Resto, a laid back Belgian food restaurant crafted in New York signature style was opened in April 2007. This is a laid back popular gathering place with approachable but yet delicious comfort food that offers a great selection of Belgian beer. Resto, in French slang, means a casual restaurant, and this place is all about that. Casual dining, late-night bites, and weekend brunches made Resto a go-to place in Kips Bay. The man behind this project is the owner Christian Pappanicholas, and the people who give this place a soul are always friendly and knowledgeable staff that can help you pair the food with proper beer or wine. When it comes to wine, the list is focused on French, Italian and Spanish wines. The menu is focused on seasonal, local, and farm-fresh ingredients prepared using traditional French techniques. Signature dishes are large plates such as whole roasted pig, roasted lamb, and Cote De Boeuf. The dining room can accommodate 75 guests with 12 seats at the bar where you can also have a full dining experience. Next door to Resto is ‘The Cannibal’, and it is a retail beer and butcher shop.
Location: East 29th Street between Park&Lex
Working hours:
Lunch 12pm-4pm
Dinner 5pm-11:30pm
Brunch 10am-4pm
Resto is tucked away in Manhattan’s East Side Kips Bay, and it is proud to be a part of a great community. Kips Bay just steps away from Midtown’s rush; it combines historic old brick townhouses with new high-rise apartments, and the mixture is modern residential feel with a historic touch. Being close to waterfront Kips Bay offers great views on Brooklyn, and Queens which is great for a nice walk after rich dinner at Resto. You will surely enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and tranquility that comes with being next to the East River. Great Midtown location allows you to easily access the neighborhood from anywhere in town; you can even hop on foldable electric scooter and bee here in no time.
Reservations and delivery
Making a reservation is always good thing to do if you want to give us a visit, but walk-ins are more than welcomed. Selected tables are reserved for walk-ins only, but in any case bar can accommodate everyone who is either waiting for their reservation or is just waiting for table to open. When you are making a reservation make sure that your party is up to 18 people, in case you want to make a reservation of a larger group than you should do semi-private option for dining. Recently we hosted a group of 42 people that came right from the Europe where they visited all those places we all dream about: Paris, Barcelona, Split to Plitvice Lakes, Greece and who knows what else. As they told us, good old NYC food tasted better than ever!
If you decide to enjoy the food from the comfort of your home you are more than welcome to make an order for delivery. Please, keep in mind that it can take some time for the deliveries but there are efforts to make the delivery time shorter. Who knows maybe drones under $300 will making deliveries one day, but until then we politely ask you to be patient. In any case, the contact number is 212 685 5585.
Group Dinning and Large Format Feasts
Resto offers both semi-private and private options for dining. Private events can accommodate up to 80 people, and semi-private are available for 2 to 20 people. The main dining room is suitable for every occasion, and you can organize any kind of event regarding your needs and/or preferences. Dinner is $55 per person and plated dining is required for parties of ten or more. Price includes three-course menus with a selection of two appetizers, three entrees, and dessert. When it comes to the beverage, you have a large selection of Belgium beer, wine, and spirits. There are two options for the beverage package and their pricing is $35 and $65.
Large format feasts are available for 8 to 20 people, and you need to make a reservation one week in advance. What you get? You get three courses out of the whole, from head to tail. You get to choose from beef, pig, goat, and lamb. If you never had whole roast, and you have a special occasion, then large format feast is a perfect selection. There are also two options for the beverage package and their pricing is $35 and $65.
Nose-to-Tail
Resto offers a unique dining experience with Nose-to-Tail large-format feast. The principle is simple, you get to pick an animal from one of the local proven farms that Resto is working with, and after you have selected your animal Chef creates an elaborate nose-to-tail menu for you and your guests. This unique offer has been featured on the Food Network, Time Out, and Serious Eats. Resto team takes food seriously and every food supplier, in this case local farm, is carefully selected. Before selecting an animal you get quick brief about the farm, their principles, animal pedigree, and you can even see some nice picture and longest flying drone areal footage of the farm.
Meat and Beer
One thing needs to be clear; Resto is a meat lover’s paradise. Truth to be told if you are a vegetarian you will hardly find yourself pleased with the menu. Yes, there is a fish and seafood on the menu like char-grilled octopus or whole Loup de Mer (Mediterranean Seabass) for two, and there are vegetables but the menu is mostly based on meat, especially cow and pig. In some sort of way, Resto represents Christian Pappanicholas’s (the owner) love for Belgian beer, and you tell by the huge variety of beer selection. Resto’s lovely staff is well trained and knowledgeable when it comes to pairing beer with the food, and a lot of dishes are beer oriented and many of them are even prepared in beer. Taking all into the equation, and feeling a vibe of the place, you might say that Resto has elements of the gastropub.
Resto is honored to receive many great critical reviews. In 2014 Michellin Guide rated Resto as a recommended restaurant in New York City, New York Times honored Resto to be the best new restaurant in 2008, New York Times awarded Resto with two stars, and New York Magazine awarded four stars. Last but not least Resto Burger was voted as the number one burger in New York Magazine in 2008.