Butter's dining room is beautiful and airy, with high arched ceilings and a giant back-lit photo of a birch forest. Though sentinels guard the door, the decor is almost enough to reassure you that this is a serious restaurant. Service is warm and knowledgeable, if at times forgetful.

The American menu features a laundry list of trendy ingredients. Standout entrees include delicious grilled ostrich with polenta, white asparagus and bone marrow. In other cases, a showy effect detracts from an otherwise fine dish: Olives, for example, diminish the flavor of perfectly grilled mackerel, and sea bass is overwhelmed by garlic.

Address:     See Map
415 Lafayette Street
Btwn W 4th St & Astor Place
New York , NY   10003
Phone: (212) 253-2828