Ahhh! Living the lush life of French Soirée! We are always on the lookout for the new, exciting, and cutting edge, and maybe the decadently wicked happenings here in New York and Paris? Our latest find? Olana! For those of us who are devotees of the Rose and Jade Bars at The Gramercy Park Hotel, we now have another option. Olana is located nearby north of Madison Square Park.

We had the opportunity to experience this new hot spot at their opening soirée. The fare is upscale American with an infusion of Italian and French accents. As we toured the kitchen with Chef DiMeglio, we wondered about his inspirations for his dishes. He told us that he draws from all of the experiences he has had in his life: He is Italian; he has spent many years at Le Cirque; and he is an artist.

We then tasted an assortment of his dishes. A MUST is the lobster ravioli! This dish is composed of roasted lobster with rouille ravioli, wild mushroom, and braised leeks. It is listed as an appetizer on their menu but would work just as well as an entree. The roasted rabbit was stuffed with almonds, apricots, and foie gras, accompanied by cannellini beans, and baby mustard greens. Another of the dishes we experienced was the licorice-lacquered duck accompanied by braised red cabbage, juniper spaetzle, and chestnuts. Delicious food! If the waitstaff (that attended that night) is indicative of the service to be provided routinely, then you are in for a lovely dining experience.

We were delighted with the restaurant’s bar: Circular and roomy--allowing for ease of movement and conversing, great lighting, and really comfortable chairs will put you in the right mood for leaning back and enjoying a cocktail (or two)

Olana also has a private dining room with a huge fireplace. It is a great space to have a private party--maybe a French soirée? You can easily envision yourself sipping a cognac as the fire roars, and you are transported to another time.

The space is gorgeous. It reminded us of some of the mansions that you can tour along the Hudson River, or in Newport, RI. The space is cherry wood paneled, lit by crystal chandeliers and sconces, and reflected by mirrors. The mohair-covered chairs are very plush and comfortable. The only things missing are the wonderful tapestries and ornate Persian rugs you routinely see in these architectural wonders. Oh wait! It is a restaurant and not someone's home!

FrenchSoireeDotCom from NYC [information@frenchsoiree.com]
February 26, 2008
Ahhh! Living the lush life of French Soirée! We are always on the lookout for the new, exciting, and cutting edge, and maybe the decadently wicked happenings here in New York and Paris? Our latest find? Olana! For those of us who are devotees of the Rose and Jade Bars at The Gramercy Park Hotel, we now have another option. Olana is located nearby north of Madison Square Park.

We had the opportunity to experience this new hot spot at their opening soirée. The fare is upscale American with an infusion of Italian and French accents. As we toured the kitchen with Chef DiMeglio, we wondered about his inspirations for his dishes. He told us that he draws from all of the experiences he has had in his life: He is Italian; he has spent many years at Le Cirque; and he is an artist.

We then tasted an assortment of his dishes. A MUST is the lobster ravioli! This dish is composed of roasted lobster with rouille ravioli, wild mushroom, and braised leeks. It is listed as an appetizer on their menu but would work just as well as an entree. The roasted rabbit was stuffed with almonds, apricots, and foie gras, accompanied by cannellini beans, and baby mustard greens. Another of the dishes we experienced was the licorice-lacquered duck accompanied by braised red cabbage, juniper spaetzle, and chestnuts. Delicious food! If the waitstaff (that attended that night) is indicative of the service to be provided routinely, then you are in for a lovely dining experience.

We were delighted with the restaurant’s bar: Circular and roomy--allowing for ease of movement and conversing, great lighting, and really comfortable chairs will put you in the right mood for leaning back and enjoying a cocktail (or two)

Olana also has a private dining room with a huge fireplace. It is a great space to have a private party--maybe a French soirée? You can easily envision yourself sipping a cognac as the fire roars, and you are transported to another time.

The space is gorgeous. It reminded us of some of the mansions that you can tour along the Hudson River, or in Newport, RI. The space is cherry wood paneled, lit by crystal chandeliers and sconces, and reflected by mirrors. The mohair-covered chairs are very plush and comfortable. The only things missing are the wonderful tapestries and ornate Persian rugs you routinely see in these architectural wonders. Oh wait! It is a restaurant and not someone's home!


Wonderful food! Beautiful environment! Impeccable service! We recommend a visit!

Wonderful food! Beautiful environment! Impeccable service! We recommend a visit!