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“Amalia”

Occasion:	Cuisine:	Area:	Cost:	Rating:
Night Out	New American	Midtown	Moderate	Great

MY DINNER AT AMALIA
 
I was introduced to Sigmund Freud, or at least his Upper West Side disciples, at an early age. My parents divorced when I was six. The years that preceded their final separation were, well, not so pleasant. You do the math. They had me on a shrink’s couch by the time I was six and a half. I had no idea what I was doing talking to an old lady (someone who I now realize was probably in her 40s) for an hour each week, but I knew that I got to go to the Well Bread Loaf for brownies afterwards so I really didn’t care that much. My most vivid memory of therapy as a child was listening to my therapist snore during our session. I guess I wasn’t that interesting. I mean, at that point I was like a deer caught in the headlights. I really didn’t have that much to say and she wasn’t very interested in asking questions. Let’s just say it wasn’t particularly helpful. Since those days as a kid, I have come to work with therapists who do not fall asleep. This seems to allow for better results. One of these days, I actually might be well-adjusted!

Which brings us (in a very roundabout way) to Amalia, a striking new Mediterranean restaurant in Vikram Chatwal’s Dream Hotel, named for Freud’s mother. Get it, dream? Freud? Wink, Wink. It’s clever, I suppose, and with the number of New Yorkers who visit with Freud’s people every week for their 45-minute hours, it certainly resonates with the masses.

Amalia, which is owned by Greg Brier (Aspen), was designed by Chris Sheffield and Steve Lewis of SLD Design (Marquee, Butter, Aspen). It’s an eclectic space that stretches away from the street in a series of ascending dining rooms interconnected through arched doorways. Up front you’ll find a modern bar area that’s cool and crisp, with white leather swivel stools and a back-lit bar constructed of Lucite and white lace. Homemade caramel popcorn served in the bar fills the air with the sweet smell of warm toffee. The front and rear dining rooms also toe the modern line, with chocolate brown banquettes, and walls covered in smooth lacquered butter-colored wood. But the middle room is quite ornate, with raw brick walls, ceilings covered in framed paintings, pillars of carved wood, marble fireplaces and French blu ... [more, click below]

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Posted: March 27, 2007

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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