NEW YORK—The Pod 51 Hotel and Pop Burger have teamed up to introduce a new craft beer gastropub, Pop @ Pod. The partnership between Pop Burger restaurateur, Roy Liebenthal, and BD Hotels aligns two similar approaches to hospitality that emphasize a lively, social environment and attract a youthful following. Pop @ Pod elevates the high-end burger concept, introducing new to New York micro brews, innovative American cuisine, and an upscale pub lounge designed with foosball tables and flatscreen TVs.
A native New Yorker, Executive Chef Andre Dudkiewicz, is at the forefront of Pop @ Pod. A current resident of the artistic Bushwick neighborhood, Dudkiewicz’s varied culinary experience includes posts at Flex Mussels and fine-dining restaurants Oceana and Anthos. Dudkiewicz expands on Pop Burger’s signature style of gourmet burgers. New, exclusive Pop @ Pod creations, including fresh Farro Salad with Grilled Shrimp, Kale Caesar Salad, and three variations of mussels make their debut. Pop Burger favorites, including the “Gobble Gobble” turkey burger sliders and the “Superman” burger topped with melted cheese, bacon, grilled onions, and fried pickles are also on the menu.
“Pop Burger has always been about offering a high-quality product without the pretention, which is why the Pod Hotel is a great setting for our latest venture,” said Pop Burger founder, Roy Liebenthal. “Our intention with Pop @ Pod is to create a fun, casually-cool environment that is both unique to Midtown, and caters to the neighborhood, whether it’s for a work lunch, happy hour, or game night.”
General Manager, Luis Martinez has partnered with rare craft beer producers and developed cocktails with a unique twist. The cocktail menu exclusively features the award-wining Casamigos Tequila, Rande Gerber, and George Clooney’s ultra-premium brand, including the refreshing Paloma cocktail made with agave nectar and ginger beer. Ten taps offer distinct micro-brews, including Pennsylvania’s Voodoo Brewery, and unique beer-based libations—including the Guinness Cream Soda and the Beer Spiked Margarita—are also available.
The modern-day American saloon will feature a street-facing bar area, seating for 130, and a cozy back lounge. A collaboration from Pop Burger’s designer Ali Tayar, of Parallel Design Partnership, and Vanessa Guilford, design director for Pod Hotels, the contemporary space combines rustic natural elements with highly-manufactured design components. Neutral cedar walls and ceilings, and reclaimed Maplewood gymnasium floors contrast steel tables, aluminum details, and punches of bright red color woven throughout the space.
The restaurant’s street entrance descends to a long bar with ten taps, three flat-screen TVs, and high-top communal tables, and a secondary entrance to the hotel which features two red glass double doors covered in transparent clear cut-out Pop @ Pod logos. Behind the bar is an open dining area, featuring low-slung banquette booths with individually controlled flat-screen TVs, a central communal high-top table, and additional sofa seating along the walls. A back lounge, which can also be sectioned off for private parties and events, is outfitted with two custom foosball tables and a 16’ long red sofa, and Pop’s signature “Word Art” wall.
