Business Spotlight: Potluck Club
From left to right: Ricky Nguyen, Zhan Chen (executive chef), Kimberly Ho, Cory Ng, Justin Siu, Peter Chen (sous chef)
Potluck Club
133 Chrystie St
thepotluckclubny.com
We’re excited to spotlight Potluck Club! Potluck Club is a Cantonese-American restaurant serving newish takes on old classics in an impressively designed space that sparks nostalgia and memories. The restaurant is a homage to Chinatown and its small businesses, which the co-owners frequented while growing up in the neighborhood.
Blog by Courtney Adams, Photos by Jordan Ji
Potluck Club is, as the kids say, a whole mood. This much is certain before you even step through the doors. The entryway itself is evocative of what co-owner Ricky Nguyen wants his guests to experience. It’s simultaneously vibrant and soothing--stylish, and finished with an actual door knob so you can’t help but feel like you’re about to walk into someone’s home. I have a feeling this is all intentional, too. Ricky must know the transformative quality of a good entrance. It’s not just about a door. It’s about stepping into another world.
“Potluck Club felt right. We didn’t want anything too cliche; and, we wanted something that embodied the spirit of the communal dining experience where everyone is bringing something to the table.”
Potluck Club is another world five years in the making. When Ricky opened the door for me, I was awestruck. The overall aesthetic of Potluck Club is a beautifully impressive one. But for Ricky, and his four co-owners--the group of whom are all best friends-- it was clear every aspect of Potluck Club’s design was deliberate. Upon entry, you’re greeted by a display of both static and mobile images of peak moments in Hong Kong Cinema. “It sparks conversations of nostalgia and memories. It’s intentional to welcome people this way via design of the space, and this feeling carries through to the menu,” he said.
But, you can’t help but gravitate toward the open-concept kitchen. The food--and the artistry of its preparation--has the leading role with high-top seats positioned around its bar. Just don’t call it “elevated.” Ricky is quick to assert the obvious issues with this word, and quite frankly, how overused it’s become. “This is our spin. This is building upon hundreds of years of cuisine, which is our thought process in terms of coming up with the menu.”
And for Ricky, it’s all in a name. “Potluck Club felt right. We didn’t want anything too cliche; and, we wanted something that embodied the spirit of the communal dining experience where everyone is bringing something to the table--be it good food, good stories, good vibes. It’s more than just the food.”
Transforming the space into Potluck Club, which was once a sausage factory owned by the grandfather of another co-owner, Cory, may be what Ricky considers one of his greatest business challenges. Luckily, though, his friendship with Cory and his other two business partners, was a source of strength and joy. Going into business with his three best friends was, for him, one of the best decisions he’s made. “It doesn’t feel like work when you love what you do. It’s as cliche as it gets, but it’s how it is when working with friends.”
Knowing how interconnected every aspect of the restaurant was provided all of the motivation Ricky needed. “We had a story to tell,” he explained. “That’s the thing that kept me going through the difficulties. We wanted to tell our story through the design of the space. We wanted to tell that story through the dishes that Zhan and Peter, our chefs, create.”
“We’ve seen the neighborhood gems close--places we wish were still around. Hopefully, in a small way, we can be an example to other business owners to open up in Chinatown.”
And that sense of familial narrative is their guiding philosophy. “What are dishes my mom and dad would be proud to see on this menu?’ Zhan, our Executive Chef, has only been professionally trained to cook Mediterranean food. His training for this cuisine was what he grew up bearing witness to.”
There’s a palpable sense of honor Ricky seems to have, knowing his restaurant is the vehicle of so much. “Cory and I grew up in Chinatown; and, we’ve seen the changes of the neighborhood. We’re not oblivious to that. But, we preserve what we can, which is why we continue to open businesses in Chinatown. To preserve the community as much as possible.”
Ricky is as passionate about their dishes as he is about the Potluck Club nexus. He begins by sharing how popular the endive salad is with tiger figs and dragon fruit, as well as the salt and pepper chicken. But, “the rice roll noodles with beef is both our most popular item and my favorite. It’s our play on beef chow fun; but the density of the texture of the rice roll gives it a nice bite and balance,” Ricky explained. And, those best-selling rice rolls are made by a small Chinatown business--and when I say ‘small,’ I mean one woman making them.”
This is just one small example of his dedication to ensuring Potluck Club remains connected to the community and provides business back within it. “Having a healthy and vibrant business ecosystem in our neighborhood is important to us. We’ve seen the neighborhood gems close--places we wish were still around. Hopefully, in a small way, we can be an example to other business owners to open up in Chinatown. After all, a rising tide lifts all boats.”
“That’s what’s most important to us here. To be the kind of place where both generations can enjoy together. We recognize we’re resting on the shoulders of giants.”
Ricky is grateful for the ongoing patronization of his guests. He passionately requests everyone to “keep coming!” And, he advises other business owners to seek out Welcome to Chinatown. “They are doing a great job facilitating a community within the small business community in Chinatown. Take advantage of and learn about what’s offered. Read the grants and read the emails.” He acknowledges how easy it is to get into informational overload and how much WtC has helped streamline it all. “The city understands this neighborhood is an important part of the economy; and, they're trying to help aid the community. WtC helps facilitate this assistance and make it digestible. They send people out to have the conversations, which is extremely helpful. When you’re busy, it is easy to put an email aside, so having that face-to-face conversation makes it all easier.”
For Ricky, it is personal. “We’ve seen our parents, as immigrants, build a better future. My mom, who is Chinese-Vietnamese, came to New York City as a refugee from Vietnam. She has stories of scouring the street looking for mattresses to sleep on. Now, she’s crushing it at her own small business with her sisters at their Vietnamese restaurant.”
Opening a restaurant in New York City is, of course, an impressive feat. But, there’s more to it than this for Ricky, which is perhaps both the source of his greatest anxieties--and his greatest pride. “You know, a lot of us didn’t have the intention of going into the hospitality field; our parents pushed us into the corporate world,” he shared, then added with noticeable warmth, “I grew up watching the people I love work hard in restaurants.”
I couldn’t help but wonder if being so professionally connected with those he loves was nerve-wracking for him. Ricky shrugged this off, chalking up any nerves to their initial opening. He candidly shared, “I knew some of my friends were coming with their parents those first few nights. That was a little intimidating. But, my mom came in once with one of her friends who called me over without saying anything. She gave me the thumbs up. And, that’s the stuff that’s most important to us here. To be the kind of place where both generations can enjoy together. We recognize we’re resting on the shoulders of giants.”
Six nights later, me, my husband and toddler dined at Potluck Club. And, let me assure you--Potluck Club’s shoulders are pretty gigantic, too.
Chinatown establishments like Potluck Club are what makes the spirit of our neighborhood. We need your support now more than ever to keep that spirit alive. Together, we can preserve Chinatown businesses and ensure Chinatown will always be open for business. To support Chinatown organizations like Potluck Club, donate to the Longevity Fund here:
Photo credit: Jordan Ji
