Michael White Rumored IN at Setai's Giant Midtown Resto

The chef has yet to confirm—we hear he's out of town—but multiple inside sources reveal that Michael White and his partner Chris Cannon have inked a deal to run all food operations in the Setai 5th Avenue. That means the dynamic duo will be running the 15,000 square foot 160 seat restaurant as well as all room service operations for the 57 story condo/hotel. The hotel's fact sheet does boast that the second floor restaurant will "compete with New York City’s finest, featuring a sophisticated, casual vibe and showcasing cuisine of the Mediterranean and Riviera." With White at the helm, that claim seems less of an exaggeration.

White and Cannon have mentioned before that they were looking for another project now that construction on the Soho trattoria is underway. And as The Cuozz and Ozersky have both noted recently, hotel properties are looking more and more attractive to chefs these days (please see The Breslin, Ma Peche, Locanda Verde, Faustina).

The hotel, which is related to the FiDi Setai in name only (the developers are different), is scheduled to open this November. And now potential condo owners have a new incentive to buy—that is if co-ed wet thermal areas didn't seal the deal already.
· Yet Another Glitzy 2nd Floor High End Resto for the Setai [~ENY~]
· White Determined to Make Soho Trattoria Authentic [~ENY~]