Villanelle Restaurant Brings New American Cuisine Designed To Enlighten The Senses

Villanelle (noun): a form of Italian part-song originating in Naples in the 16th century, in rustic style with a vigorous rhythm, often sung by country troupes for the city’s nobility.

New York City restaurant Villanelle offers the bounty of the countryside with its New American dishes designed to enhance the dining experience.

“My husband and I are avid restaurant goers and really interested in global cuisines,” owner Catherine Manning says of opening Villanelle, her first restaurant venture. “It was always something that was, of course, just a romantic notion of having a restaurant.”

The eatery opened in 2017 in its home of Greenwich Village. In addition to creating elevated New American cuisine by offering seasonal, local and sustainably sourced ingredients, the restaurant also boasts a curated wine list and imaginative cocktails.

“If you look at like our logo, it has an audio graph effect because I always think when you go to a restaurant, it’s more than the food,” Manning says. “It’s about the experience, it’s about the conversation with your friends, it’s about the entertainment value of it.”

The fall dinner menu boasts New Zealand red deer loin, arctic char, roasted duck breast, pappardelle, kohlrabi, scallop crudo, macerated brussels sprouts, roasted beets and more. The kitchen is helmed by Antonio Lacan. According to Manning, “our motto is ‘less is more.’ We believe that local, seasonal and sustainably raised ingredients and products deliver the best-tasting dishes.”

Regarding the seasonal wine list, imbibe on Domaine Pierre Martin Sancerre Chavignol, Domaine Houchart Côtes de Provence Rosé, Hardin Cabernet Sauvignon, Hebrart Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut and more. Creative cocktails include Date Night (pisco, date, lime juice, demerara and orange bitters), Perfigtion (vodka, fig, red wine, lemon juice and egg white), Bourbon Cobbler (bourbon, lime juice, apple, honey, cinnamon and angostura bitters white) and Maiden’s Gown (pomp and whimsy, rye, stone fruit, lime, velvet and egg white). Manning adds that the cocktails are crafted based on what is available in the kitchen and what is highlighted on the menu. Villanelle also features a small but robust beer list.

Manning says the sleek look of Villanelle is Danish modern inspired. Once inside, the guests are met with an elegant, minimalist, clean atmosphere. The restaurant also boasts a welcoming outdoor garden that features greenhouses for those who would rather stay inside while also getting the outdoor experience.

Indeed, Villanelle proves to provide guests with a delightful dining experience, one that offers seasonal, local and sustainably sourced ingredients, an impressive wine list and hand-crafted cocktails that, when combined, offer an experience that enlightens the senses.

Villanelle

15 E. 12th St.

New York, NY 10003

212-989-2474