One of NYC’s famous churches reinvented as a restaurant and bar.
You don’t usually associate church with the place to sip cocktails by any stretch of the imagination, but then again New Yorkers tend to do things differently. From the ashes of midtown Manhattan rises one of the city’s most famous churches, reinvented as a restaurant and bar. St. Bartholomew’s Church. Now known to diners as Inside Park at St. Bart’s. St. Bart’s Church drew attention to itself in the ‘80s and ‘90s when a landmark Supreme Court ruling saved it from being dwarfed by a high-rise complex.
Now it draws attention as the place where tourists and businessmen alike can gather for after-work drinks or special celebrations. How often can you invite your friend to church at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday night, then surprise them with a gourmet meal? The restaurant is a former annex hall that once hosted church pageants and socials. Formal functions now give way to formal dining in an elegant inside area open year-round, while the seasonal outdoor terrace hosts more casual diners looking for a unique culinary experience.
In either locale, expect to sample hearty European and contemporary American fare influenced by Chef Matthew Weingarten’s lifelong travels abroad. Chef and farmer are truly intertwined as one, with tasty dishes crafted from responsibly sourced ingredients often from local greenmarkets. Go ahead and enjoy your wood-fired pizzettes and lovely smoked appetizers alike without a twinge of guilt. Other sample fare includes: line-caught halibut, a farmstead cheese plate served with dried fruit, jams and chutney, as well as grilled local asparagus.
Inside Park at St. Bart’s is set apart not only with a unique location, but also with an elaborate design. Its beautifully ornate Byzantine elements strike a sharp contrast with the more modern neighboring office buildings. The inside dining hall is lit by 15-foot-high stained glass windows under a 30-foot-high ceiling canopy. And you’ll truly feel as if you’ve stepped back in time when you enter the courtyard where colorful umbrellas bloom above diners gathered as much to people-watch as they are to eat.
If you get the funny feeling that you’ve seen this place before, you just may have. It was the church where Dudley Moore was set to be married in the 1981 film Arthur. More recently in the 2010 film Salt starring Angelina Jolie, St. Bart’s serves as the backdrop for the Russian president while he delivers a eulogy.
Dine just once in the outdoor courtyard amongst the stars and movie stars – and you’ll see why St. Bart’s was referred to as a “jewel in a monumental setting.”
Inside Park at St. Bart’s
325 Park Avenue at 50th Street
New York, NY 10022
212-593-3333 or opentable.com for reservations
http://www.insideparknyc.com
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