It’s the largest and grandest of them of all.

The impressive entrance alone attracts the attention of passersby. La Grande Boucherie has been meticulously designed by New York City-based Interior and Architectural Design Firm The Prestige Group and owner Emil Stefkov so that every single detail contributes to crafting a uniquely Parisian dining experience that will transport you to the early 20th century in Paris.

The team describes the project as a collaborative effort with classically trained craftsmen and masons. From the 150-year-old antique glass ceiling that has been restored and shipped from France, to the mosaic flooring and artwork, every touchpoint has been considered. Guests will notice the hand-selected antique elements from “Les Puces” in Paris throughout the restaurant, adorning every wall and nook, creating a fantastical and inspiring space for art and design enthusiasts.

The expansive restaurant space took 11 months to complete, and one of the key objectives was to give New York diners a beautiful and entrancing space to dine out. The city lacks outdoor dining spaces, a situation that has become even more evident during the pandemic. La Grande Boucherie aims to be the outdoor social place where diners can enjoy live music and be transported to a different atmosphere of the joie de vivre.

The restaurant’s outdoor dining space is unlike that of any other in the city because its gallery stretches the length of a city block. Open at both ends, the gallery features a soaring, arched skylight and a heated floor. This enables the restaurant to offer year-round outdoor seating options for 150 diners. Inside, La Grande Boucherie has been built to accommodate more than 400 diners in the dining room, bar and mezzanine areas.

The restaurant boasts 20 ft ceilings throughout, presenting an airy and open dining space for guests. The interior dining space measures 5,500 sq ft, whereas the outdoor plaza is even larger at 6,000 sq ft.

This one-of-a-kind Brasserie in the heart of Midtown can be accessed through the unique pedestrian arcade at 6 1/2 Avenue, between 53rd and 54th St. The experience of setting into the reactivated arcade is a moment of discovery and delight, as the architecture of the arcade has been revitalized into an inviting hidden gem.

The arcade synchronously serves as a transition point between the two city streets and the Art Nouveau revival of the restaurant; a mere introduction to the interior space awaiting one’s entry.

The floor has been hand-crafted in half-inch mosaic Carrara Marble tiles following custom organic patterns. A palette of neutral colors blends with the existing brick flooring and glass wall surroundings. As this space was intended for outdoor use in dining, year-round functionality is also addressed by integrating a heated floor system below the mosaic tiling.

Lighting also plays an important role in creating this momentary transition. Monumental brass chandeliers hang from the existing arcade structure, illuminating the revitalized passage, while sconces adorn the facade of the restaurant. The arcade lighting fixtures are reinterpreted and reminiscent of early 20th century Paris.

In order to integrate organic elements into this partly outdoor space, cherry blossom trees are planted along each column of the facade. These trees provide a link between the city and the transformative morphology of nature. From light pink to bright orange, these trees directly connect this covered passageway to the corresponding seasons outside. Seating is organized around these natural elements to create a year-round outdoor dining experience.

The outstanding decorative details continue inside the dining room. The ornamental skylight at the restaurant was sourced directly from the famous “Les Puces”, a flea market in Paris. This ornamental composition used to belong to a private estate next to the Opera Garnier and was salvaged before demolition to now has a second life at La Grande Boucherie.

This historic statement design element has been carefully restored by master craftsmen. Each piece of the antic glass is hand-painted. The design composition of the acanthus leaf and organic elements like the ferns can be also found in other areas of the restaurant.

From the central entrance and bar, the restaurant splits into two zones, each a reinterpretation of early 20th century Parisian dining. On the north is the informal, casual dining while on the south, through the stained glass doors is the formal dining room. Both sides of the restaurant include mezzanine seating and are designed with their respective ambiances in mind. The north and south side of the restaurant incorporates a brasserie-style, oyster bar, subway tile-clad walls, and artwork reflective of the joie de vivre era of 1920’s Paris. By contrast, the right and north side of the restaurant incorporates a charcuterie bar, oak-clad walls and floors, integrated booth seating, and artwork reflective of the more refined and formal aspects of the Belle Epoque era.

This extraordinary vaulted ceiling is a glorious symbol of the legendary great cafes of the Belle Époque. The bouquets of ferns attached to the arches are all hand sculpted and cast in plaster which embraces moldings beams and columns. The plastered ceiling was hand finished with a custom gold patina effect which brings authenticity to the look and a warm feeling. Adapted to the architecture of the building, and to all of the oak-clad columns, over a hundred custom lamps and chandeliers infuse the room with a harmonious champagne color.

La Grande Boucherie presents a glamorous escape to early 20th century France through the entrance to the arcade. Guests will surely appreciate the opportunity to socialize in the beautiful dining gallery as pandemic measures are lifted in time. It’s a space that has arrived at just the right time to meet the demands of those in New York City who are yearning for an escape from the city’s soaring glass skyscrapers in exchange for a romantic encounter with Parisian-inspired architecture.

PROJECT DETAILS

Architecture & Interior Design: The Prestige Group

Completion: 2020

Project Size: 11,500 sq ft

Project Location: New York

Photography: Melissa Hom