Let Them Eat Steak!

With the opening of UNION PRIME at 9 East 16th Street comes the newest NYC restaurant bringing together steak and ladies. Designed by the legendary Carleton Varney, UNION PRIME evokes a bold glamour that it's patrons are sure to enjoy. Varney is the President and Owner of the iconic Interior Design firm Dorothy Draper & Co. For those of you who are not aware, Ms. Draper could easily be considered the founder of the Interior Design industry. She opened her own firm (which was the first of it's kind) in 1923 and had over 40 years of success in the business. She was known for her signature "cabbage rose" chintz paired with bold stripes, ornate moldings and intricate mirror frames, all of which are present in Varney's design.

Take a look:

A silver antique Butler's cart greets you at the entry.

Dining Room and bar. I love the bow detail woven into the pendants above the bar.

The Zebra wood below the antique metal (possibly zinc?) bar top is a nice and unexpected touch.

Large scale roses on black walls and painted scroll work on red. Very chic.

The bold black and red stripes add some masculinity to the space and tie in the black and red Rose motif throughout. Another masculine detail I'm quite fond of are the upholstery tacks on the dining chairs. (Sorry, I didn't get a good picture of those.)

The palm ceiling fixtures are very "Old Hollywood Glam".

Ornate framed mirrors. Part of the "Draper Touch".

So if you're in the mood for a rugged steak with a refined attitude UNION PRIME should be your next stop. Enjoy the signature drinks, steaks, sushi, and modern glamour with your girlfriends. Varney has done a fabulous job of channeling Dorothy Draper through a contemporary vein and I have a feeling the Queen of Interior Design would be quite pleased!