A Present for the Upper West…

The Upper West just got a got a big gift, and just in time for the holidays… The New York Historical Society on Central Park west just south of the Museum of Natural History just finished a renovation, and with it came a wonderful new restaurant. I went last night with a friend of mine who happens to live just upstairs, and we LOVED it.

Soooo let’s start with a personal favorite of mine, the atmosphere. It’s pretty….inside and when looking up from the street. The pictures do not do it justice, trust me. Caffé Storico, which means history in Italian, is on the ground floor facing 77^th Street above street level. The interior is all white, with gold chandeliers, butter yellow banquettes and bar stools, a calcutta marble bar, and panels of antique mirror. From the description alone, you may have guessed why I loved it, BUT my favorite part was the cabinetry. On all sides, it goes all the way up, just shy of the ceiling, which is especially impressive given the room has double height proportions. You have to be in it to appreciate the scale. It gave me flashbacks to The Breakers in Newport with a 2-story china room, and the china is not just any china, it belongs to the museum. No wonder there’s a lock on each door…

Another perk - you get a glimpse into the museum, its arched rooms and the turret across the street. BUT let’s not forget the food…

One word - fantastic. A collaboration between chef Jim Burke and acclaimed restaurateur Stephen Starr (of Buddakan and Morimoto), should I be surprised? We had pasta, but everything that came our way made us very happy girls. I can’t wait to go back already, maybe for brunch this time, or tea if they have it.

For me, this new addition to the neighborhood is nothing short of a gift. Atmosphere, great service, and amazing food all in one, and the fact that it’s a stone’s throw away from me - even better…