Where Dinner Requires a Password (and a Flashlight)
Beneath the Gowanus Canal lies The Catacombs, a candlelit dining room carved into a 19th-century smuggling tunnel. Here, rogue chefs like Mina Stone (ex–Momofuku) serve 10-course “rebel menus” of forbidden ingredients: wild-foraged mushrooms, black-market truffles, and pre-Prohibition absinthe. The price? $300, paid in cash, no questions asked.
A Feast for the Fearless
Founded by anarchist chef Luis Garcia in 2015, The Catacombs began as a protest against NYC’s dining bureaucracy. Today, it’s a rotating collective of Michelin-starred outlaws and underground farmers. Dishes like “Banned Beef” (dry-aged in a subway vent) and “Stolen Honey” (from rooftop hives) come with stories—and a side of legal disclaimers.
How to Get Invited
Network: Attend pop-up markets like Smorgasburg and whisper “I crave the underground” to vendors.
Vetting: Expect a cryptic Zoom interview about your thoughts on FDA regulations.
Dress Code: All black (helps hide spills in the dark).
Why It Matters
This isn’t dinner—it’s a middle finger to the status quo, served on hand-thrown ceramics.
Visitor Intel
📍 Access: Meet at a Gowanus bodega; guided via flashlight.
🕒 Dinners: Monthly, 8 PM sharp (latecomers get locked out).
💸 Price: $300 cash (includes “bail fund” tip).
🚇 Closest Subway: Carroll St (F/G lines).
Ready to Dine Like a Rebel?
Just don’t ask for the bathroom—it’s a bucket behind a curtain.
