The Beauty Of Beautique In Manhattan

As people take a stroll along Manhattan's 58th Street, they may not realize they are passing one of the city's chicest midtown restaurants. Beautique, located just steps from The Plaza Hotel, serves American market-fresh recipes while paying homage to classic French cuisine.

Before heading into the subterranean restaurant, diners are greeted by bottles of champagne and a life-size playing card painting of fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. Once people enter the dining area, they will feel transported into Coco Chanel's house in Paris as the interior was designed to mirror the famed Rue Cambon residence.

With one glance at the menu, guests will be anxious to try the crab cakes, deviled eggs, and Buffalo burrata. One thing that will grab people's attention is the fried potato gnocchi, which is an interesting and flavorful variation of the classic Italian dish. Seafood lovers' taste buds will be tantalized with the grilled octopus, which blends together avocado mousse, crispy spicy chickpeas, and orange vignette.

Chef Alain Allegretti was recently named the restaurant's new culinary director and brings an extensive experience from both the United States and France to the kitchen. While he maintains the signature dishes, chef Allegretti has created three new dishes for the menu, including the tuna tartare with crispy rice, pickled fennel, cucumber, and toasted pistachio. Chef Allegretti's duck breast with chimichurri butter, spinach spaetzli, wild mushrooms, and spring onions is one of the flavorsome duck dishes Midtown offers.

Beautique boasts an array of specialty cocktail crafted by James Beard award-nominated mixologist Charlotte Voisey. Mojito lovers should try The Pearl, which is Beautique twist to the classic cocktail. Made with tequila, pear liqueur, fresh pear, lemon, and sage, diners will feel like royalty drinking out of a silver cup.

While enjoying the food and drinks, guests should not be surprised to possibly get a glimpse of some celebrities, as their regulars include Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane Von Furstenberg, Meg Ryan, and Pamela Anderson. To enter that exclusive part of the restaurant, patrons have to be taken through the kitchen into the VIP lounge area to hobnob with pubic figures.

In the restaurant industry, there is a check list that needs to be completed in order to have a successful restaurant. From the décor, to food, to drinks, to service, Beautique has managed to tackle the necessities within its first year of operation.  As people leave, the only thing that they will ask is when to make their next reservation.