Inside The Seneca at 582 Seneca Ave. (The Seneca/CURICH WEISS)
Dec. 18, 2018 By Laura Hanrahan
Despite operating in Ridgewood since the summer, The Seneca, a restaurant and cafe, at last held its official grand opening last Friday.
The restaurant’s namesake comes from its location at 582 Seneca Ave., and offers locally-sourced upscale pub fare that caters to a variety of diets.
The Seneca first came to the scene in June, and is the creation of brothers Kaelin Ballinger and Thomas Ballinger and their brother-in-law James Cruickshank.
The Ballinger brothers already run several restaurants and venues throughout New York, with Kaelin opening The City Beer Hall in Albany in 2011 and Thomas opening People’s Pub in Chatham in 2016.
The duo, however, decided to move to Queens for a change of pace and partnered with their brother-in-law, who has experience working in nightlife and food operations for The Jane Hotel, Ruschmeyers, and Whitman’s in the East Village, in the new venture.
The Seneca offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and also has a full service bar with many local brews on tap.
Dishes offered at The Seneca (via CURICH WEISS)
The three menus are filled with pub classics with a fresh, dietary-friendly twist, all created by Chef Corey Yee. Diners will be able to enjoy items like breakfast tacos with housemade chorizo, organic chicken wings, gluten-free fish and chips, vegan Cauliflower soup and a burger topped with housemade dill pickles.
“The Seneca’s menu is made deliberately to be accessible yet tasteful,” Ballinger said. “Our food centers on approachable classics, including full entrees for the dedicated diner, as well as shareable options perfect for late nights.”
The full service bar not only has local wine and beer, but also offers kombucha on tap and range of drinks from Redux Coffee. The restaurant also features daily beer and shot combo specials, as well as the post-work “Whine Wednesdays”.
The owners boast that the setting is ultimately welcoming to people from all walks of life.
“The Seneca offers a full range of activities, that’s what truly sets it apart,” said Kaelin Ballinger. “The space evolves throughout the day, making it perfect to grab a breakfast sandwich and coffee on the way to the office, for moms stopping in for an afternoon treat, and for friends looking for a late-night hangout playing pool with great music.”
The locale is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends.
The Seneca (via CURICH WEISS)
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