THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Dining Room

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Dining Room Restaurant Review:

When The Screening Room opened in 1996, the owners set out to create a meeting ground for food and film. Their new project, The Dining Room, is a showcase for the cuisine of Mark Spangenthal, the Screening Room chef, minus the movies. Not having to compete with fine cinema, he moves into territory that is somewhat more adventurous in his new digs. For instance, there’s a raw bar with three varieties of oysters, ceviche and other raw-fish preparations. The main menu is straightforward enough, and Upper East Siders who have tried them at The Screening Room will be happy to find the delectable pan-fried artichokes on the Uptown menu. Understated entrées like rack of lamb with sautéed spinach and corn pudding or pan-roasted wild snapper with summer vegetable fricassée are sure to hit home with the neighborhood crowd. The restaurant is housed in the bilevel space that was Jams, one of the trendiest of trendy ’80s spots, and then Trois Jean, a neighborhood friendly bistro; The Dining Room fits somewhere in the middle. Where Trois Jean had its pastry display case downstairs is now the raw bar and lounge, while upstairs affluent diners will feel at home amidst gentle lighting and rich colors like burgundy, forest green and gold.