When you step into Fetch, a friendly neighborhood bar and grill on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, you feel right at home–especially if your home includes the loving faces of your favorite canine companions. If you’re a dog-lover, this restaurant is literally a must-see. Pictures of patrons’ pooches hang like exquisite art pieces, adorning every wall. It’s impossible not to smile when you’re surrounded by hundreds of these adorable furry faces.
The “master” at Fetch is Owner/Executive Chef, Adam Powers, who, along with business partner John Barounis, created Fetch as a restaurant dedicated to the canine cause. His is truly a labor of love. Behind the bar, you will see a portrait of Powers’ best friend, Eddie, his beautiful 9-year-old English Bulldog, and when you’re dining at Fetch, he’ll treat you like a best friend. He encourages his customers to bring in a picture of their precious pups to hang on the wall. “The idea is that the whole wall will be covered—the sooner the better!” Powers proclaims. The dog-adorned wall theme evolved from a few to hundreds: “We started off with a couple of dog pictures on the wall…people would come in and ask ‘What’s up with the dog picture and how do I get my dog up there?’ We said, ‘Well, bring us one and we’ll put it up on the wall.’ These are all neighborhood dog pictures.”
Adam Powers cooked at several top restaurants including The Rainbow Room before embarking on his own culinary venture. Fetch’s fare is inspired by his love of diner food, and he described it as “American home cooking.” He prides himself on using the freshest, finest quality ingredients to make traditional American home favorites, such as “Mom’s Meatloaf,” “Baked Mac & Cheese,” mashed potatoes, hearty hamburgers, hot open-faced
turkey sandwiches, as well as salads, pastas and the best brunch on the Upper East Side, as voted by Manhattan’s Our Town newspaper. You don’t need to be Pavlov’s dog to start drooling here!
Fetch also serves New York City’s only “Original” Philadelphia Cheese Steak. Powers maintains the authenticity of the true “Philly Cheese Steak” by making them strictly with rolls from Philadelphia’s famous Amoroso’s Baking Company. It is Powers’ attention to detail and insistence on only preparing the best that makes Fetch a food-lover’s, as well as a dog-lover’s second home. “One of the advantages of being the owner and chef is the quality control…nothing here is ever served substandard,” he says.
The mission of Fetch is equally as important as the menu. Their mission statement is: “Fetch, the perfect place to find your new best friend while being treated like one of ours…we are dedicated in our pursuit to find permanent loving homes for the many unfortunate stray dogs of New York.”
One wall, called The Adoption Wall, brain-child of General Manager, Britt Johnson, is dedicated to photos of Animal Haven, Humane Society and Stray from the Heart rescue dogs (and cats!) awaiting adoption. In addition, on the first Sunday of each month, Fetch hosts the Animal Haven mobile adoption van, so you can bring home a doggie along with your doggie bag! Fetch also hosts numerous benefits for animal organizations such as Stray from the Heart, Animal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Humane Society of New York and Animal Haven.
The owners as well as the employees of Fetch are committed to filling your hearts, as well as your stomachs. “Our goal is to make as many friends as possible and to save the lives of as many dogs as well,” said Powers.
At Fetch, their bark is every bit as good as their bite. I give this fun, friendly and fetching eatery four paws and a shake of the tail! Fetch is located at 1649 Third Avenue, between 92nd and 93rd street, in New York City. For more information, call (212) 289-2700.
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