Those who know Cucina 8 ½ can imagine the iconic red staircase that leads down into the lounge and dining area. The French cuisine, at what was formerly known as Brasserie 8 ½, is now upscale Italian that offers rustic dishes with a New York influence.
The old space was designed by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates and was complimented to architect Gordon Bunshaft’s classic modernism with the desire for simplicity and bold color, hence the red carpeting.
The switch to the Cucina 8 ½ space was redesigned by fashion designer Cesar Galindo. “He was inspired by the high fashion crowd on 5th Avenue and the timeless elegance of Old New York, starting from the famous sweeping staircase that has appeared in movies and shows like ‘Sex & The City’ and leads to the vast dining room that seats 250 guests,” stated August Ceradini Jr., the proprietor of Cucina 8 1/2. “With jewel tones and nature hues, the open format dining experience includes a piano bar with pre-dinner drinks and entertainment nightly. Seating includes a combination of tufted booths with curtains that close for privacy as well as open seating for large groups and intimate parties.”
While the menu highlights all ingredients sourced from DeBragga and Citarella, a few of their standout dishes include: Branzino with a shaved fennel salad and citrus mint; Rigatoni Pomodoro with organic plum tomato and basil; and Chicken Parmesan served tableside with bianco di Napoli tomatoes, basil and fior di latte mozzarella. Standout cocktails include: the Negroni, a Limoncello Spritz and a The Sex & The City Cosmopolitan.
Recently, Cucina 8 ½ announced the arrival of Chef Sam Hazen, an experienced Michelin star chef who previously worked his way through New York. In the past, Chef Hazen has provided his expertise to Cascabel Restaurant, Terrace Restaurant, Veritas Restaurant and more. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and will use his experience in revamping Cucina 8 ½’s menu over the next few months, adding to what they already offer. Some dishes to be introduced to the menu are a Fritto Misto, Shrimp Calamari, an eggplant dish and the previous pork chop dish will become a Tuscan Pork Shank.
Rather than taking a traditional approach to the menu, as most Italian restaurants do, Cucina 8 ½ offers a numerous number of dishes from different regions. An elevated menu features the best of the best dishes throughout Italy.
