THE { FOODIE } LIFE: BATALI’S
LA SIRENA RISTORANTE
The great titan of New York’s dining scene has arrived. Inspired by the temptresses of Homer’s Odyssey, this breathtaking behemoth is everything we wanted (and expected) from what has arguably been the most highly anticipated Batali/Bastianich project given the ten-year spell since the dynamic duo’s last new restaurant together.
The sprawling space features a prominent 38-foot marble bar connecting the north and south dining rooms, mirroring the iconic grand patio that will most certainly serve as a west side hub come summer. La Sirena’s design takes our interior envy to new heights with ‘60s-esque curvilinear floor motifs and Caesarstone quartz-clad walls, bringing a coastal Italian feel to the 300-seat bi-level beauty (the upstairs semi-outdoor event spaces are expected to open soon, along with the patio).
The menu features a colorful array of classically categorized Italian-inspired dishes executed by Chef Josh Laurano (previously of Babbo), most notably a dual pasta tasting with the participation of the table. Finish things off with Pastry Chef Michael Laiskonis’s honey walnut semifreddo — a promising candidate for “most photographed dessert of the year.”