Seeing the Old Oyster Bar Anew

I like the Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station, particularly the saloon, because of its ancient and modern qualities. Its dining rooms are comprised of vaults covered with Guastavino tiles, an original feature of the station’s design. By the looks of the light fixtures and the furniture, the restaurant’s current decoration seems to have originated in the mid-20th century. It has been left untouched since then with the minor addition of some mod graphics added in the 1970’s. 

The mens’ and ladies’ rooms are particularly hip. The small "lounge" areas sport leather chairs, with a giant baseball mitt for the men and a large set of lips for the ladies.

There are still a few restaurants of equal age and with similar evolutionary character that I enjoy checking in on every now and then. However, with the trend for franchise eateries and celebrity chefs taking over old line places to infuse them with cool, I fear their futures are fragile. 

Have a dozen oysters beneath the olden vaults of Grand Central soon.