Opening its doors in in 1984 along a tree-lined stretch of the fabled Greenwich Village neighborhood, Gotham was the vision of four New Yorkers from diverse backgrounds. Jerry Kretchmer, Jeff Bliss, Rick Rathe and Robert Rathe set out to create a downtown restaurant reminiscent of the energy, feel and beauty of a Parisian brasserie. Breaking with convention the restaurant was designed to be lively, inclusive and approachable which proved a winning formula as the restaurant was an immediate downtown sensation. One year later the Gotham team determined to upgrade its menu, enlisted the talent of a young, unknown Chef, Alfred Portale. Portale would bring the cuisine to a new level and together Gotham and Portale have proven a winning duo with critics and patrons alike.