Solly Assa: Elegance and Charm Intertwine at Butter Restaurant

Vibrant, yet peaceful; intimate, yet expansive — located in the bustling heart of Midtown, Manhattan, Butter is a delightful study in contradictions. The decor at this culinary gem provides diners with a welcome breath of fresh air and natural charm in a starkly modern city. Since its move uptown from its original location on Lafayette Street, this culinary gem has given its unique decor and unique atmosphere a polish. With a seasonal, greenmarket-centered menu and exclusive dining experiences that will please the needs of even its most discerning patrons, Butter is as equally suited to providing the perfect atmosphere for a romantic night out as it is for a casual evening at the bar. The restaurant's carefully-crafted design allows for a delightful natural flow: one that empowers visitors to choose a formal or casual dining experience as they prefer without ever losing that overarching quality of upscale exclusivity and comfort.

The main dining room is warmly appointed in polished wood: panels of red cedar, dark walnut, and silver birch grace the walls and compose the furnishings, tinging the restaurant with a drop of woodlands tranquility. An arched glass ceiling soars overhead, and a photo mural of a birch forest mantles the upper walls. The peaked atrium allows sunlight to filter down into the central space and brings an atmosphere of cheerful lightness to the long tables at its center. A polished bar stretches along one side of the area, offering informal visitors the chance to chat and relax; smaller groups can enjoy the companionship and comfort of a shared meal at the more intimate booths tucked into the opposite side of the room. Outside, a seasonal garden terrace appointed with a bar and a variety of outdoor seating options provides cocktails and light food to casual diners.

An ideal venue for those seeking a peaceful place to host their private events, Butter Midtown can readily accommodate bustling events, lunch meetings, cocktail receptions alike. The restaurant even hosts a room for private events. On the first floor, the private space boasts floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the charming greenery of the outdoor terrace and is perfect for corporate gatherings or secluded meals.

However, Butter's unique atmosphere and decor are far from the restaurant's only attractive qualities. Food Network personality and Executive Chef Alex Guarnaschelli has stood at the helm in Butter's kitchen for well over a decade and her dedication to crafting a delectable menu shows. When it comes to food, every dish is culinary and visual art: delicately composed and striking. Butter offers an evolving seasonal menu of upscale American cuisine defined by its high-end ingredients and greenmarket notes.

The culinary offerings are charmingly eclectic. Dinner guests can enjoy appetizers as familiar and comforting as gnocchi "mac and cheese" with melted p'tit basque and aged cheddar or as elegantly unique as seared Hudson Valley foie gras with roasted strawberries and sour cream cake. Chefs at Butter aren't afraid to take on ambitious dishes for their main-course diners: complex offerings such as the locally-sourced Long Island bass a la plancha with charred eggplant, tahini, butter, and roasted black sesame and 28-day aged tomahawk steak with spinach and scallion relish quietly dominate the large plate menu for the summer season. Beyond its impressive dinner options, Butter also offers more casual dishes for daytime diners, including the midday-only "Butter Burger" that comes served with Monterey Jack fondue, and a Sunday brunch buffet.

Those who come only for drinks will not be disappointed, either. Cocktails served at the central and garden bars range from tried-and-true to downright whimsical. Classic mojitos are made as expediently as the cleverly-dubbed "Beet it or Not:" a drink described on the menu as containing "Plymouth gin, muddled basil, house-made ginger syrup, fresh lemon, and a shot of fresh beet juice...(or not)". The star of Butter's drink offerings, however, is undoubtedly the Purple Paradise: a cocktail meant for two that melds hibiscus-infused absolut elyx with absolut citron, berry liqueur, shiso, yuzu, lemon, and prosecco.

Butter thrives at the base of the Cassa Hotel on 45th Street Tower on 45th Street in Midtown, within a ready walking distance from a variety of mass transit options and accessible via private car. It is open seven days a week: the restaurant offers lunch on weekdays from 11:30 AM until 3:00 PM, and serves dinner from 5:00 PM until 9:30 PM Mondays through Thursdays. Dinner continues for an additional hour on Fridays and is limited from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sundays. The terrace garden is open seasonally.

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Solly Assa is a seasoned investor and developer with over two decades of experience in high-end real estate. As founder and CEO of Assa Properties, Solly Assa spearheaded its rapid, successful expansion across North America, acquiring some 3 million square feet of real estate across the United States and Mexico.