I am sitting in bed at New York’s Standard hotel staring out at the quintessential city view: the wide swath of Hudson River with its sailboats, tugs, and cruise ships; New Jersey on the other shore; and the Statue of Liberty in the distance. After a few months away from the city, it’s been the perfect crash pad and at $195 a night, a relative bargain.
My stay happens to coincide with the much-anticipated opening of the hotel’s restaurant, the Standard Grill, with Dan Silverman (formerly of Lever House) at the helm. It is a great space with a fun outdoor café for drinks, a big main dining room with circular red banquettes, and an open kitchen. The menu (here’s a preview) has a good mix of comfort food and more ambitious choices, as well as appetizers like briny oysters and homemade pâtés. Our group particularly enjoyed the roast chicken for two, the organic Berkshire pork chop, Atlantic swordfish with ginger, soy, and lime, and duck-fat smashed potatoes and sugar snap peas. We had a table in the wine room, which is a beautiful space and quiet enough to have a conversation–the main room was in full loud swing. The bottom line? If you are coming to New York, book a table. I guarantee it will be one of the hottest reservations in town.
Further reading:
* Below the Standard is the newly opened High Line, a gorgeous example of city renewal: an unused train track line that’s been transformed into an elevated walkway with lovely gardens and plants.
* Word of Mouth: The buzz worldwide