AOL City Guide/New York
| Executive chef and co-owner Ric Orlando is smooth. He's prepared his pan-blackened string bean dish on the "Today Show," and he's won awards for more than a half dozen of his appetizers and entrees. He describes his restaurant as a swanky retro lounge with funky Woodstock yard sale-style furnishings and an eclectic menu that emphasizes flavorful Caribbean, Asian and Mediterranean-style dishes. "We're kind of a 21st-century Casablanca. We're more like jazz than fusion," he says. "We're improvising and interpreting." Okay. |
|
| The 16-cook kitchen is open and visible to most diners in this boisterous, artsy space. Large paintings of food and colorful abstract images by regional artists decorate the walls. The rectangular front bar and main dining room are filled with multi-colored table tops covered with Asian art paper. You'll see a mix of gray, padded leather chairs; orange vinyl chairs; black wooden bar stools at the front bar; and red patent leather bar stools at the back bar. Liz Corrado is the co-owner, business manager and interior designer. "She'll look at something that everyone thinks is cool, and she'll say, 'Get that out of here,'" explains Ric. "We think it through; it's not hit or miss." The surroundings are engaging as well -- a Clydesdale horse farm is on one side and Blue Mountain is on the other. |
|
| Ric's Thai barbecued salmon with steamed baby Asian greens and jasmine rice is a popular dish. So is the Cuban pot roast served in a robust tomato sauce with garlic, cilantro, olives and capers. The menu also features vegetarian, barbecue and jerk chicken dishes. The full bar features a long list of wines primarily from Spain, France, Italy, California, New York and Washington. Popular summertime drinks are mango Margaritas and sakitinis -- ice cold sake with a misting of Vermouth and a cold cucumber slice. |
|
| Don't be surprised if you spot a few famous faces in this 6,500-square-foot renovated barn. Renowned basketball coach Phil Jackson is a regular, as are B-52's singer Kate Pierson and actress Uma Thurman. --Lauren Kafka |
|