Real Talk, No Filters
Channels dedicated to vendor intel, labor law, health codes, and the stuff your reps won't tell you. No marketing noise.
New York City
Built for the people
who run this city's
restaurants.
86'd is the community for NYC restaurant owners, operators, and front-of-house leaders. Swap war stories, get real vendor intel, access expert channels, and find your next great hire — no PR spin, just the real talk.
2,400+ NYC operators
Free to start, no credit card
NYC-only, hyper-local intel
app.86d.agency
Chef Marco V.Vet# vendor-intel2m ago
PSA: Sysco delivery windows are running 2hrs late all week due to BQE work. Build buffer into your prep schedule.
Keisha T.Pro# staffing11m ago
Anyone used Instawork for line cooks recently? Curious what the current rates look like for weekends.
Dan R.Free# general34m ago
New here. Just opened our second location in Williamsburg. Glad a space like this exists.
- 2,400+
- NYC operators
- 180+
- Expert channels
- $0
- To get started
- 94%
- Retention rate
What You Get
Everything the industry actually needs
No thought-leadership fluff. No LinkedIn vibes. Just the resources and relationships that make NYC kitchens run.
Verified Expertise
Vet members have 5+ years of NYC restaurant ownership on record. When they talk, it's earned — not LinkedIn-certified.
Expert Channels
Subscribe to deep-dive channels on food cost, real estate, HR, and more — run by operators who live it daily.
Job Board
Pro+ members post and browse hospitality jobs across NYC. No recruiters, no fees — just operators helping operators.
DMs & Direct Access
Pro members get direct messaging. Reach out to a chef, consultant, or supplier contact without the middleman.
1-on-1 Consulting
Book a session with a vetted NYC operator. Menu engineering, lease renegotiation, staffing crisis — book it through the platform.
Getting Started
Three steps. Zero friction.
Join Free
Create your account in two minutes. No credit card. Read posts, upvote, and join two expert channels immediately.
Find Your Channels
Browse 180+ channels by topic or neighborhood. Upgrade to Pro to subscribe to as many as you need.
Get Verified
Operating a NYC restaurant for 5+ years? Apply for Vet status, launch your own channel, and get paid for your expertise.
Channels
Where the conversations live
Free public channels for everyone. Expert paid channels for when you need the real intel from someone who's been there.
Free Channels
- general
Everything and anything — NYC ops talk.
- announcements
Platform updates and community news.
- jobs
Browse open positions across NYC.
- vendor-intel
Real supplier reviews and warnings.
- health-codes
DOH prep, violations, and what actually matters.
- staffing
Hiring, firing, labor law, and scheduling chaos.
Expert Channels (Pro+)
Real Estate & Leases
by Dominic F. — 15yr NYC operator
$19/mo340 subsLease renegotiation tactics, landlord red flags, and build-out intel.
Food Cost Mastery
by Chef Marco V. — Vet
$29/mo510 subsCOGS breakdowns, waste audit frameworks, and weekly food cost deep-dives.
Beverage Program ROI
by Ana L. — Sommelier & Vet
$9/mo200 subsWine lists that sell, bar menu pricing, and supplier negotiation for small operators.
HR Without a Lawyer
by Keisha T. — HR Vet
$15/mo280 subsNYC employment law basics, termination scripts, and offer letter templates.
+ 170 more expert channels across all topics. Upgrade to Pro to unlock.
Membership
Choose your level
Start free and upgrade when you need more. No lock-in, cancel anytime.
Free
Get a feel for the room.
$0forever
Join Free- Read all public posts
- Up to 5 comments per day
- Upvote and react
- Join 2 expert channels
- Browse the job board
- No DMs
- No posting
- No Pro Lounge access
Most Popular
Pro
For operators who are serious.
$29/mo
Go Pro- Unlimited posting & comments
- Direct messaging (DMs)
- Exclusive Pro Lounge access
- NYC vendor discount network
- Job board — post & apply
- Unlimited channel subscriptions
Requires Verification
Vet
For veterans who want to lead.
$79/mo
Apply for Vet Status- Everything in Pro
- Create unlimited paid channels
- Verified badge on your profile
- Featured in expert directory
- Analytics dashboard
- Offer 1:1 consulting sessions
Requires 5+ years NYC restaurant ownership
Add-ons
Expert Channel Subscriptions
$9 – $29/mo per channel
Subscribe to topic-specific paid channels created by Vet members. Prices set by the Vet. Platform takes 15% of subscription revenue.
Consulting Bookings
$50 – $300/session
Book 1:1 sessions with a verified NYC operator. Platform takes 10% of booking fees. All sessions booked and tracked in-platform.
Community
From the people inside
No stock photos. No PR-approved quotes. These are real members.
I saved a week of back-and-forth on a supplier contract because someone in the vendor-intel channel had already been through it. This community pays for itself.
Renata C.Pro
Owner, two locations — Brooklyn
The real estate channel alone is worth the subscription. When my landlord tried to pull a fast one at renewal, I had three operators who'd been through the same thing in my DMs within the hour.
James K.Vet
GM & Co-owner — Hell's Kitchen
I've been in the industry 12 years and this is the first space that doesn't feel like it was built by someone who has never worked a Saturday night service.
Yolanda M.Pro
Executive Chef — Lower East Side
I launched my consulting channel three months ago. It covers my 86'd membership and then some. The platform handles bookings and payments — I just show up.
Dominic F.Vet
Restaurant consultant & Vet member
Filled two FOH positions through the job board in a week. Free to post. No recruiter fees. That alone saved me $4k.
Sara T.Pro
Owner — Astoria
I was skeptical at first — I'd seen other 'industry communities' that were basically just LinkedIn for chefs. This is different. People actually help each other.
Miguel A.Vet
Owner — East Village & Bushwick
Get In Touch
Ready to stop going it alone?
Whether you're thinking about joining, want to apply for Vet status, or have a question — reach out. We're a lean team and we actually respond.
New York Only
86'd is built specifically for NYC restaurant operators. We're hyper-local by design — the vendor intel, labor laws, and real estate conversations here are NYC-specific and better because of it.