New York City’s STRAND hotel unveils The STRAND Restaurant, an American bistro, a 115-seat venue with a sophisticated bar and lounge, featuring classic American cuisine at lunch and dinner and sure to shine in the landscape of New York restaurants. The STRAND is located at 33 West 37th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

The cool yet cozy scene is in total sympathy with the modern bistro menu prepared by a three-chef team comprised of veteran Executive Chef Greg Gilbert, Executive Chef Hector Tice of Manhattan’s acclaimed Black Duck Bistro and energetic Chef de Cuisine Kelvin Fernandez.

Chef Gilbert brings years of fine dining experience with him from notable kitchens throughout upstate New York and in New York City. Voted one of the top eight chefs in Westchester, Gilbert has received top-starred reviews in major media outlets, including The New York Times, as well as high praise from notable food critic Gerry Dawes who calls his cuisine “eclectic American beautifully presented, conceptually not over the top and, most importantly, delicious.” Prior to the STRAND he was chef de cuisine for Rick Moonen at Manhattan’s Oceana and at Crabtree’s Kittle House in upstate New York, which boasts the third largest wine cellar in the world.

Assisting Chef Gilbert will be Chef Fernandez who joins the STRAND team after working with Albert Portale at New York City’s esteemed Gotham Bar and Grill. He also earned the award as the youngest chef from CCAP at the age of 24 while executive chef at Antipasti in White Plains. Chef Tice, who helms the kitchen of The STRAND Restaurant’s sister eatery, Black Duck Bistro at the Park South Hotel, will act as a consultant on the ever-changing seasonal menus. Prior to wooing diners at Black Duck, Chef Tice worked in the kitchen under celebrity Chef Todd English at Manhattan’s Olives. He appeared at the James Beard House in 2009 where he received a standing ovation from the evening’s patrons.

Menu items will showcase fresh products sourced as locally as possible, both form land and by sea. Diners will enjoy lunch menus featuring smoked trout, east coast oysters, crisp duck leg confit, fried oysters, golden beet carpaccio, classic lobster rolls and roasted Japanese eggplant, among other items. Dinner selections include Alaskan king crab, sesame crusted tuna sashimi, mac and cheese, grilled Merquez sausage, seafood risotto, pan roasted chicken, steak frites or ginger marinated tofu.

The interiors of this urban bistro were created by renowned New York City designer Chris Smith whose projects have included Buddakan in Philadelphia, Nobu in Manhattan, and numerous hotels around the country. From the first step into the sophisticated, low-lit area, guests feel cocooned from the city outside. Why not try the four-person swing as you sip a pre-dinner cocktail? Or perch by the translucent fireplace in the library lounge with books selected by the Bistro’s resident Curator, many of which were purchased at the famous Strand Bookstore in Manhattan.

Perhaps the most stunning backdrop in the main dining room will be a 6 x 28 foot masterpiece entitled Hemaspora by San Francisco-based artist Rex Ray. A rising star in the world of art, Ray’s work features exuberant, joyful, colorful patterns with a laid back and slightly mischievous vibe. The STRAND Restaurant will feature his largest piece of work yet.

The STRAND hotel, which enjoyed a December 2009 opening, is a member of the Green Hotel Association and is a new, modern tower featuring 20 intimate floors housing 177 deluxe guest rooms and junior suites at 33 W. 37th St. just off Fifth Avenue. The hotel is the newest addition to the Atlantic Stars Hotels & Cruises portfolio which operates boutique hotel and cruising experiences in New York City, Newport, RI, Martha’s Vineyard, South Beach and the Caribbean.

Fresh and innovative guestrooms feature floor to ceiling windows framing Empire State Building views. The STRAND’s lobby with staircase of stone and glass and a two-story waterfall engages the ear and helps guests leave the city’s cacophony at the door. Fashion photographs from Conde Nast archives are found throughout the common areas and guestrooms and may be purchased.

The hotel’s rooftop lounge, Top of the STRAND, was recently named Best New Rooftop Lounge in NYC in New York Magazine’s annual Best of New York issue. The lounge features a retractable glass ceiling and walls—allowing guests to enjoy four seasons worth of Empire State Building views amid a private lounge ambiance. The lounge was designed by Lydia Marks, known most recently for creating the set designs for both Sex and the City movies. The Top of the Strand is open to both guests and the general public and features a full-service bar.