Inwood Remembers: Fay’s Lobster Restaurant: 207th Street and Broadway

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Chef’s Suggestions:
Fresh broiled lobster: $1.50
Crab cocktail: 50¢
Porterhouse steak for two: $5.00
Sloe Gin Fizz: 45 ¢

Fays Lobster on Broadway near 207th Street.
Fays Lobster on Broadway near 207th Street.

With new restaurants opening up with increasing frequency, what fun it is to glance back at the Inwood food scene of yesteryear.

Thanks to a MyInwood.net reader named Beth we can take a stroll down memory lane. Beth wrote to the site that her husband’s great grandfather had once owned a dining establishment in Inwood called Fay’s.

Old Menu from Fay's Lobster Restaurant on Broadway near 207th Street in Inwood, NYC.
Old Menu from Fay’s Lobster Restaurant on Broadway near 207th Street in Inwood, NYC.

And, as luck would have it, she had a menu to share.

Old Menu from Fay's Lobster Restaurant on Broadway near 207th Street in Inwood, NYC.
Old Menu from Fay’s Lobster Restaurant on Broadway near 207th Street in Inwood, NYC. (click on photo to enlarge)

Beginning in the 1920’s Fay’s, a seafood and chophouse, established itself on Broadway just north of 207th Street.

Fire guts historic Inwood building on Broadway and 207th Street in January of 2012.
Fire guts historic Inwood building on Broadway and 207th Street in January of 2012.

The building, which recently housed Ditcher’s Pharmacy, a florist and Citibank, burned down several years ago. Today the site remains under construction.

1928 photo of Broadway near 207th Street. Note Fay's at bottom right corner of photo. (NYHS)
1928 photo of Broadway near 207th Street. Note Fay’s at bottom right corner of photo. (NYHS)
A neighborhood under construction in 1928 photo of Broadway and 207th Street. Note Fay's at right. (NYHS)
A neighborhood under construction in 1928 photo of Broadway and 207th Street. Note Fay’s at right. (NYHS)

Digging through old photos of the neighborhood I was able to find some images to go with the wonderful old menu.

Fay's held up, Yonkers Statesman, January 6, 1930.
Fay’s held up, Yonkers Statesman, January 6, 1930.

Searching through old news clippings I discovered that, during a two-week stretch in 1930 bandits, who made off with the patron’s cash and jewelry, overran the restaurant.

Old Menu from Fay's Lobster Restaurant on Broadway near 207th Street in Inwood, NYC.
Old Menu from Fay’s Lobster Restaurant on Broadway near 207th Street in Inwood, NYC. (click on photo to enlarge)

So take a look at that menu and feel free to splurge on your order. I think you’ll find the prices are reasonable.

If you have any photos, menus or memories of Fay’s I encourage you to write in and share them with everyone else.

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12 COMMENTS

  1. Fay’s was considered kind of a classy joint lol. That’s were the Priest’s from Good Shepherd were wined and dined. The one’s affordable was Matty’s Italian rest. on 10th ave..Hi Ho Dykeman St. Pupley’s on 207th. The best hot dogs was the Jewish deli on 207th and Academy St. eating out was a rare treat. Not like today with every kind of food and restaurant imaginable. Thanks again Cole for anther great part of Inwood history.

  2. Hi: Long time ago, when I was just out of high school, very early 60s, I became a member of the “Paulist Players.” Even though the group was affiliated with Good Shepherd Church, it was considered by many to be a little “racy” – theater and all that. The primary hangout for the players was McSherry’s across the street from Fay’s. My mother, concerned about my “reputation,” conceded that I could go the Fay’s if the crowd went there, but I was not to hang out in a bar such as McSherry’s!

  3. Ah, Fay’s! What a treat to be taken there for dinner in the ’50s! It seemed such a grown up place to be…..And Matty’s on 10th Ave! Best pizza ever!

  4. Thanks. I love it when I hhear about my Grandfathers shack and coffee shop. Hope I can find out the # of the coffee shop.

  5. Patricia, Can you tell me anything about Pupley’s on 207th? That was my grandfather’s place. James Pupley and his brother Peter were the owners. Did you know them? Do you have any photos or info about the exact location? We have tried to research that block and figure out where it was so we can see what is there now. Also, I believe you worked with my aunt, Rita (Tolfree) married name Rita Early. I know you wrote in when my dad did, Frank Yannaco on this page or facebook.

  6. Does anyone remember the name of the deli on the corner of 207th and Vermilia (sorry for spelling)

    Thanks for the memories.

    • Hi. My grandfather, father and Uncle all worked at Fay’s. They all past, when I was young. Always interested in learning more about the restaurant.

  7. My father, Henry “Hank” Braund, an undertaker at Connor Funeral Home, took Mom (Jean Braund, me, Coleen, Sharon, Donna, and Jon to Fays fairly regularly during the 1950s & 1960s. I recall the owner’s face though not his name, nice man. 1960 a Ten Alarm fire across the street burned McSherry’s, See’s Candy, the Grand Union, a cobbler, and other stores, stopping at the bank on Broadway and a tall apartment house adjacent Grand Union supermarket on 207th St. When Grand Union’s truss roof collapsed, 5 firemen were trapped under it. All were rescued. I remember FDNY used 16 square blocks of fire hydrants to fight the fire. It was also the first time I ever saw a New York County Sheriff; didn’t know there was such a thing until then. Very exciting! So I became a fireman. 😉 Earlier, we lived at 531 W 207th St and then moved to 5000 Broadway and after that, 256 Seaman Ave. The public school built at the slave cemetery is PS-98. Anybody remembering me then can find me on Facebook as Tom Braund Alaska. Would love to hear from you.

  8. Thank you for all this information! My g-grandfather was a lifelong waiter/bartender in NYC, and on his WWII Registration card he was working at Fay’s. I haven’t been able to find much info until now… I have a photo of my G-Grandfather behind a bar with coworkers, and was curious if it could of been taken at Fay’s, if I share do you think anyone could tell?

    • Hi Brittany, my grandfather, father and uncles all worked Fay’s for decades. Send me an email of the photo, and I ask my cousins or brother if they recognize.

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