Tracks Raw Bar and Grill returns to Penn Station

Tracks Raw Bar and Grill, a longtime Penn Station staple, reopened on Monday after a seven-year hiatus.

The MTA announced the reopening of Tracks, which was forced to close in 2019 as part of renovations to Penn Station. The restaurant and bar is back near its original location into a new 3,150-square-foot space near the Long Island Rail Road concourse, after delays and the opening of a second Tracks at Grand Central Madison pushed back its planned 2024 reopening.

During the Penn renovation, Tracks relocated to 31st Street across from Madison Square Garden between Seventh and Eighth avenues., The restaurant had to move to make way for a new stairwell and better lighting as part of a $700 million renovation of the transit hub, Newsday previously reported.

For some Long Islanders, the reopening brought back a familiar stop on their trips to and from Manhattan.

Long Beach resident Terence Healy, who stopped by Tuesday afternoon, said he used to visit whenever he came into Penn.

Healy, who is a barber at Blind Barber in the Moxy Hotel in Manhattan, said he was drawn to Tracks by its atmosphere.

"I always liked the aesthetic and the atmosphere here. It seemed kind of like a staple of Penn Station," he said.

Although the restaurant has been redesigned, Healy said, it retains its memorable quality.

"It looks updated from what it used to be, but still has its character," he said.

Long Beach resident Jeff Dratt also returned on Tuesday afternoon, stopping in for a coffee. Dratt, a bartender in Island Park, previously commuted to Manhattan and said Tracks was once part of his routine.

"This place used to be packed every single day," Dratt said.

After moving to Florida and later returning to Long Island, Dratt said he was surprised to find Tracks gone when he visited Penn Station during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then, about a month ago, he noticed a sign announcing its return.

Dratt is looking forward to the return of some of Tracks' longtime menu items, particularly its oysters.

"The oysters here were some of the best in town. Period, and it’s not easy to do," Dratt said.

For owner Bruce Caulfield, the reopening has been seven years in the making, almost to the day. Aug. 19 marks seven years since, Caulfield said, he was told Tracks would have to leave Penn Station.

The restaurant's return was driven by demand from customers, he said.

"People keep saying they want Tracks and Rosa Pizza, the two things they knew about at the station," Caulfield said.

Long Islanders have remained a consistent part of the restaurant's customer base, Caulfield said, particularly because of its proximity to the LIRR.

The restaurant is returning after a $3.6 million renovation, with an updated menu that maintains some classic offerings while adding new choices, including sushi.

Caulfield said the restaurant expected to bring back its full selection of favorites by Labor Day.

The redesign also includes a new party room, which was not part of the original restaurant.

For Dratt, the reopening represents more than a place to grab a drink.

"There’s nothing like this place in Penn Station," he said. "This is a genuine restaurant."

Correction: Tracks moved to 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues while Penn Station was being renovated. An earlier version of this story had incorrect information.