FLATIRON MARKS DECADE IN VILLAGE
RED HOOK, N.Y. » You wouldn’t expect a vegetarian to open a steakhouse, but that’s exactly what Jessica Stingo and her husband Craig Stafford did when they moved up from Brooklyn and opened the Flatiron Restaurant on Broadway.
Situated in a brick building in the heart of the village, the 65seat restaurant has been serving up steaks, seafood — and yes, vegetarian items — in the community for a decade.
The couple met while they were both working at a restaurant in New York City near, you guessed it, the Flatiron Building.
“I was the front of the house,” said Stingo. “Craig was the chef.” As time, and their relationship, went on, the two decided to open a place of their own. Originally, Stingo said, they were going to open a place in Brooklyn “but we decided we wanted grass and trees.” Stafford had attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, and was familiar with Northern Dutchess area so after looking around a bit the couple settled on Red Hook, she said.
When it came to naming the
Everything they serve, right down to the ketchup, is homemade and the walls are decorated with a revolving display of artwork from local artists.
restaurant, they chose Flatiron, a name both reflects the kind of restaurant they would be — a steakhouse — and holds sentimental value for the couple.
They run their restaurant in much the same manner as when they first met: Stingo manages the front of the house, manages the restaurant floor and staff, manages the extensive wine list and bakes all the breads.
Stafford develops the recipes, plans the menus and runs the kitchen.
Things have changed a bit since they first opened, Stingo said. Today, the menu is more “American bistro,” than steakhouse — good for Stingo who has
been a vegetarian for more than 20 years (“People get a kick out of that,” she laughed). And because the owners pride themselves on developing their menu around the fresh local produce from local farms, the menu changes throughout the year. Everything they serve, right down to the ketchup, is homemade and the walls are decorated with a revolving display of artwork from local artists.
And throughout the year, the restaurant hosts a variety of special events — most recently, they held a 10th anniversary party — and once a year, they host a special murder-mystery dinner, featuring a threecourse dinner and a whodunnit play written by Stingo.
“It’s like crazy fun,” she said, adding that she has convinced her family and friends to act in the play.
The event is always held in March, Stingo said, and always sells out.
The Flatiron Restaurant is located on 7488 South Broadway. It is open Wednesday-Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday from 5 p.m.