West Village: Swiss Cheese Fondue Inside a Red Gondola Cabin

The Lavaux keeps a red gondola cabin by a window, with two red benches facing a small wooden table, and Resy lists it as its own Gondola seating next to the dining room and high tops. The Traditional moitié-moitié fondue blends Gruyère and Vacherin at 39 dollars per person, two-person minimum, served with bread, potatoes, roasted cauliflower and cornichons for dipping.

Tuesdays add a note game. Staff hand out pens and paper, Resy lists it from 7 to 7:30 PM, and a messenger carries unsigned notes between tables, where the other table can write back on the same sheet. Time Out New York called the night chaotic in February 2024, so expect a loud room. Notes must stay kind, and staff will ask a guest or a whole table to leave over hateful or insulting notes.

Hours run 4 to 11 PM Monday to Thursday, noon to 1 AM Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 PM Sunday. Book on Resy and check open Gondola times for your date. Each guest has a 20 dollar minimum spend, tables of two get 1 hour 45 minutes, and cancelling inside 24 hours or not showing up costs 15 dollars per person. Details on The Lavaux website and its Resy page, checked Nov 5.