FAENA NYC: LA BOCA REVIEW
- palaisapiim
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
IF CREATING YOUR OWN UNIVERSE WAS A SPACE…@LABOCAFAENA + @FAENANEWYORK IS JUST THAT! The experience starts long before you even walk on the red carpet and through the golden doors and float into what they call “The Cathedral”...Now lets back it up and paint the picture just as lovely as this space is painted. You begin in Chelsea NYC…I call it “the neighborhood of galleries” so you already have a salad of art, people from all around the world, families and such a fun walk just to get to the restaurant, right underneath of the @highlinenyc park near the piers and so many spaces to have many different experiences….
But no experience is quite like the Faena experience, Faena Universe, La Boca Restaurant which feels like Valentine's Day EVERYDAY. As you head over you are ready, prepared but still taken away when you walk into the doors with the most friendly souls, smiles and genuine energy to set you up for a lovely night ahead. Then, the entire Cathedral (what most hotels would call a lobby) is home to an overwhelmingly huge unique Diego Gravinese mythical mural featuring crystals, the flower of life, ethereal dream visions, plants, bursting colors and an arrangement that will make you forget where you are even going. Then to your right you have these massive gold stairs and ahead a rich red toned “Library” for guests to check in. It feels like you stepped into a portal, a different world, a wonderland that honestly doesn't seem real. This is a space that makes me want to dive more into writing, so I can convey the most amazing parts of life and give light to spaces with vision that both artists and guests can appreciate. Then we head down a vanity like white and gold mirrored way to La Boca. OH and on the way there is a space in the middle of the circular atrium with a golden hat engraved on the floor as a nod to the owner @alanfaena. If you stand in that spot and speak/sing your voice will be amplified like you are speaking into a microphone…That is just the beginning of the small magical moments, mirrored illusions and theatre this place has to offer. One word for La Boca…!ELECTRIC! Lets start with the fact that the space is like a surreal, valentine, romantic, artistic, lucid dream that can only be felt. This description does no justice. From the red roses to upbeat fun energy floating through the space, the variety of tango/jazz bands that play EVERYDAY at 8 so don't be late, this space distinguishes itself as a place you can literally stay in FOREVER. The coolest space in my world is my very own but this may be an extension of that. Everything is custom, made JUST for this space and curated to rich perfection. The space is bold, not afraid of prints, textures and multiple colors but it all works together to make it even more of its own world. The tables by Frank Pollaro, Lights by Alberto Garutti, Las Monas + Una Pantera by Edgardo Gimenez, Keith Haring Mural in the living room AND MORE is the epitome of uniqueness. It felt like if I had unlimited resources… I designed it myself. The ethos, clouds and whimsy energy, gold, works together, maintains class and a cohesive story that invites the guests to explore. Even better, THE! TEAM!
We were greeted one smile, one compliment, one gesture, one story at a time with this team. It is clear that there is comradery, fun, laughs, stories only they know, information, liveliness and commitment to giving the best service even under pressure. We received descriptions of the background, dishes, fun facts and attentive service only the best can offer. You can tell the team developed rapport, friendship, flow and respect.
LET'S TALK TO MENU! We started with Champagne On Arrival, The Scallops with a SWEET glaze carmelized Endives & glazed balsamic, A warm Bread Basket + fresh butter, Tuna Crudo on Sourdough with a light garlic tomato sauce, Crispy Charred Artichoke with a rich sesame yogurt + gremolata sauce (an unexpected but great pairing), Creamy and Buttery Wild Mushroom & Truffle Tagliettini, Lobster Ravioli with so much flavor and a surprise sweetness, The Best Quality Steak Chimichurri Potato Tower and Birthday Dessert Compliments for my cousin!! I will come back for team alone but the food was poetry for tastebuds as well….Netflix Chef, @francismallmann is behind the colorful, charred, a la plancha style, rich, saucy, Argentinian with an Italian collaborative menu…focused with a twist from his home, Patagonia, adding more flavor to NYC. As a Native American, his style of cooking stood out on @chefstableofficial, the passion was felt and the open fire cooking will remind anyone of home. The food tastes just as balanced, electric, unique, colorful, rich in culture, integrity in preparation and romantic as the ambience. Mr. Faena grew 40,000 roses on the beach in Puerto Madero to exhibit that all is possible, took the vision to Miami and is now a part of an NYC Timeless Love Note you wake up and question if it even happened in the first place…It is hard to give anyone nowadays…especially a New Yorker something they will never forget, but La Boca did just that!
This night was a reunion, celebration and a moment to simply be GIRLS! We shall keep this space as a staple, escape and portal into a space that makes us let go, be curious, eat well, be inspired and leave with at least 3 stories and more sources of laughter for the road. This is another NYC opening that only those who are on the team understand how much discipline it takes to pull this off and keep spreading the energy in a positive direction. Hospitality is at its best here through whatever challenges they may have faced upon building this space. Continue to make it special as you are team! Sending love to our Host Emily, Server Leidy, Somm Andrew, Manager Mary, Izzy, Maria, Daniel and the entire team! All hearts and hats off to you.
Sincerely,
-#Shay Darling
#LABOCA#FAENANYC#LASMONAS#NYCHospitality#FineArt#FineDining#DarlingAndDollys#MaitreDiaries#FIVEHEARTS
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