The Musket Room, Elizabeth St, NYC. Designed by Alexander Waterworth Interiors.

UPDATE:

I finally made it to The Musket Room last month. After writing about the restaurant last August I was excited to invite my friend from &Tradition to join me for dinner during New York Design Week. My full post is below, but I just wanted to share a few snaps I took whilst I was there.

I saved my petit fours for bedtime whilst I was at the Loews Regency Hotel.

Original post below…

London based design practice Alexander Waterworth Interiors have recently completed The Musket Room in the heart of Nolita, New York. Bringing the spirit of New Zealand to Manhattan’s newest opening, chef Matt Lambert has combined his native land’s flavours with asian influences to create quite the new hotspot in Manhattan, the design is pretty stellar to boot.

As you first arrive into the restaurant you are hit by a rustic vibe, yet the attention to details sets this place apart, and you know the food is going to be seriously considered. Why else would they nuture such a beautiful looking vegetable patch and herb garden in the back. The commissioned designers (Alexander Evangelou and James Waterworth, designers of London’s Hibiscus, Kerbisher & Malt and Hally’s) have specified some serious kit here. With bar stools designed by Space DK for Mater, the lamps on the bar have been inspired from the graceful era of the 1960’s, and rich walnut timbers, The Musket Room has an almost folksy feel to it.

(We sat on this middle table at the front of this shot)

Along with some concrete and rough slabs for good measure, the lime-washed exposed brick work, and mid-century modern chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, the design team accurately describe The Musket Rooms as ‘easy elegance’. The place actually reminds me a little of Polpo in London. Teal/indigo coloured leather upholstered Wishbone chairs in front of cosy banquette seating and exposed wine racks, there is definitely a homely warmth to the space. 

I was only in New York a few months ago so my next visit is yet to be scheduled, so if you’ll forgive me for sharing some words from the restaurant team to talk about the food. It was explained to me that The Musket Room dishes are ‘thoughtful and composed, reflecting Lambert’s classical French training and new American roots’, (fast forward to May 2014 and I can safely say this is one of the best foodie restaurants in the city). 

From a scan of this killer menu, dinner includes corned wagyu tongue with almond, black lime, chocolate and buckwheat or smoked scallops with cucumbers, black garlic, pears and sea beans. Yes please. Main courses are creatively put together, slow poached Ora salmon with grains, apple, wasabi and roe. The Venison is served with gin, fennel, juniper, and lychee. If you have a sweet tooth, pavlova sits pretty high on my request list, here it is served with passion fruit and cream or baba au rhum with ginger and lime candy floss. Yum. Tasting menu’s are also available, (the table next to us had this, it looked incredible). 

The spectacular 20ft  walnut timber bar creates quite the visual, along with my favourite Mater stools, available to purchase here. The bar which is overseen by Erin Scala features a large New-Zealand based wine list, with speciality cocktails, and juices. 

The vegetable patch is one of my favourite spaces, acting as both a community run project and a source of produce for the restaurant, the space is also available for private hire. What a beautiful garden to look onto whilst you’re having dinner. Now, for my next visit to New York, (oh look I did that, go if you can, it’s just beautiful).

#LWSY @LucyWillShowYou  @TheMusketRoom