“A colorful rendezvous for Dinner and Supper. Adjoining Cocktail Lounge. Dance and Gypsy Orchestras. Nightly Revues. Never a Cover Charge.”
Zimmerman’s Hungaria
October 7, 1938–c. 1953
Hungarian
Alternate Names:
Zimmerman’s Hungarian Restaurant
Ownership:
Ben Kluger (Manager, c. 1950)
Irving J. Balaban (1944–1950)
Leopold Zimmerman (1938–1944)
Executive Chef:
Josef Hoffman (c. 1950)
“Mama Zimmerman” (c. 1944)
Location:
Actors’ Equity Building, 163 West 46th Street, Basement
Publications:
Paddleford, Clementine. “Where They Cook with Paprika: Zimmerman’s Hungaria, on West 46th, Serves Soul-Satisfying Dishes and Super Strudels.” New York Herald Tribune, December 23, 1950: 11 (illustrated). [Regarding new chef Josef Hoffman and his ‘Lobster Paprika.’]
Salerno, Al. “Brooklyn and Broadway Night Life.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 1, 1950: 6.
“Hungarian goulash, cherry strudel and weiner schnitzel are excellent here.”
Davis, Ruth G. “Going Places.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 14, 1944: 17.
“Zimmerman’s Hungaria is one place where women may dance together and not feel conspicuous, an advantage these days when most beaux and husbands are off to war.”
“Leopold Zimmerman: Restaurant Proprietor.” New York Herald Tribune, March 17, 1944: 14B.
“Leopold Zimmerman: Head of Restaurant Patronized by Stage and Political Figures.” New York Times, March 16, 1944: 19.
Gardner, Hy. “Broadway Newsreel: Openings Next Week.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 30, 1948: 19.
“Going Places in Manhattan.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 18, 1938: 17. [Regarding a dance competition held at the restaurant for those over 65.]
Notes:
Gypsy music was played by Gene Kardos, who led one of the first swing bands in the 1930s.
The New York Herald Tribune described Zimmerman’s Hungaria in 1950 as “the middle man’s Stork Club”: “Three camera artists for every six tables and enough tables to seat 600 people. There are two fortune tellers, a Gypsy orchestra sobs out Hungarian folk tunes, and there is a dance floor as big as twelve postage stamps instead of the usual one.” (1)
Images of the restaurant interior from c. 1940 are featured on postcards in the Museum of the City of New York Collection (accession numbers X2011.34.4262 and X2011.34.4261).
Zimmerman’s Hungaria went into bankruptcy in 1952, and by 1954 the restaurant’s assets were advertised for sale in the New York Herald Tribune (2, 3).
In 1995, the restaurant’s basement space was briefly occupied by Stryker’s Boxing and Sporting Club. Construction cost $2 million and involved the restoration of Zimmerman’s vaulted ceilings and multicolored terrazo floors. (4)
Related Restaurants:
Zimmerman’s Budapest (117 West 48th Street)
Menu:
Tuesday, February 22, 1944 (New York Public Library)
(1) Paddleford, 1950: 11.
(2) “Bankruptcy Proceedings, November 3, 1952, Southern District, Arrangement Petitions.” New York Herald Tribune, November 4, 1952: 36.
(3) Classified ad, New York Herald Tribune, September 8, 1954: 41.
(4) Dunlap, David W. “Along Times Sq., Signs of New Life Abound.” New York Times, April 30, 1995: RNJ1.
Cover photo: “Zimmerman’s Hungaria.” Postcard. Seymour B. Durst Old York Library Collection, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. Columbia University Libraries Digital Library Collections. Accessed May 5, 2017.
The New York City Restaurant Archive 
In the 30s Gene Kardos (a Hungarian from Yorkville) led one of the first swing bands. If a swing fan approached him at Zimmermann’s, however, Gene was likely to tell them to “Get Lost!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
My mother’s family visited Zimmermann’s a lot in the ’40s. Her stepmom loved exotic dishes like tripe and lungs, which they specialized in. My mom didn’t! BTW she never heard any Gypsy music there.
LikeLike
A great uncle of mine owned either Zimmerman’s Hungaria or Zimmerman’s Budapest. His name was Loyush (I’m sure I’m spelling it incorrectly) Zimmerman. My grandfather was a chef in one of them. His name was Martin Bleier. His wife, Esther, was a half sister of Mr. Zimmerman and she was the pastry chef in his restaurant. I went to the restaurant as a very young child and don’t remember which restaurant it was. I do remember that the Mayor of New York gave my uncle a key to the city, which hung in the entrance of the restaurant. I wonder if you could tell me which of the restaurants it was. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
LikeLike
Hi Karen,
I’ve been working on your questions and looking further into the Zimmerman’s restaurants. So far, the most useful item I’ve come across is a postcard from Zimmerman’s Budapest with the title of the restaurant listed at the top as “L. Zimmerman Budapest Restaurant.” I’ve added a record, accessible via the homepage, for Zimmerman’s Budapest, which includes a link to this postcard (at The Bela Lugosi Blog), and I’ll continue to update both pages with new information. I’ll keep you posted if I come across anything more on Loyush Zimmerman or Martin Bleier and family, and would be eager for any additional information you may come across in the meantime!
All the best,
The New York City Restaurant Archive
LikeLike
I Have a Black Drink Stirrer with the Zimmerman’s name and address on it.
Is it collectable?
LikeLike
It certainly sounds like something worth keeping!
LikeLike
I have 3 paper moustaches from Zimmerman’s Hungaria that were given as business cards with most of the information you have above. It is amazing they lasted all these years and are crumbling. Wish I could post pictures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loyush is about what Lajos sounds like. It’s Hungarian for Louis (Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian-American patriot, was really Lajos.)
LikeLike
It was my understanding that my mother’s uncle [a Mr. Zimmerman] was the owner of Zimmerman’s Hungaria. My mom’s father also worked as a chef at the restaurant. His name was Bernard Yelenick [probably Jelenick originally]. My parents told me that they used to go there all the time when they were dating, in the late 30’s-early 40’s. They said whenever they got up to dance, a waiter would take my mom’s dinner away and bring a new one, because Mr. Zimmerman did not want his niece to eat a cold dinner. I also have one of those Zimmerman’s folders because my dad hosted a dinner there in 1949 for his entire college class [about 65 people] when they graduated. I have several pictures of the Zimmerman’s through the years too. Mr. Zimmerman always had a pretty fancy mustache.
LikeLike
I remember taking me to Zimmerman’s Hungaria in the 1940’s ….I seem to remember, not a band, but a soloist playing the zither. Is that a faulty memory? It was always for lunch, never for dinner.
LikeLike
I found a photo in its souvenir folder of my parents in the club from around 1950. I posted it here https://www.instagram.com/p/B9SFmPaFaDD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holly S, I just found that same exact souvenir folder with a photo of my parents and other close relatives. Unfortunately, there is no date listed on either the photo or the folder. Interesting that the folder indicates that the cost of a souvenir photo was one dollar.
LikeLike
Holly S, I just found that same exact souvenir folder with a photo of my mother, my aunt and close friends. No date was listed. Was it made in the year of 1949? or used for several years between 1930 and 1950’s ?
LikeLike
I also have saved a souvenir photo from Zimmerman’s Hungarian Restaurant on 46th St. NYC. It is a party photo that was signed and dated November 6th 1940 and features my grandparents and friends. A “swell” time was had by all,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi all
I was bar mitzvah in Jan 1953
My best friend at that time was a boy named Alex Weinberg
His father owned Zim. Hungarian rest. My parents meet with him and they had
my reception there in the restaurant. I remember it very well.
I am sure I have some photos showing the inside of the restaurant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have also found the Souvenir folder with photo of my parents – no date but the price on the back cover was $ 1. 50 ….How can I find the date ? they were married in 1950 in Monticello, NY so was wondering if they had gone for this show/dinner after their marriage (on Saturday Jan. 28 ?
~ ed
LikeLike
Where can I find pictures of the inside of zimmerman’s since I have family pictures but need to confirm where they were taken. It would complete the memories.
LikeLike
The best I’ve been able to find are featured on a couple of postcards in the Museum of the City of New York collection: https://collections.mcny.org/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=24UP1GQEO5X7K&SMLS=1&RW=1210&RH=581&FR_=1&W=1260&H=610. They appear to be mostly drawings, but hopefully somewhat accurate and helpful?
LikeLike
the postcard is helpful in finding where my great aunt had her wedding party. Recognized the wall paper. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just found a souvenir photo of my grandparents engagement party at Zimmerman’s. Not sure of the date.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C85ZLFFvdIsqauPRZj1KBABcYOr3vrwoRl_dQ00/?igsh=MXF0eHBjcGhueXA3YQ==
LikeLike