# Dean Poll > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dean_Poll > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dean_Poll.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Poll > Source revision: 1354829128 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American restaurateur}} {{COI|date=March 2018}} thumb '''Dean J. Poll''' (born April 18, 1957) is an American restaurateur based in New York and the founder of the Poll Group, former operator of Manhattan's [Loeb Central Park Boathouse](/source/Central_Park) and owner of [Gallagher's Steakhouse](/source/Gallagher's_Steakhouse). ==Background and early career== Born in [Manhasset](/source/Manhasset%2C_New_York), on Long Island's North Shore, Dean Poll is the second of three sons of Alexandra and Dimitri Poll. He played center on the [Paul D. Schreiber High School](/source/Paul_D._Schreiber_High_School) basketball team in [Port Washington](/source/Port_Washington%2C_New_York). On weekends and during school breaks he worked as a "water boy" in Pappas Restaurant, his family's high-volume, 250-seat seafood restaurant in [Sheepshead Bay](/source/Sheepshead_Bay%2C_Brooklyn), Brooklyn. Poll started working full-time after high school when he became the purchasing manager for the family's newest property, a 14,000 sq ft. food complex in Midtown Manhattan's Time & Life Building. It comprised Dawson's Pub, La Petite Brassiere, Bon Jour coffee shop and Southampton Caterers that served the office building-dense [Rockefeller Center](/source/Rockefeller_Center) neighborhood. Working in the restaurant's [back-of-house](/source/Restaurant_management) trenches, Poll excelled at inspecting seafood in the legendary [Fulton Fish Market](/source/Fulton_Fish_Market), negotiating with meat brokers in Manhattan's [Meatpacking District](/source/Meatpacking_District%2C_Manhattan), and sourcing vegetables in the South Bronx's [Hunts Point](/source/Hunts_Point%2C_Bronx), the largest produce market in the world.{{cite web|title=Hunts Point Produce Market|url=http://huntspointproducemkt.com/big-city-produce-nyc/|access-date=2018-01-24|archive-date=2018-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321063220/http://huntspointproducemkt.com/big-city-produce-nyc/|url-status=dead}} ==The Long Island years== In 1980, Dean Poll and his brothers, Gillis and George, recreated Pappas Restaurant in Williston Park, renaming it Riverbay Seafood Bar & Grill in 1989.{{cite news|last1=Joanne|first1=Starkey|title=A Seafood Place with Roots in the Bay|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/17/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/17dineli.html|accessdate=24 January 2018|date=17 June 2007}} In 1986, they opened Bryant & Cooper Steak House and butcher shop in [Roslyn](/source/Roslyn%2C_New_York). By 1997, The New York Times called Bryant & Cooper "arguably the best steakhouse on Long Island" and Riverbay, "Nassau-Suffolk's No. 1 seafood restaurant.{{cite news|last1=Scholem|first1=Richard J.|title=It's All in the Family and Keeps Growing|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/13/nyregion/it-s-all-in-the-family-and-keeps-growing.html|accessdate=24 January 2018|work=New York Times|date=13 April 1997}}" ==Entering Manhattan market== Interested in expanding into [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan), Dean Poll dissolved his partnership with his brothers in 1998–1999. Dividing the assets, he retained ownership of Riverbay, while setting his sights on the Central Park Boathouse, a city-owned concession that was requesting proposals. ==Central Park Boathouse== In June 2000, [New York City's Department of Parks and Recreation](/source/New_York_City_Department_of_Parks_and_Recreation) awarded Dean Poll the concession for the Loeb Boathouse restaurant.{{cite news|last1=Keil|first1=Braden|title=City Sinks Boathouse Restaurant Managers|url=https://nypost.com/2000/06/21/city-sinks-boathouse-restaurant-managers/|accessdate=24 January 2018|publisher=New York Post|date=21 June 2000}} The restaurant closed in October 2022.{{cn|date=April 2026}} ==Tavern on the Green== In August 2009, the Parks Department granted Dean Poll the concession for Tavern on the Green, the second of two restaurants in Manhattan's iconic [Central Park](/source/Central_Park).{{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Glenn|title=Boathouse Operator to Run Tavern on the Green, and Changes Are Planned|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/29/nyregion/29tavern.html|accessdate=24 January 2018|work=New York Times|date=28 August 2009}} A major labor dispute erupted between Dean Poll and the union representing Tavern workers.{{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Glenn|title=First Course at Tavern: A Clash With Labor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/dining/23tavern.html|accessdate=24 January 2018|work=New York Times|date=22 September 2009}} The dispute resulted in Poll backing out of the deal and the union organizing a 44-day strike [11] at the Boathouse. Ultimately the two sides came to terms.{{cite news|last1=Greenhouse|first1=Steven|title=Boathouse Strike Ends in Settlement|url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/22/boathouse-strike-ends-in-settlement/|accessdate=24 January 2018|work=New York Times|date=22 September 2011}} ==Gallagher's Steakhouse== In January 2013, Dean Poll bought legendary [Gallagher's Steakhouse](/source/Gallagher's_Steakhouse) from longtime owner Marlene Brody.{{cite news|last1=Cuozzo|first1=Steve|title=Gallagher's gets a new steak on life|url=https://nypost.com/2013/01/03/gallaghers-gets-a-new-steak-on-life/|accessdate=24 January 2018|publisher=New York Post|date=3 January 2013}} Rescuing the 200-seat, Prohibition-era restaurant 14 days before it was scheduled to close, Poll began a strategic 7-month renovation that the New York Post's Steve Cuozzo likened to "stirring the resurrection of a classic.{{cite news|last1=Cuozzo|first1=Steve|title=Old bones, contemporary cuisine at Gallaghers Steakhouse|url=https://nypost.com/2014/04/08/old-bones-contemporary-cuisine-at-gallaghers-steakhouse/|accessdate=24 January 2018|publisher=New York Post|date=8 April 2014}}" In April 2014, Gallaghers reopened to rave reviews that celebrated Poll's success restoring its vintage horseshoe bar, iconic glass-encased meat locker. In December 2017, Poll's resurrection of Gallagher's was the subject of a New York Times article by [James Barron](/source/James_Barron_(journalist)).{{cite news|last1=Barron|first1=James|title=The Search for History in a Runyonesque Enclave|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/nyregion/gallaghers-new-york.html?_r|accessdate=24 January 2018|work=New York Times|date=29 November 2017}} Since Poll took ownership and brought the restaurant back to its original glory, Gallaghers continues to earn accolades as one of the best steakhouses in New York{{cite news|last1=Sutton|first1=Ryan|title=This Old-School Steakhouse Serves One of NYC's Best, Most Elusive Prime Ribs|url=https://ny.eater.com/2021/12/1/22811836/gallaghers-review-steaks-prime-rib-theater-district-nyc-restaurants|work=Eater|date= 1 December 2021}} and the world.{{cite news|last1=Rahmanan|first=Anna |title= These 8 NYC steakhouses were just voted best in the world|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/these-8-nyc-steakhouses-were-just-voted-best-in-the-world-052024|work=TimeOut|date= 20 May 2024}} In 2023, Poll opened Gallaghers Steakhouse Boca Raton {{cite news|last1=Speed|first1=Marie|title=Gallaghers Steakhouse Is Open and Wowing Us|url=https://www.bocamag.com/gallaghers-steakhouse-is-open-and-wowing-us/|work=Boca Raton Magazine|date= 20 July 2023}} in South Florida, marking the legendary restaurant's first expansion under his direction outside of the historic Manhattan location. ==Personal life== Dean Poll and his wife Linda, whom he met in 1980, are parents of two sons. He is on the Board of the Boys' Club of New York {{cite web|title=The Boys' Club of New York website|url=https://www.bcny.org/board|accessdate=24 January 2018}} and has served on the board of the [New York Athletic Club](/source/New_York_Athletic_Club). An active member of New York's Greek-American community, Poll served as parish council president of the [Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity](/source/Archdiocesan_Cathedral_of_the_Holy_Trinity) from 2013 - 2016. The [Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch](/source/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_in_America) named Dean Poll an Archon,{{cite web|title=Archons website|date=9 February 2016 |url=http://www.archons.org/archons/|accessdate=24 January 2018}} [17] [Nomophylax](/source/Nomophylax), one of the highest civilian honors given by the Greek Orthodox Church. ==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Poll, Dean}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:People from Manhasset, New York Category:American restaurateurs --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dean Poll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Poll) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Poll?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.