Comments on: A Hundred Years of the Oyster Bar, Grand Central Terminal Restaurant

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 12:57:48 +0000

In reply to David Dossett. It has been quite a while since I wrote this, so I don't recall seeing his name. I would love to see photos though!

By: David Dossett

David Dossett — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 10:48:27 +0000

My great uncle was the manager of the Grand Central Oyster Bar. I have pictures of him. His name was Sydney Oliver Sampson. Would you like me to send the pictures to you? Also, in any of the items in your collection is his name mentioned?

By: William Hays

William Hays — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:30:00 +0000

Good news, methinks: the oyster population is recovering in, of all places, the Gowanus Canal! It will be a while before they are safe to eat. I’d like to see the NYSDEC (nee ‘The Conservation Dept.’) place some emphasis on these old oyster beds. Let the feds make it a ‘superfund’ site and remove all the unfortunates in ‘cement shoes’ from the canal.

By: William Hays

William Hays — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:22:11 +0000

In reply to Al Cyone. There was another nearby Horn & Hardart 'Automat' on Lex at about 46th St.. The food wasn't really great, but the service was unique.

By: Al Cyone

Al Cyone — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:22:01 +0000

Speaking of oyster bars, after the devastating effects of SuperStorm Sandy several writers commented on the depleted oyster beds of the Hudson estuary and suggested that their revival might be part of a future protection plan. Here's a teaser: Just as corals protect tropical islands, these oyster beds created undulation and contour on the harbor bottom that broke up wave action before it could pound the shore with its full force. But 400 years of poor behavior on the part of humans have ruined all that. As Mark Kurlansky details in his fine book â€œThe Big Oyster,â€ during their first 300 years on these shores colonists nearly ate the wild creatures out of existence.

By: Al Cyone

Al Cyone — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:05:17 +0000

Alas, I never ate in the Oyster Bar but I do remember eating at the Automat across the street (80 East 42 Street). It was in, or close to, the Airlines Terminal building where you could buy plane tickets and then take a bus (probably one of Carey's) to the airport.