Construction Fence Goes Up At Oyster Bar, Executive Chef Named

The soon-to-open Grand Central Oyster Bar Brooklyn, which is taking over the giant old Fornino space at 254-256 5th Avenue, recently installed some construction fencing on the sidewalk, as this photo from All About Fifth shows. They keep noting they expect to open “later this year” and “late fall” in places, so be on the lookout.

The rendering of what the outside will look like that was posted in the window, and for the inside, they plan to have an open kitchen, bar, and lounge area, as well as a main dining room, seating 150 people.

The menu is, not surprisingly, all about seafood, with a focus on shellfish (again, shucker shocker). They plan on having 16 varieties of oysters (half from the east and half from the west coasts) on the menu, plus a daily pasta seafood special. Heading up the food end of the business will be Justin Ernsberger as executive chef. A Flatbush resident, Chef Justin has worked such spots as the Lobster Joint, The Mermaid Inn, and Walter Foods.

Once it opens, the 5,000-square-foot Grand Central Oyster Bar Brooklyn will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, and brunch on Sundays.

What do you think, are there enough shellfish fans in Park Slope to fill the space daily?

Top photo by All About Fifth