Peekskill was star-struck on Monday when Real Housewive’s Bethenny Frankel visited Birdsall House on Main Street for lunch with her fiancé Paul Bernon.
The Bravolebrity and her beau shared their visit as a TikTok video where they raved about the food and service at Peekskill’s original gastropub.
Bethenny Frankel tells followers to “run” to Birdsall House for great food, music, and art
The video begins with the couple walking through one of Peekskill’s downtown parking lots describing their anticipation to try the “farm-to-table gastropub.”
Once inside, the reality TV star frantically scours the menu pointing excitedly at every item.
“I think we found a little place of heaven on earth,” she says after reading through the menu.
Frankel and Bernon eat their way through Birdsall House staples like the Buffalo Cauliflower, the Smash Burger, and the Seitan Gyro, raving with each bite. Bernon rates the Smash Burger “a 9.75, maybe a 10” after Frankel begs him.
Frankel closes the video by saying “He loved the food, he loved the music, he knew every song, the weird art. I loved it so much. Run. Like you’re being paid to run to this place.”
The power of social media influencers like Bethenny Frankel
In the video, the Real Housewive’s star turned social media influencer explains how she discovered this gem in Northern Westchester (Frankel has homes in Greenwich, CT and The Hamptons): “I look it up online, I look at the menu, and then we’re in.”
As of writing, the video on TikTok has nearly 17,000 likes, 487 comments, 953 bookmarks, and 1,137 shares. Bethenny Frankel has 1.6 million followers on TikTok.
John Sharp, one of the owners of Birdsall House, reported that the restaurant’s Instagram account received 1,300 new followers in less than 24 hours after Frankel shared the video.
Sharp is stocking Frankel’s own Skinny Girl brand cocktails to commemorate her visit and prepare for a potential onslaught of Frankel fans influenced by her 10 out of 10 review.
Frankel’s visit to Birdsall House wasn’t her first experience with a Peekskill business. She’s also raved on TikTok about Dam Good English Muffins which are manufactured at Atrium at Charles Point.
The experience should serve as a reminder to local restaurants to keep their online and social media presences sharp, as you never know who might be inspired to visit after a Google search.
And given that Bethenny Frankel is one of the original Real Housewives, we can’t help but wonder if Bravo might consider Real Housewives of Peekskill now that the city has her seal of approval.