The concept of the Supper Club, originated in the 1930’s, consisted of venues where patrons could dine, dance and socialize with likeminded company. This type of venue had its heyday in the 1940’s, but gradually faded into a distinct separation between dining venues and dancing nightclubs. However, in October 2010, New York City finds itself upon an era where these lines of distinction are beginning to dissolve, and the Supper Club is reborn as the
‘Club’ restaurant. In recent years, several restaurants have opened nightclubs in their basements/ storage rooms. For example, Brinkley’s bar and grill, a typically preppy establishment, is above Southside, its hipster stepsister. Another example of this trend would be Abe and Arthurs, a restaurant in meatpacking, which features the more raucous Simyone Lounge right under. Finally there’s Butter, which is as well known for its superior food as it as for its Monday night dance party in its wine cellar. All of these venues have led to the birth of the hybrid Club restaurant that New York City finds in abundance in the Fall of 2010. These restaurant feature velvet ropes, live DJ’s and very high energy. In this series we will introduce you to these new hotspots one at a time and help you stay on top of the nightlife game. First up – Kenmare
Joey Campanaro, who runs the storied West Village bistro the Little Owl, has joined forces with those practiced nightlife entrepreneurs Paul Sevigny (Beatrice Inn) and Nur Khan (Rose Bar). They’ve refined the lighting and painted the low ceilings a soft fresco pink. Sprays of flowers have been placed here and there around the dining room, and the clunky, dark tabletops have been replaced with squares of slick white marble. The new upstairs bar is made of polished marble, too, and the terminally gloomy space in the basement has been refashioned as a private dining room outfitted with a D.J. booth and a coat of glowing white stucco. The venue features gourmet fare in addition to a live DJ, both spinning upstairs and down. Kenmare restaurant takes reservations till 1:30am, at which point the venue is in its prime with packed tables of New Yorks scenesters .
Kenmare - 98 Kenmare St., New York, NY 10012 nr. Centre St. 212-274-9898
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