Tiki Beach to open May 20 at Rye Playland; Captain Lawrence beer garden, too
Get ready to tiki.
The new Tiki Beach Pier Restaurant, with an adjacent Captain Lawrence Beach Garden/Biergarten, should, if all goes according to plan, have its soft opening May 20, with a more formal opening set for Memorial Day weekend.
Like with the start of any new business, there are a few things pending. But co-owner Todd Kosakowski, a longtime restaurateur who owns properties in New York and Connecticut, expects diners to be pleased with what's coming.
The 400-seat waterfront Tiki Beach, on Rye Playland's boardwalk, was formerly the home of Charley's Pier Restaurant & Tiki Bar. Before that, it had been the Pier Restaurant & Tiki Bar, known for its fish bowl cocktails and Jimmy Buffet vibe.
Standard Amusements took over day-to-day management of Playland, which is owned by Westchester County, in late 2021. Standard, in turn, brought in Kosakowski and his team to rejuvenate the tiki bar.
Also on May 20: What's new at Playland as park opens for 2023 season
It's had an extensive "spruce up" with new furniture showcasing a beachy blue and white motif, a loungey VIP area overlooking the water, and an elevated seafood-focused New American fusion menu. Among the entree highlights are sushi, tacos, Blue Point oysters, salads, a charcuterie board, coconut shrimp, burgers, a New York Strip and a lobster with cognac reduction.
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Cocktails, always a big draw at the tiki thatched bar, are also new and different and feature margaritas in a variety of flavors and specialty drinks like a Rye Beach Mai Tai, Tiki Beach Sangria, Oceanside Bay Breeze (with coconut rum, pineapple and cranberry juice) and Sex on the Beach (vodka peach schnapps, plus orange, pineapple and cranberry juice). There's also more bar seating thanks to high top tables that surround the bar area.
"Our mission," Kosakowski said, "was to take this very unique, picturesque location that has had numerous operators over the years and take it to another level. And that means every aspect, in food quality, service, reputation and entertainment."
The goal? To make Tiki Beach a high end waterfront destination.
Beach vibes
Aside from the drinks and food, there's a refreshed decor. Two neon signs — perfect for the Insta! — read "Meet Me at Tiki Beach" and "High Tides and Good Vibes" along with one that says "It's 5 o'clock Somewhere."
Making the space more vibrant and fun is a variety of flower accents in purples and blues that adorn both dining rooms, inside and out, as well as the hostess stand, which now makes a bold statement on the boardwalk. Also festooned with flowers: a stage for live musical performances that will be held Saturday nights (starting Memorial Day weekend) at 8 p.m. A DJ will be there at the same time on Thursdays and Fridays. Smaller acts will perform Wednesday's and Sunday's.
Old Playland photos are part of the interior as well as the front entrance to the indoor dining room. Kosakowski said he spent months sorting through archives to find a nice variety, including shots of the beach, the rides and the summer stage. "This is an iconic spot with immense history and we wanted to honor that," he said. "We're also grateful to be able to show it off."
The other big change to the space? An adjacent beer garden complete with astroturf, done in conjunction with Captain Lawrence. Diners will find interactive games like darts, corn-hole, and ring toss, along with lots of picnic table seating and string lights. Director of Operations Stephen Primerano calls the new space "more chill" than the restaurant.
When the beer garden opens (also tentatively May 20), diners can expect lighter fare such as bratwurst, wings, burgers and giant pretzels, along with the latest brews from Captain Lawrence and canned cocktails.
Plus, don't be surprised if you see a familiar face roaming around both spaces. The restaurant is managed by Vincent Corso, who many know from his years running Westchester Burger Co.
If you go
Address: 1 Playland Pkwy, Rye, 914-305-3518, tikibeachrye.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday; to 2 a.m. Thursday to Saturday.
FYI: The VIP area, which features bottle service, can be booked for eight or more. There's also plenty of room for private events hosting from 10 to 400. And, for boaters: The restaurants owners also manage the marina, so you can pull up with your boat, as well as a new water taxi.
Good to know: Weather permitting, the restaurant and beer garden will stay open after Playland Park closes. Also good to know: Reservations are accepted.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Tiki Beach restaurant, Captain Lawrence beer garden to open May 20 at Playland
