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monday 07.16.07
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| .nightout: buddakan, apt |
The Meatpacking District is a carnival of hip, young singles on the weekends, but go on a weekday night and you can enjoy a romantic evening for two in this chic part of town.
twoDINE: Buddakan
Buddakan is one of the newest additions to the Meatpacking restaurant scene, and since it opened last year has been rated one of the best in the city. Modern Asian cuisine is served amid a rich, sensual decor inspired by Chinese, Parisian, and industrial New York style.
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The grandiose 16,000-square-foot space seats 320 people and features an opulent, chandelier-lit dining room with a large communal table. There are also several intimate dining areas and a private room called The Golden Library--its glowing walls appropriately lined with golden books. Reproductions of Renaissance Bacchanal paintings hang next to Buddha icons, gilded mirrors, and traditional Chinese screen windows.
Executive Chef Michael Schulson has created an equally beguiling mix with a menu influenced by Chinese and South East Asian fare. Try the deliciously creamy Edamame Dumplings, the Sizzling Short Rib with Mushroom Chow Fun, or the superb Mao Poe Tofu with chili peppers and mixed pork.
Buddakan: 75 9th Avenue; (212) 989-6699
twoDRINK: APT
You'll feel like you've stumbled into the exclusive party of some privileged stranger at this voyeuristic two-story bar. APT is designed to resemble a luxurious downtown loft, with inviting sofas, a dinner table, a plush bed, a wet bar, and an open kitchen. In the recessed library, photographs and an eclectic mix of books and magazines hint at the identity of its missing occupant, Bernard. Downstairs, a DJ spins to the trendy crowd in a wood-paneled basement with a warmly lit bar, but we suggest you find a quiet nook upstairs, order a bottle of Bernard's favorite Bordeaux, and toast your mysterious host.
APT: 419 West 13th Street; (212) 414-4245
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