While I was having a drink with colleagues from London after work, I got a text message from my buddy Drew.
"Do you want to check out this secret restaurant for dinner?"
"Sure. Almost done," I replied.
Drew generally knows about these things. He had met this big wheel the day before, who recommended the restaurant.
I met Drew on Broadway, and we headed west toward Hudson Street.
Drew couldn't remember the address, but he knew it was on Hudson near Morton St. And the place was "unmarked" - no signage. Just a green door.
So after a wrong turn on my part, we positioned ourselves between Hudson and Morton. We passed a few places and then retraced our steps. Drew said he felt good about this one door he had seen.
We approached the door with Drew in the lead. He opened the door and marched right on in.
I said "This is not right."
There was nothing that looked like a restaurant. The first thing I saw was a bed in the far corner. It was made. Neatly. Then I saw book cases. A chair. Maybe a sofa.
And a guy working on a computer.
Then there's Drew in the middle of the room.
"Are we in the wrong place?"
"Possibly," the guy said.
And because Drew is from New Jersey, he couldn't just let it be.
"This isn't Hudson Clearwater?"
"No it's not. Was the door unlocked?" the guy asked.
I told Drew we needed to leave. When we got outside, I said "Drew, we just went into that man's apartment!"
"You think? The door was opened."
Jersey.
At that point, I Googled the restaurant and found the address, which was across the street.
Just so you know, Hudson Clearwater is at 447 Hudson. And it's so secret, they have that door blocked. You have to go around the corner to a "green door" that looks like it has been kicked in "Law & Order" style. Continue walking through a courtyard, and go through a series of doors and stairs to a packed restaurant full of pretty people. Expect the staff to ignore you completely.
It seemed ridiculous to me, and we left.
Plus, after breaking into someone's apartment, I think you should keep a low profile.