MANHATTAN'S SHUN: AN ART DECO-INSPIRED DESIGN AS ENTICING AS ITS SEASONAL MENU

Chef Alain Verzeroli serves up French-Japanese fare in Manhattan amid timeless interiors by architect Joseph Dirand.

Manhattan is home to some of the best design and best cuisine on the planet. An addition to New York City’s roster of impeccably designed gastronomic delights are Shun and Bar Shun, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Alain Verzeroli and designed by the acclaimed French architect Joseph Dirand.

Located above Le Jardinier (also designed by Dirand) on Lexington Avenue in Midtown, the contemporary French-Japanese restaurant emphasizes seasonal cuisine as shun translates in Japanese culinary concept of celebrating food at the peak of its flavor. Despite the menu changing with each season, staple dishes include scallops crudo, lemongrass lobster, and duck à la orange.

For the interiors, Dirand was inspired by the menu: Chairs and sofas are upholstered in a rich green velvet, while geometric black lacquer tables bring to mind elements of classical Japanese design. The dining room was also designed with an open kitchen, which, as Dirand notes, only serves to enhance the overall culinary experience.

Bar Shun, a separate space next to the restaurant, embodies an Art Deco-inspired respite from the hustle and bustle of Midtown, featuring tall mirrors, silver accents, and softly rounded corners (think: masculine elegance in the vein of James Bond). For both the restaurant and bar, Dirand sought to create a new classic, which he describes as “an oasis in the middle of an urban environment" culminating into a welcoming escape from the urban jungle and a bona fide culinary journey offered at once.

For more information and reservations visit shun-nyc.com