Aquavit Axes Main Dining Room, Moves Business to Cafe

Some changes to report at well-reviewed, 24-year-old Midtown Scandinavian restaurant Aquavit. Swedish born chef Marcus Jernmark is now a partner, but perhaps more notable is that the operations from the main dining room space have been moved to the front cafe area. This change brings the total number of seats to 52, not counting the bar.

During dinner, a four course and seven course menu will be available, and at lunch, a three course prix fixe will be offered in addition to a la carte dining. The front space has been redesigned with some contemporary elements, and the back room is now a PDR.

This move doesn't necessarily come as a surprise: last year, in his two-star review, Sam Sifton remarked that, "Aquavit’s dining room can be somewhat lonely these days, only a little more than half full at peak hours." Closing off half of your dining room is never a great sign, but hopefully this restructuring will keep the restaurant going — it certainly has its fans.
· All Coverage of Aquavit [~ENY~]
[Photo: Evan Sung]