Club Portugues

In the Long Island district, under the bridge of the express train to Manhattan, is the storage space of the New York Subway company MTA, which is now no longer in use. A Long Island-based developer was able to secure it for himself and realise his dream: a restaurant open to all with a separate Private Members Club.

The brick building will now be converted into a restaurant, preserving its original structure and adding a kitchen extension in the backyard.

The speciality of the Clube Portugues is the famous Portuguese meat kebabs called espetadas, which are grilled on long skewers over an open fire. There are specialised espetada restaurants for this in Portugal. With this speciality, the Clube Portugues also positions itself in the gastronomic landscape of Long Island, where a unique selling proposition is needed to be successful due to the density of restaurants.

The interior design underlines the concept aimed at meat lovers; after all, espetadas are not for vegans but for avowed carnivores. Brick vaults, dark wood and torch-like lighting underline the introverted character of the substance. The walls are adorned with the macabre decoration typical of Portugal: replicas of skulls like those found - as real skulls - in the famous 'Capela de los Ossos'. The converted infrastructure building takes on an underground charm that makes it a unique experience in a city where anything is possible.