VIBE

Sleek and stunning in its simplicity, this restaurant is just what you would expect from a space at the MoMA. In the front, at the more casual Bar Room, guests dine on classic small (and medium) plates, while in the Dining Room, larger portions are served in an open, sunlit space with views of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden and a striking, wall-sized photograph of verdant forest foliage. Plates focus on simplicity and purity of flavors, highlighting the premium ingredients that are featured.

CROWD

Artsy and cultured types, museum goers, Midtown execs, and special occasioners and couples looking for a sophisticated evening.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

During the day, guests tend to be more business oriented, so a suit or similar business attire would work well. If dining in the main room in the evening, turn up the elegance factor a bit with a cocktail dress and some great accessories.

GO HERE WITH

Groups; significant other; a fancy date; your parents

WHY WE LIKE IT

Presentation is everything. From the food to the space, there is a consistency of theme (clean, pure, design driven), and it works.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

We wish that we could mix and match experiences between the Bar Room and the Dining Room. Namely, the small plates in the Bar Room are killer, and it would be great if we could enjoy them in the more formal Dining Room space.

GOOD TO KNOW

While they are linked by overall aesthetics and cuisine concepts, Bar Room and the Dining Room function separately, with distinct menus and reservation systems (so be sure you are reserving for the space you want). The Bar Room is more laidback, with small plates ruling the menu and half of the seats held for walk-ins, while the Dining Room offers more substantial meals in a more refined setting. Both are excellent, it just depends on your mood. There is a separate street level entrance on W. 53rd Street that leads directly into the restaurant, no need to enter through the museum at all if you don’t want (this is the entrance you should use if you are dining outside of museum hours).

CLOSEST COMPS

Bar Room at The Modern (New York); Restaurant Georges (Paris); Les Ombres (Paris); Nougatine (New York); The Square (London)

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