Hamptonites take Manhattan: Ralph Lauren, Martha Stewart
Hamptonites take Manhattan: Montauk’s Ralph Lauren is about to open his first restaurant in New York, the Polo Bar, at 1 East 55th Street, just to the east of his flagship store on Fifth Avenue at 55th Street.
The restaurant, which is Lauren’s first in New York, will be helmed by executive chef Sepp Stoner. It is touted as being inspired by “classic New York establishments, as well as Lauren’s “love of gathering around the table with family and friends.” It’s setting will be “casual yet refined” with decor, including a Henry Koehler mural of a polo match on the outside along with saddle leather and equestrian-inspired art inside. The overall vision pays homage to Lauren’s longtime dedication to the sporting look and lifestyle.
Lauren already has two restaurants in operation—the RL bar and grill in Chicago and Ralph’s on the Buelevard Saint Germain in Paris. Polo Bar is expected to open this month.
Meanwhile, East Hampton’s Martha Stewart is planning to open her first restaurant, a café, in the Starrett-Lehigh Building, where her headquarters is located in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. A representative from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. told Bloomberg that the Martha Stewart Cafe was hiring baristas in early December, but would not confirm an open date, or whether or not it would be serving Stewart’s recipes.
In other Hamptons/NYC news, Red Stixs, which opened a summer season Chinese restaurant in Water Mill this year, just opened an outpost at 216 East 49th Street last week. The executive chef is still the dynamic Skinny Mei.