THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Moda

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Moda Restaurant Review:

Most New Yorkers complain when they have to walk through a hotel lobby to get to a restaurant. Located on the far side of the Flatotel lobby, this Midtown restaurant serves Italian cuisine that, in some ways, is a mere hand gesture to the boot. The lobster alla griglia and bistecca di manzo sound very Italian until you read the translations: grilled lobster served with mango salsa, and hanger steak with fries. Despite being less mama mia and more Americana, the dishes that Moda pumps out are no disappointment on the taste buds. The aforementioned hanger steak, juicy and tender, is served in a bowl so that the steak's jus drips down, saturating the fries that lay beneath. The caposante in padella (or pan-seared diver scallops over jícama-basil-orange salad) preserves the natural buttery taste of the scallops. The room is understated, a wall of candles and a pair of quasi-private booths give it a classy feel, while the garishly colored, Ikea-like banquette seems incongruous. In the end though, you'll be happy you trudged through that hotel lobby after all. In the warm weather months, opt for a table outside where Moda become Moda Outdoors.