Michelin Adds This New UES Restaurant To Coveted List

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Michelin Guide — the true arbiter of fine dining and the crown jewel of the Michelin tire company — added a recently opened Upper East Side restaurant to its growing list of critic-approved eateries.

Marcel, the continental restaurant on the first floor of Sotheby's new flagship location at the Breuer Building on Madison Avenue and East 75th Street, was one of 15 New York City restaurants added to its directory this week.

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Inclusion on this list means that Marcel is being considered for the organization’s Bib Gourmand or coveted stars.

Marcel, named for the architect of the landmarked building, Marcel Brueur, opened in April of this year. The French-leaning continental restaurant is designed by the team behind La Mercerie, which serves inventive French food in SoHo.

The menu includes an inventive "Que Voulez-vous?" section, which allows diners to choose between filet, onglet, côte de boeuf, turbot or salmon, prepared to order with a selection of six different sauces.

Michelin critics wrote that the restaurant is an "elegant Uptown counterpart to La Mercerie" with a menu that "leans heavily into French café and brasserie classics."

For the uninitiated, the Michelin Guide is the international dining review organization that periodically hands out coveted awards to the most delectable and refined eateries in the world.

"A roast beef tartine with cornichons and dressed greens channels the spirit of a Left Bank café, while omelets, steaks au poivre and escargots round out the offering," the critics wrote. "Desserts, including warm madeleines, shouldn't be skipped."

On the dessert menu, there's also a succulent-looking Baba au rhum, topped with fresh whipped cream and a cherry.

The new restaurant is owned and designed by Stephen Alesch and Robin Standefer, who also own an architecture and design firm called Roman and Williams, Patch previously reported.

The team has also designed the Boom Boom Room, Le Coucou and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's British Galleries — all famous New York City establishments known for cinematic interiors. The restaurant at Sotheby's is the duo's second proprietary establishment.

Michelin has not yet announced when — or where — the awards ceremony will be. Last year's ceremony took place in November in Philadelphia.

This is a developing story and will be updated. For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.