Where do I eat at the US Open?
“Where do I eat at the US Open?” It’s a question we get asked a bunch over the two weeks of the final Grand Slam, and because our guests are such diligent planners, in the many months leading up to the Open. The answers are fairly straightforward, but only as much as a long, exhaustive list can ever be straightforward. Here, we’ve come up with a little guide to the food and drink at the US Open that is neither comprehensive nor entirely objective, but with the help of the US Open site map it should help guests find a good meal.
Club level restaurants
The US Open offers experiences of all kinds, for all budgets and tastes. For the sake of orientation, we’ll begin inside the stadium. Courtside seats have access to a ring of high-quality bars serving gourmet, bistro-quality food a few steps from the action. They each have limited food menus with a few specialty items, and they all serve booze, too. No one would call them cheap, but they’re also not that expensive when you consider that they’re a few steps from the court inside the largest tennis venue in the world. It’s our job to know each and every inch of the tournament, so in the name of research and dedicated service, we’ve tried numerous menu items and even more drinks, most of which we recommend—though not necessarily in one sitting.
The Club level also hosts two notable restaurants, Aces and Champions Bar and Grill. Aces focuses on seafood and sushi options, while Champions offers traditional steakhouse fare. Both are fine dining and require a reservation. We’ve received positive feedback from our guests throughout the fortnight, and Yelp reviews from tennis fans reinforce the efforts made by the US Open to provide great dining options.
Outside Ashe
Beyond the stadium, there’s Emirates Sports Cafe, which is just as it sounds and an entirely pleasant place to relax outside with good food and drink. For another, higher-end al fresco experience with slightly better menu and service, head to Cafe Spiaggia, a concept by James Beard Award winning Chef Tony Mantuano and winner of Top Chef Season 15, Joe Flamm.
Finally, the Food Village makes a strong effort at mass-scale sporting event concessions. The food here doesn’t reach the standards of quality and presentation found at the other locations, but the USTA has organized nearly 20 vendors with diverse options for a diverse crowd. Costs run between $10-$18 for most items, and beer and soft drinks are available. Some favorites are Fuku (an outpost of NYC post-luxury dining hipster food icon David Chang), Prime Burger, and Korilla BBQ.
Care for a drink?
All of the places we mentioned above serve drinks as well, whether it’s water, tea, juice, soda, or alcohol. There are a few specialty drink locations that, depending on your needs in any given moment, could be crucial: the Lavazza Cafe is on the edge of the Food Village towards Ashe and it serves all sorts of espresso-based coffee drinks. Once your spirits are lifted with caffeine, there are numerous outposts serving alcohol, including the huge, impossible-to-miss Heineken Red Star Cafe which has multiple levels and a US Open store on the first floor. If you want to keep it classy, the Möet and Chandon Terrace is right outside Ashe. Head to one of the many Grey Goose Bars around the grounds for a summertime cocktail and a souvenir glass.
This should set you off on the right path. If it’s overwhelming, don’t worry; the US Open grounds are such that all paths eventually lead to food and drink. Here’s a link to an interactive map of the US Open grounds. If you have any further questions or comments, just get in touch.
