When restaurateur Luke Fryer set out to reinvent the typical Thai restaurant in New York City, he called in London-based designer Martin Brudnizki. “Luke was familiar with our work for Cecconi’s in Los Angeles and Le Caprice in New York and wanted us to bring a dash of uptown glamour to his downtown project,” says Brudnizki of his latest, Betel, in the West Village.
The historic neighborhood and location provided much of the design inspiration. “We were given a beautiful raw space with exposed brick walls, which became the base for the rustic chic atmosphere we created,” he says. “Though Betel was always expected to become a city-wide destination, we also wanted to make sure that the interior design worked in harmony with the West Village, which is home to many little cafés and brasseries and has a distinct neighborhood feel.”
One of Betel’s design achievements is offering a variety of dining experiences in its relatively small, 1,120-square-foot space. The long, zinc-topped bar showcases signature cocktail ingredients against an antique mirrored glass on the back bar. (The reverence for ingredients is fitting as the restaurant’s name is derived from the betel leaf, a key ingredient in Thai cooking.) Adjacent to the bar is a long yet narrow communal table, set at bar height; more traditional banquettes line the window wall, which opens to the sidewalk in warm weather; a 14-seat reclaimed wood communal table is ideal for larger groups; and tucked behind the bar is an intimate, 20-seat cocktail lounge complete with sumptuous low-level banquettes, rough wood oak walls with inset mirrors, and a ceiling-spanning red silk chandelier.
And the 55-seat restaurant retained the weathered look of the 19th century building in which it’s housed. Distinctive hexagonal concrete floor tiles are similar to those found in city parks, seating finishes are dark maroon leather, metal, and dark wood, walls of existing aged brick are highlighted with suspended tea lights, and a dark maroon gloss-painted ceiling provides a perfect backdrop to the soft light glowing from custom silk pendants.
Says Brudnizki: “The restaurant has become exactly what we hoped it would be-a local favorite for West Village residents, and a draw for adventurous diners from all over New York City.”
