[photo source: Black Bear Saloon]

Update: Prohibition River Nyack is now open

Prohibition River, a gastropub from Bailey’s Smokehouse alums Jonathan Placek (Executive Chef) and Oliver Cullen (General Manager), is taking over the former Black Bear Saloon space in Nyack.

Placek, who’s been at Bailey’s since 2005 (promoted to chef in 2009), worked under Bailey’s previous (and well-respected) pitmaster David Finkelstein (Fink’s BBQ in Dumont and the upcoming Bobby Q’s in Suffern). Cullen, their GM since 2009, has managed restaurants and bars in Manhattan for over 16 years (Bobby Vans Steak House and The Waterstone Grill).

They will be serving New American/Gastropub style dishes with the menu being as locally sourced as possible. This includes printing the daily changing menu (iuncluding steak, fish, mac and cheese and other items), based on available ingredients. They will be grinding their burger meat in-house as well as making homemade pickled goods. While BBQ was the specialty at Bailey’s, the daily special menu always boasted a wide assortment of dishes, some of which will be incorporated into the menu at Prohibition River.

The bar selection will have a strong emphasis on craft beers (it will be used in many of the dishes), both draft and bottled. They will also be creating custom house cocktails for the menu, some of which will incorporate ingredients from their menu.

The restaurant spreads across two floors, seating approximately 120 people. Each floor has its own bar with approximately 25 seats total. Lunch, dinner and eventually brunch service is expected with hopes to be open sometime early to mid March according to Placek.

Update: Prohibition River has revealed their dinner menu

Prohibition River 82 Main Street, Nyack, NY