THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Mercer Kitchen Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Mercer Kitchen Restaurant Review:

Located in the hip Mercer hotel, chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s eatery matches the chic vibe. The subterranean power-bar, lounge and restaurant boasts a dining area that extends to the turn-of-century brick walls and out under the sidewalk vault so guests below can see passersby overhead through glass bubbles in the floor-ceiling. An open kitchen and a glassed-off area feature high communal tables. Chef Christopher Beischer oversees the ethnically eclectic menu, which includes appetizers such as steamed shrimp salad with avocado, mushroom and tomato in a Champagne vinaigrette or fresh mozzarella and cherries with green and purple basil and watercress. As for entrées, we recommend the New York strip with gingered shiitake mushrooms, caramel soy-infused sauce and french fries as well as the steamed skate with tarragon, sesame seed, asparagus and sushi rice. The warm Valrhona chocolate cake is certainly appropriate in a Vongerichten-led kitchen.