Restaurant Supply Chains Largely Intact, May Be Hurt By Gas Shortages

Dining by candlelight at Pounds & Ounces

By James Mulcahy

Last night, we were at a bustling eatery near Times Square. The bartender informed patrons that the wine delivery hadn't come, and they were out of a certain Cabernet, but another was quickly offered. Despite increased demand, NYC restaurants have avoided large-scale shortages. Suppliers are going out of their way to keep the chain of foodstuffs flowing into the city, making special efforts to deliver product to the Powerless Zone. Etai Cinader's, a Managing Partner at Chelsea's Pounds & Ounces has been serving guests by candlelight, notes that his supplies have been coming through: "I haven’t been ordering much, as we were closed for three days and I am unable to properly store fresh food. Some purveyors are offering deliveries more than once a day to deal with this issue." The one thing he's had trouble procuring? Ice - his usual suppliers weren't delivering or were sold out.

Transportation is the real kink in the supply chain, with trucks caught in yesterday's massive traffic jam along with everyone else. "Our main supplier with most of our products on an 18-wheel-truck couldn't get into the city," notes Chris Eldridge, General Manager of Neely's Barbecue Parlor which still has power on the Upper East Side. "We made some last minute calls and were able to put together a family-style buffet last night instead of serving our full menu." The make-it-work attitude is on display city wide. The West Village's Barrio 47 has been open since the power went out, and they simply follow the exodus north when they need to stock up for their three-dish menu of ribeye, chicken and pasta. "We buy all the food uptown," notes owner Alex Volland, "My brother is buying meats at local NYC butchers." Volland notes they are waiting for a restock of wine, which should come tomorrow.


Num Pang's Ben Daitz also confirms that the supply chain has so far remained intact, but notes that a looming problem could cause disruption. "I'm driving around between the restaurants, and I'm about to run out of gas," he says. "I'm trying to find a gas station, but it does not look good. Suppliers haven't really run out yet, but they could."

The power is scheduled to go by Saturday, but wearied patrons continue to appreciate the extra effort. "Customers have been amazing, very chill," says Barrio's Volland. "People are happy to have a nice meal."