Built as an opera house but never used due to the stock market crash, newly-opened restaurant and lounge NOIR is the perfect place to reminisce on the days before the recession. This opulent venue, with soft, oversized booths that look over a recessed dining floor harkens back to a time when eating out was an occasion to be seen– and indeed it once was, as a supper club called Versailles, with house band leader Desi Arnaz and performers like Jimmy Durante and Edith Piaf.

For our modern day meal, we kicked things off with a fresh goat cheese and beet salad, and tuna tartare that melts away on the tongue. Following on the fins of the tuna were some truly jumbo, and deliciously meaty grilled shrimp in a dark bed of ‘Forbidden’ black risotto. Michelin Star Chef, Jean-Yves Schillinger, who also owns restaurant JYS in his hometown of Colmar, France, has perfectly married fine contemporary American cuisine with a strong French influence at NOIR. The desserts are rich and sharable, adding even more intimacy to the meal.

In addition to a full menu for Dinner, the restaurant has an extra tasty menu of late-night options available at the bar until 11pm including Alsatian pizza topped with seared Blue Fin tuna, sundried tomatoes and fresh wasabi and slow cooked pork ribs basted in a sweet tangy glaze.

Finish it off with a Lavender Aviation and watch your evening take flight.

NOIR Restaurant and Lounge
151 East 50th St., (btwn Lexington and 3rd Aves)
New York, NY 10022
www.noir-ny.com

Noir is open Sunday – Wednesday: 3 PM – 2 AM and dinner will be served from 5 PM – midnight. Thursday – Sunday NOIR is opened from 3 PM – 4 AM and dinner is served from 5 PM – 1 AM. Brunch and Lunch Coming This Fall. For reservations, which are recommended, please call (212) 753.1144 or visit www.opentable.com.