Tribeca Grill Servers Describe Harvey Weinstein Encounters

TRIBECA, NY — Former servers at the upscale Tribeca Grill, a frequent haunt of Harvey Weinstein, have described how the now-disgraced director would ply female companions with drinks before taking them into a private room.

And they said managers of the restaurant, which is co-owned by Robert DeNiro, ordered them to give him special treatment – including ignoring the women he was with if they contradicted what he said.

Three former servers at the grill, located at 375 Greenwich St., spoke anonymously with CNN about their time working there and serving Weinstein. They said they witnessed him ply women with alcoholic drinks, and sometimes grope them or invite them to a private room.

Weinstein is at the center of a growing debate about sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood and beyond since the New York Times and the New Yorker published exposes detailing numerous allegations from women who say that Weinstein harassed or assaulted them.

The servers all told CNN that the restaurant's managers gave them specific instructions for how to serve Weinstein, particularly when he was accompanied by a woman. The Tribeca Grill is located in the same building as Weinstein’s New York office.

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The servers described a volatile, controlling customer who would override his dining companion’s drink orders. The servers told CNN that they were told to follow Weinstein’s instructions, regardless of what his dining companion ordered.

"The server was not allowed to go with what the female said," a former server told CNN. "The server had to go with what Harvey said and regardless of whatever the female said we still had to bring the beverage to the table."

Weinstein has long been famous for being a frequent patron of the Tribeca Grill. Since the New York Times and the New Yorker published the exposes, additional women have come forward sharing similar stories about interacting with Weinstein. Some, including the actress Lupita Nyong’o, described propositions that began at the Tribeca Grill.

Nyong’o wrote in a New York Times editorial that Weinstein met her at the restaurant before asking her to dine with him in a private room upstairs. She wrote:

Before the starters arrived, he announced: “Let’s cut to the chase. I have a private room upstairs where we can have the rest of our meal.” I was stunned. I told him I preferred to eat in the restaurant. He told me not to be so naïve. If I wanted to be an actress, then I had to be willing to do this sort of thing. He said he had dated Famous Actress X and Y and look where that had gotten them.

Nyong’o declined his offer and left the restaurant shortly after, she wrote.

The servers told CNN that Nyong’o’s account matches many that they witnessed while working at the restaurant.

"We'd always go, 'Oh there's Harvey Weinstein at the table with another young girl,'" one longtime server told CNN.

Spokespeople for the restaurant's owner did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Patch.

"We support the hard-working people of the Tribeca Grill every day for the last 27 years. We would never allow any customer to be rude or harass any staff member. It would not be tolerated," a spokesperson told CNN in a statement.

"We do not defend for a second the actions of Mr. Weinstein and it is inaccurate to try to portray us as part of his dysfunction."

Police in London and New York City have said they are reviewing complaints against the producer in the wake of the exposes. Weinstein has been fired from his eponymous company and has said he will seek treatment for a sex addiction. He has denied many of the women’s allegations, and has specifically denied accusations of rape.

Image credit: Joshua Blanchard / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment