It will be your good fortune to dine at La Chine, the upscale Chinese restaurant that recently opened in a space long occupied by Oscar’s American Brasserie at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Picture tea in glass pots delivered on a silver platter; an elegant, fully stocked bar; and delicacies ranging from chicken “cloud” consommé to wokseared lobster.
As in any space – be it your mother’s kitchen or a palace – your surroundings will affect every mouthful. That’s why La Chine called in Studio GAIA, a Manhattan design firm, to create the perfect balance between time-honored motifs and contemporary details. The designers took a giant step away from the customary reds often used in Chinese decorating.
Put down your chopsticks and breathe it all in. The main dining room features round banquettes and a soaring gold dome; a mesmerizing handpainted mural in oil paint depicts still and galloping horses. Color cues – plush and sumptuous pearl-gray seating with carefully placed pops of a fresh-squeezed citrine color on cushions – add to the modern feel. The semi-private dining area is graced with laser-cut latticework, and the walls portray cherry blossom trees, a beloved image from China, reborn with ripe, gold-dusted blooms.
The Waldorf’s historic Art Deco elegance fuses nicely with the black lacquer accents and goldgilded paneling.
You will go to La Chine for the food and the surroundings – and linger for both.
Photography | Daniel Krieger
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