Daniel Boulud Unleashing Giant Restaurant in Giant Midtown Skyscraper

Famed chef-restaurateur Daniel Boulud has signed on to open a humongous new restaurant and private dining space in supertall Midtown skypscraper One Vanderbilt. Steve Cuozzo at the Post reports that the French culinary mogul will be taking over an 11,000-square-foot space in the tower, which is expected to open in 2020.

The restaurant run by Boulud’s company Dinex will be on the second floor at Vanderbilt Avenue and East 42nd Street, with more than 100 seats and at least 50 more for private events. An outpost of grab-and-go restaurant Epicerie will be on the ground floor, along with an 110-feet-high ceiling and “a bar that will seem to be ‘floating in space’,” according to the Post.

The developers on the project signed on to pay for most of the restaurant’s build-out, acting as a partner with Boulud. It’s the first time Boulud will be opening a restaurant in an office tower. No word yet on what kind of restaurant it will be, though Boulud says it will be “fine” and not Italian. Eater has reached out to the chef’s team and will update with further information.

One Vanderbilt has been blowing up in the press for being one of the tallest office towers in the city. At just over 1,400-feet-tall, the skyscraper will be the second tallest office building in the city, right after One World Trade. Besides offices, it will have have a public observation deck, a public plaza, and connections to the subway. So far, the only tenant besides Boulud is TD Bank.

It will be Boulud’s eighth restaurant in New York City. He owns a range of high end and casual full-service restaurants, ranging from two Michelin-starred Daniel to LES bistro DBGB Kitchen and Bar. His to-go market Epicerie Boulud has locations at the Lincoln Center, Plaza Food Hall, and the World Trade Center Oculus.

• Daniel Boulud to open a massive restaurant next to Grand Central [NYP]