Madison Square Park was once a culinary ghost town. Most restaurants in the area veered towards pizza joints and greasy delis. In the past five years, myriad dining establishments have made the Manhattan neighborhood their home. For diners looking for American cuisine in an over-the-top setting, look no further than DUO.
The NOMAD restaurant is a fashionista’s dream. Black, gold and silver are the hues of choice. Swarovski crystals and eight-foot paintings by artist Lauri Blank hang on the walls and the visual centerpieces are hand-painted, metallic ceiling columns and a seven-foot crystal chandelier. Tufted cream banquettes flank marble tables. The overall effect is one of decadence.
DUO likes to keep the interior lights dim but that doesn’t make looking at the menu difficult. The restaurant uses lights to illuminate the menus. A nice gimmick since you never have to strain your eyes to see the dish selection, but after a while, it can give one a headache. The menu features an array of classic American fare with a twist such as ahi tuna with a wasabi avocado mousse, braised veal osso bucco tortellini stuffed with spinach and ricotta and herb roasted rack of lamb with succotash. The steaks and fish tend to be the best bets. The grilled sweet shrimp roll fell a little flat and didn’t offer the punch we expected.
The restaurant debuted in July and has seen a steady stream of diners since then, mostly for dinner and lunch. The restaurant recently began serving brunch and Sunday dinner as well.
http://www.duonewyork.com/
72 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
