New York Restaurants Mark 25th 9/11 Anniversary
Two new documentaries and past coverage highlight how restaurants, from Windows on the World to local relief kitchens, are part of the city's 9/11 memory.
Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, New York's restaurant community remains integral to the city's remembrance. The history encompasses the lost staff of Windows on the World, the chefs who fed recovery crews, and downtown eateries that transformed into relief centers.
This week sees the release of two new documentaries revisiting this history. They are accompanied by reflections on the extraordinary mobilization of the city's dining scene in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Documentaries and Reflections
Chef Michael Lomonaco, the former executive chef of Windows on the World, reflects on running the landmark restaurant in the new CNN documentary Top of the World. Lomonaco recently opened Brasserie Cognac Américain in Bryant Park in partnership with the Serafina restaurant group.
A separate film, Forgotten Feast, documents how New York's Little Italy neighborhood fed recovery workers. It is scheduled for a screening at the Italian American Museum on Mulberry Street on Saturday, September 12.
Operation Chefs With Spirit
Food & Wine and ABC News look back on Operation Chefs With Spirit. This was a volunteer effort to feed first responders led by Tribeca Grill chef Don Pintabona. Working with Spirit Cruises, Pintabona organized three boats to cook, transport, and serve meals. He was joined by chefs including Charlie Palmer, Danny Meyer, and Daniel Boulud.
Restaurants as Relief Centers
Some restaurants became vital hubs. Nino's, a downtown Italian restaurant, transformed into a round-the-clock relief center after the attacks. It ultimately served more than 500,000 meals to rescue and recovery workers before closing permanently in 2002.
O'Hara's Pub, located near the World Trade Center site, has become a living memorial to the first responders and recovery workers. Its walls are covered with patches and tributes from police and fire departments from around the world.
Social media also carries the memories. One post on Twitter reminded people that the Hooters chain helped feed 9/11 responders. The post described the effort as having been carried out "in a sweet manner."
Lasting Memories
Quotes collected by Eater show the lasting impact. "Twenty-five years later, we remember those we lost, the first responders and recovery workers, and everyone who showed up for this neighborhood," one reflection states. Another reads, "25 years.. Remember how united we all were.. Remember the 3,000 who perished and we will find solidarity again."
The source also points to past Eater coverage, including a 2019 story on the construction of Windows on the World and a 2011 remembrance of the restaurant. The legacy of the restaurant and the community's response continues to define a chapter in New York's culinary history.
