Andaz Fifth Avenue

Upon immediate entrance into the newly opened Andaz Fifth Avenue it is apparent that the space could only have been designed by the brilliant Tony Chi - a master in the art of fusing innovative design with a paired down, elegant simplicity. It’s how we want our apartments to look, and the ambience is a study in serenity. Once again, Chi outdid himself. I expected the hotel and its ground floor restaurant – Shop – to be redolent of Andaz Wall Street, but dashing General Manager Jonathan Frolich couldn’t imagine a worse fate than being “cookie cutter.” Each Andaz hotel (backed by the Hyatt Group) has it’s own personality and flavor. Andaz, after all, means personal style in Hindi.

Syndicate’s Melanie Weitzman orchestrated our dinner party, and the merry group included WWD’s David Lipke, Bergdorf Goodman’s Emerson Barth, Moschino’s Khoa Nguyen and Lucy Night, and philanthropist Meera Ghandi – fresh from the Quest Magazine screening of Giving Back, a documentary she produced, directed, and hosted about charitable feats across four continents. Eclectic mixes always make for the best dinner conversations.

photo: New York Social Diary

There’s good reason New York Magazine describes dining at Shop as a “farm to table” experience. The restaurant has a revolving menu that reflects only the freshest foods and ingredients at the height of their season – everything is locally sourced. They’re not about reinventing the wheel, either – the pastrami and corned beef are from Katz’s, the pickles are from Guy’s, the bagels from Russ & Daughters. The penne bolognese they’re making in the kitchen, and the aroma wafts lingeringly through open shutters. You get it. In a city overrun with restaurants, veteran New Yorkers are known for their jaded palates. The meal that ensued – the freshest tasting tomato soup I’ve ever had, a salad with wild arugula and roasted stone fruits sourced from Hudson Valley, and a Chicken Schnitzel Milanese that’s as good as it sounds – was nothing short of a party in my mouth. The wine list was endless, but our waitress helped us pair each course with a complimentary selection. Dessert was some dreamy toffee and liquor concoction I crave daily.

A restaurant which edits the best the city has to offer, sources locally and is situated only steps away from the heart of the Fashion District? We couldn’t imagine a better recipe for success. Welcome, Andaz Fifth Avenue.

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