Scott Conant
Photo: courtesy of Scarpetta
It took just four weeks for Cooper Square Hotel manager Klaus Ortlieb, Scott Conant and his crew to transform the hotel’s dining room, formerly Table 8, into the sleek new restaurant Faustina. Fans of Conant, who followed him from City Eatery to Alto, Scarpetta and Tutto Il Giorno in Sag Harbor, are already clamoring for seats at this spot in one of the New York City’s hottest dining areas. The restaurant opens to the public tonight, but the Buzz stopped by yesterday to check out the pre-opening scene.
The Food: Faustina has an Italian menu of mostly small plates and plenty of seafood. There are just three large plates – an aged sirloin, a veal porterhouse and a Berkshire pork chop. Sections include bread & olives, fromaggi & salume, salad, a raw bar, pasta & risottos, hot plates and sides.
The Design: Table 8’s hard-edged modern room has morphed into a more inviting, cozier space. Still modern, banquettes have been added for more intimate seating, the brown chairs have been reupholstered in grey leather, hurricane lamps replace the harsher lighting and fabric covered paneling on the glass doors, walls and ceiling have softened the sound as well as feel. The former lounge is now a café, complete with a new chandelier, oak-topped bar and a communal table.
Sample Dishes: Among the stand-outs are tuna with ripe avocado topped with sea salt and olive oil ($14), kanpachi with porcini and garlic chips ($15), lobster with concentrated tomatoes ($14) and al dente spaghetti with octopus ragu ($15).
Sample Desserts: Torrone panna cotta with nougat, honey, caramel and pistachio meringue ($9); chocolate carmellina with chocolate caramel mousse, gianduja and mocha ice cream ($9); and date pudding with currant compote and prune ice cream ($9).
Sample Drink: The Ner’oni – a Sicilian red wine (Nero D’Avola), Plymouth gin, Campari and sweet vermouth.
The Crowd: New Bowery hipsters mixed with hotel guests and foodie followers of Conant. Restaurateurs Eric Goode and John McDonald, as well as actors Jason Patric and Josh Lucas, were already at pre-opening tastings.
The Tunes: Global music and jazz.
The Deets: 25 Cooper Square.; 646-448-4559