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“Cafe Gray”

Occasion:	Cuisine:	Area:	Cost:	Rating:
Night Out	New American	Midtown	Break the Bank	Off the Charts

It started off as just another Saturday night at the Mall. I pushed through the revolving doors, and rode the sky-high escalator to the 3rd floor, and in an instant, I was back in high school, shopping at Roosevelt Field with my girlfriends and giggling about boys. But then, reality hit and I realized I was not 18 (pity). I was 35, with my dear friend Steven, celebrating his 45th birthday with a crew of his closest friends in tow (but still giggling about boys).

We walked past Armani, strolled past the Preppy-chic mannequins in the windows of J. Crew. But we were not moved by shrunken blazers or woolen ponchos. Our eyes were focused on another prize. Like most New Yorkers who enter the Time Warner Mall after 8pm, we were not here to shop. We were here to eat.

Soon, the entrance was in our sights. It was a few feet ahead, just past Montmarte. As we came closer, the tall heavy ebony doors parted, and like the children from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe intrepidly slipping through a crease in reality and into a world of fantasy, we entered Café Gray.

We walked up the hallway on a floor paved with tiny square porcelain tiles—like something out of a dreamy Roman bathhouse—topped with a soft runner of espresso-toned carpeting. At the top of the hallway, we were welcomed by a sea of happy faces and led to the Lavender Bar (as the front room is called), where we found a stunning and sultry den lined with wide plush circular banquettes and lit with a soft glow from bare amber bulbs reflecting off of beveled mirrors that lined the walls in Deco cubes. The bartender, an adorable smiling lad, served us perfect Martinis. Each came on its own silver tray, complete with shaker and a small bowl of spiced and salted roasted pumpkin seeds and corn kernels—a wildly addictive little snack that makes for quick drinking. (If there is a God, this mix will somehow replace popcorn in movie theatres.)

While waiting for our table, we grabbed an open banquette in the bar, and our drinks were brought over to us. I was sure we would be asked to get up, but no. We were encouraged to relax and enjoy our cocktails. We would be seated when we were ready. I watched the waiters serving guests in the bar—a reservation-free zone where the entire dinner menu plus a wicked selection of bar snacks —pink lentil-crusted chicken wings with hot-sour chili sauce ($12), “La Mahjune” Pizza topped with ratatoui ... [more, click below]

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Posted: October 10, 2004

Other restaurants in Midtown :
+ Lever House   + Aquavit   + RM   + Joseph's (formerly Citarella The Restaurant)   + Town   + Artisanal   + The Oyster Bar   + Geisha   + David Burke and Donatella Restaurant   + Riingo   + Amma   + Cafe Sabarsky   + The Stone Rose Lounge   + BLT Steak   + V, The Steakhouse-- Closed   + Bar Masa   + Cafe Gray   + The Bar Room at The Modern   + The Cafe at Aquavit   + The Cafe at Aquavit   + Bistro du Vent-- Closed   + Shaburi   + Xing   + The Modern   + Bar Americain   + Alto   + Park Blue   + Mainland-- Closed   + Nobu 57   + Quality Meats   + Dona-- CLOSED   + Daisy May's   + 7Square-- CLOSED   + Amalia   + Fireside   + Anthos   + Patroon   + BLT Market   + Toloache   + Mia Dona   + Park Avenue Summer   + Convivio   + The Oak Room by guest reviewer Julie Besonen   + At Vermilion by guest reviewer Elaine Weiner   + Lunching at Inakaya, by guest reviewer Kathleen Squires   + Marea, by Guest Reviewer Susan Kane Walkush   + Le Bernardin   + New York Central -- A Reason To Eat at the Grand Hyatt Again   + Pampano Botaneria by Dara Pollak   

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