The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures officially has dinner service. Come evenings, Fanny’s, the restaurant and café that has been open as a casual lunchtime eatery, now offers a dining experience overseen by executive chef Raphael Francois, who comes from Michelin-starred kitchens across the country and Europe.
From restaurateurs Bill Chait and Carl Schuster, Fanny’s is a call-back to the classical Hollywood era. The menu features crowd pleasers and “live performance” elements, including tableside Caesar preparation and steak carving. In addition, throughout its debut month, the restaurant will host live DJ sets on select nights.
“Much like producing a movie or theatrical show, bringing a restaurant like Fanny’s to life is a vast and layered undertaking,” Schuster said. “We are ensuring we execute at the highest level every step of the way—creating an exceptional environment for both museum goers and destination diners that evokes the magic of cinema itself.”
With the history of cinema coursing through its veins, Fanny’s pays homage to the legendary Fanny Brice portrayed by Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl. To live up to such a name, the impressive two-story restaurant sprawls across 10,000-square-feet. With thanks to Wendy Stark, it was conceptualized by the late architect Osvaldo Maiozzi and designed by Commune Design.
"When we conceptualized Fanny’s with Bill and Carl, it was so important to us that the restaurant feel deeply connected to the aesthetic of the museum,” Academy Museum Director and President Bill Kramer added. “Fanny's has already been incredibly popular with museum visitors for lunch and breakfast, and we are thrilled to be adding dinner service."
Leaning into its formal ambience, guests can select from globally-inspired dishes, including cacio e pepe pasta, a burger with Jambon de Paris, and a whole orata grilled on the kitchen’s hearth. Other tableside-via-trolley options include côte de boeuf, chocolate tart, and assortment of cheeses. And, to more directly tip its hat to the museum, the movie-inspired cocktail program from Julian Cox ranges from the All About Eve (Lo-Fi aperitif, red plum and shiso granita) to the Black Panther (black currant, Avua cachaca, whey, Byrrh, seasonal spices/fruit and meyer lemon "air").
Dinner is offered at Fanny’s Wednesday through Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations can be made at https://fannysrestaurantandcafe.com.
See also: 7 Festive Cocktails for the Holiday Season
Photography by: Wonho Frank Lee
