Casual eateries inside hotels are among the fall's newest restaurant offerings. Here's a look at the latest places to treat a client or a private group.
1. Maialino, the hotly anticipated new eatery from Danny Meyer, opened its doors November 11, in the Gramercy Park Hotel. However, unlike its swanky surroundings, the Roman-style trattoria sports a warm and comfortable interior designed by David Rockwell. Amid oak wainscoting, beamed ceilings, wood and tile floors, and leather banquettes, chef Nick Anderer (former sous chef at Gramercy Tavern) serves a selection of traditional dishes from Rome, using locally scourced seasonal ingredients. In the rear of the cozy restaurant is a private room with a communal table for 22 people and views of Gramercy Park.
2. Just as buzzed about is the Breslin Bar & Dining Room, the latest offering from Spotted Pig partners April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman. Inside the Ace Hotel, the low-key, meat-centric joint opened for breakfast and lunch in late October and will start serving dinner later this month. With 110 seats, plenty of nooks, and curtained booths, there is no designated private room per se, but a 25-seat semiprivate mezzanine is suited for larger groups and a chef's table is offered for those sharing a whole suckling pig.
3. In the Hotel Gansevoort spot that once housed Ono, Jeffrey Chodorow's Tanuki Tavern is a more casual place for Japanese fare that opened the first week of October. Spanning two floors and measuring 2,800 square feet, the gastropub's interior incorporates bamboo flooring and furniture. Overlooking the main 109-seat dining room, 24-seat lounge, and 70-person terrace is the Hana Loft, which seats 60 or holds 80 for receptions.
