Atria Evokes Townhouse Past With Cozy Setting

Flying a little under the radar, Midtown eatery Atria opened for press previews in February and this month will introduce a new menu. The space, formerly known as chef Gray Kunz's Grayz, sits in a townhouse opposite the Museum of Modern Art's Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. Designed with an eye to highlighting its previous use as a home for John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his family, the venue is appointed with warm bronze and gold colors and furnished with cozy banquettes and comfortable chairs.

Chef Martin Brock, who studied and trained in Europe before working under Kunz at Grayz and Café Gray, serves modern European dishes at Atria. Overseen by wine director Nic Bradley, the wine selection here is broad and international.

The restaurant's namesake and focal point is a soaring, eight-story atrium. In this section for approximately 64 diners, tables are comfortably spaced out and seven scrollatropes—circular sculptures that rotate—from artist Shaun Acton draw the eye upward. This area is available for buyouts and can hold as many as 100 for receptions.

Private dinners for smaller groups can take over two separate spaces on the floor above. Overlooking the atrium through a glass-enclosed wall of wine, the Cuvée space is divided into two areas, which seat as many as 32 (at tables of eight), hold 50 for receptions, or accommodate 24 for cocktails and dinner. Situated toward the front of the restaurant, the Hearth room has a view of the pastry kitchen, where chef Seth Caro prepares dishes like  butterscotch donuts with bacon powder and braised pineapple ice cream.

For events, Atria seats a maximum of 140 or holds 250 for receptions.