On Feb. 17, the Quality Branded restaurant group opened Bad Roman at the Deutsch Bank Center (formerly the Time Warner Center) in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle. With picturesque views over Central Park, the restaurant occupies the space formerly used by chef Marc Murphy’s Landmarc, which closed in 2019. It joins a celebrated portfolio, including sibling restaurants like Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence winner Quality Italian in Denver and the original Smith & Wollensky steak house location in New York.
True to its name, Bad Roman’s menu draws heavily from Italian cuisine, but with a twist: It’s influenced by Italian-inspired cooking traditions from across the globe, like that of New York’s Little Italy neighborhood. The results are small plates like roasted garlic babka with macaroni cups, Hamachi crudo with Sicilian pistachios and a wedge salad with soppressata; mains include scallops piccata, “Tuscan” fried chicken and a wide selection of other dishes from chef Nick Gaube and his team.
“I believe [Bad Roman] is offering a new and different type of Italian dining to the New York dining scene,” Gaube told Wine Spectator via email. “We’re not trying to be an authentic Italian restaurant—we’re playing off of all different offshoots of Italian cuisine to make something unique, fun and different.”
Wine director Meng Chiang oversees a program of about 300 labels and a cellar of 3,500 bottles. “In following the menu, the wine list is Italian-American, slightly off-script, slightly off the beaten path, with surprises in unusual locations,” said Chiang. “After all, discovery is the most fun part of drinking wine!” Occupying about 65 percent of the ever-changing list, Italy is, indeed, the star, with selections from up and down the boot. This includes leading wineries like Tuscany’s Avignonesi, Sicily’s Fessina and Piedmont’s Paolo Scavino.
[article-img-container][src=2023-03/tt_badromanbar030923_1600.jpg] [credit= (Christian Harder)] [alt= The marble bar at Bad Roman, with plants hanging from the ceiling][end: article-img-container]Along with additional wines from the U.S. and France, there are about 8 large-format bottles, a selection of amphorae-aged reds and some 22 wines by the glass. Guests can also enjoy Italian-inspired cocktails like the Tequila Granita, Martini Pepperoncini and Roman Cocktail (rye, Campari and hazelnuts).
“We want to have a fun, engaging, informal atmosphere, with serious food and beverages. There’s no reason they cannot coexist,” said Chiang. “Just because we serve a grappa in a shot glass with a model race car attached doesn’t mean it’s not great grappa!”
Design firm GRT Architects created a lively, fun setting for Bad Roman’s guests, with vines hanging from the rafters, lighting fixtures made from locally blown glass and a colorful set of orange banquettes, as well as eye-catching tilework and mosaics. In addition to the main dining room, two private rooms are available for parties of up to 40 guests each.—C.D.
Alum of Georgie by Curtis Stone Opens Quarter Acre in Dallas
[article-img-container][src=2023-03/tt_quarteracredining030923_1600.jpg] [credit= (Emily Loving)] [alt= The dining room at Quarter Acre, with wicker chairs, tan booths and a white brick wall][end: article-img-container]Whether they call it Lower Greenville or opt for the increasingly fashionable superlative, Lowest Greenville, visitors to the happening southern stretch of Dallas’ Greenville Avenue face two challenges: deciding where to eat and finding a place to park. We can’t help you with the latter, but a new restaurant promises to become a go-to for wine lovers seeking a good meal in the historic neighborhood.
Located in the space formerly…
Source : https://www.winespectator.com/articles/turning-tables-quality-branded-opens-bad-roman-in-new-york
