been open for at least 20 years, reopened Sept. 20 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. We are currently operating under a new management team and a new chef. Classic Chicken Matzo Ball Soup is a comforting, delicious, and flavorful meal on a chilly fall day. Contains fresh shredded chicken breast, carrots, celery, and matzo balls. What makes this dish unique is the size of the matzo balls. they are giants. The dough is similar to dumplings and has a slightly salty taste, but it absorbs the flavor of the soup well and gives the soup a different texture.
In a phone interview with West Side Rag, new general manager Trevor Arnone said the chefs involved in creating the menu have 15 to 20 years of experience. 74th Street Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Arnone said he wants to make the store “about the best cafe on the Upper West Side.” “I really want to tap into the old customer base that used to always be here. I know they’ve missed us.”
Growing up with a father who was a certified master chef, Arnone was exposed to the kitchen from an early age. “By age 9, he invited me to his first catered party and had me cut herbs in the back of the kitchen,” he said.
From there, Arnone’s passion grew. He’s been working in the industry since college, first interning at a country club in Georgia and then running a food truck in upstate New York. “It was my passion and my love,” he said.
Fairway first opened in the 1930s as a small corner produce store. Website. In 1954, founder Nathan Glickberg and his son Leo set out to transform the market and opened a storefront on 74th Street. A lot has happened to Fairway’s business since then, including bankruptcy and a 2020 sale to Village Supermarkets, which operates many ShopRites, but 74th Street Market remains the epitome of the Upper West Side. It’s a great place.
Arnone and his team are excited to transform the cafe and make it better than ever. “We can’t wait to welcome back our entire community and our new customers.”
Classic Chicken Matzo Ball Soup costs $10.
cooking: classic chicken matzo ball soup
restaurant: Fairways 74th Street Cafe (2131 Broadway, 2nd floor at 74th Street)
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