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Simon & the Whale

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A Look Inside Gramercy’s Newest Restaurant With Warm West Village Vibes

Simon & the Whale, from restaurateur Gabriel Stulman, is now open in the Freehand Hotel

Gabriel Stulman is the neighborhood restaurant specialist — but for the most part, his restaurants have until now been quarantined to tiny spaces in the West Village like Fairfax, Bar Sardine, and Joseph Leonard. Here at Simon & the Whale, though, the restaurateur’s eclectic addition to the new Freehand Hotel in Gramercy, the neighborhood restaurant vibes are alive and well, albeit in a much larger space located at 23 Lexington Avenue, between 23rd and 24th streets.

Designed by commonly used firm Roman and Williams, Simon & the Whale is awash in the aesthetic favored by au courant restaurants: warm woods, glowing lights, gold and brass details, and blue tones, especially on the banquettes. Tables spread throughout a few small, connected rooms seat 62, while the bar fits an additional 18.

Customers at those tables will dine on globally-influenced dishes such as a Japanese-flavored black bass crudo with shiso, puffed rice, and coconut milk to the more Italian pork collar milanese with aioli, apricot, and arugula. The full menu is here.

Simon & the Whale
Clockwise from top left: Black bass crudo, squid confit, lamb carpaccio, and sunchoke pasta

Simon & the Whale, which joins all-day restaurant Studio and cocktail bar The George Washington Bar, is now open Sunday through Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Simon & the Whale
A view of Simon & the Whale’s shiny wooden bar with Art Deco lighting and shelves lined with bottles of liquor.
The wood-filled dining room at Simon & the Whale
Simon & the Whale
Simon & the Whale
Simon & the Whale
Simon & the Whale

Freehand Hotel

23 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10010

Simon & The Whale

23 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10010 (212) 475-1924 Visit Website
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