Sceney Chinese Stalwart Philippe Opens a New Chelsea Outpost

Uptown Chinese hot spot Philippe today unveils a second location in Chelsea’s Dream Downtown hotel.

The Beijing-style restaurant brings its signature family-style dishes from chef Philippe Chow to 355 West 16th St., between Eighth and Ninth avenues, including Peking duck carved tableside; chicken satay; salt and pepper lobster; and green prawns with stir-fried vegetables, green chili, and cashews.

Showy dessert from pastry chef Terri Dreisbach includes baked Alaska topped with six colorful cotton candy adornments and then set on fire, as well as a Swiss meringue buttercream frosted dark chocolate pound cake with cotton candy, gelatin balloons, and a giant sparkler. Drinks run to globally sourced wines and Asian-inspired cocktails such as lychee martinis.

The 176-seat restaurant — slightly smaller than the 250-seat East 60th Street original — will offer a late night menu weekends, along with rotating DJs. A private dining room that seats 50 will also introduce a dim sum cart with such options as duck spring rolls and steamed dumplings.

Corbin Plays, who worked on the Bowery, Maritime and Ludlow hotels, designed the new subterranean space with a black onyx bar, mirrored staircase, gold leaf ceiling, gold fixtures, upholstered banquettes and red accents.

In its 15 years on the Upper East Side, Philippe has gained a reputation as a sceney spot that draws upper crust and celebrities. Merchants Hospitality — the group behind places like Treadwell Park, Industry Kitchen, and Ophelia Lounge — took over in 2013 with aggressive ambition plans that extend to Atlanta, Vegas, Los Angeles, and Miami, though nothing else has been signed.

The restaurant joins similarly clubby Asian restaurant Tao, located next door, which already pulls in a late-night fashion crowd who flock there and to the hotel’s other venues such as Bodega Negra and the Electric Room.

“It’s a very specific brand and needs to be in a very specific location,’’ Merchants Hospitality CEO Abraham Merchant says. “We hope to acquire some clients who have not been to the Upper East Side restaurant, who live downtown and are hesitant to cross 23rd Street. It’s also obviously good to be in a hotel because you have built-in traffic.’’

Philippe Downtown will serve lunch from noon to 3 p.m. and dinner Sunday through Wednesday from 5 p.m. until midnight, and Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Edward Menashy/Philippe [Official Photo]