The first restaurant in New York City for both chef Alain Verzeroli and designer Joseph Dirand, Le Jardinier attracts local New Yorkers alongside gourmet travellers, each with a penchant for sophisticated style and thoughtful cuisine. As we look forward to a world that returns to some sort of normality, Karine Monié bumps this designer destination to the top of our must-visit list in 2021 and beyond.
In Midtown Manhattan, Le Jardinier is a delicious feast for both the eyes and the palate. Inaugurated in early 2019, the 62-seat restaurant – its name French for ‘the gardener’ – focuses its sights on high-quality vegetables, seasonal ingredients and garden-fresh herbs. A subject which chef Alain Verzeroli believes is aligned with worldwide culinary trends. “This is the way sophisticated diners are eating globally,” he says.
Tucked within a luxury condominium tower developed by Aby Rosen and designed by architect Norman Foster, the restaurant is dressed in the inimitable stylings of French architect and interior designer Joseph Dirand. The designer is responsible for other illustrious hospitality projects including Loulou, Monsieur Bleu and Le Flandrin in his beloved Paris, and the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club and Le Sirenuse restaurant in Miami.
Timeless in appearance and flooded with natural light that enters the restaurant through floor-to-ceiling windows, Le Jardinier affords patrons the feeling of dining in a glittering greenhouse in the beating heart of New York City. The sumptuous space is adorned with lush vegetation, lavish green marble on the walls and floors, and vertical louvres. As a nod to his homeland, Joseph called upon French artisans living in The Big Apple to lend their talents to most of the intricate craftsmanship throughout.
Le Jardinier is connected via a monumental marble staircase to Shun, a contemporary French restaurant with Japanese influences that was also brought to life by Joseph. Here, custom-made velvet-upholstered banquettes, armchairs, tables and consoles create an atmosphere where Alcantara fabrics, bespoke lacquer, Italian ivory marble, dark woods and mirrored glass mingle as glamorously as the patrons who secure a reservation.
josephdirand.com; lejardinier-nyc.com
Le Jardinier affords patrons the feeling of dining in a glittering greenhouse in the beating heart of New York City.
