5. Personalizing the space as well as the menu
Each restaurant on the tour boasts design elements that reflect the concept. Marchesa’s old- world charm was evident not only in the dining room, where the menu focuses on Italian, Spanish and French dishes, but in the downstairs bar and wine cave, carved out of a former speakeasy and filled with romantic flourishes.
Twenty-five-thousand-square-foot Punch Bowl Social has a retro diner vibe, with booths and kitschy accessories, while Gideon Sweet’s white brick walls are adorned with abstract murals to mirror its arty small-plates menu. HaiSous and Sushi-San are both sleek and contemporary in design with open kitchens and chefs’ counters, highlighting that the technique and preparation is as important to the dining experience at these spots as the finished dish.