New York City: URBO (March 2016)

My spouse and I enjoyed drinks and dessert at URBO on a Sunday afternoon in early March 2016. We had eaten our main lunch meal elsewhere, but we wanted to stop at another restaurant to complete the last course of our meal. URBO opened in the summer of 2014, and is owned by a Russian businessman who also owns over 70 restaurants in Moscow and St Petersburg. The restaurant name is a combination of “URban” and “BOhemian”.

URBO is open daily for lunch (or brunch), and dinner. Connected to the main dining area is URBO Grind, a coffee and pastry shop that features its own street entrance. Also included in the restaurant space is URBO Supply, which offers foods and kitchen implements for your home.

This Times Square area restaurant (located diagonally from the 8^th Street entrance to the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42^nd Street) features 26,000 square feet spread over multiple stories. Old subway tiles, reclaimed wood, marble counters, and hanging bulbs decorate the main space, although the custom-made water tower and the circular flaming grill are definite focal points. The many open kitchen areas (the restaurant claims five different restaurant and retail concepts) are a unique feature, and include Fire (grilled and roasted on the open fire pit), Water (poached and steamed food), and Earth (seasonal). A sushi bar is also available. The second floor (reached by either a spiral staircase, regular staircase, or elevator) hosts Bar URBO (open in the evenings) and URBO loft (a private event space).

URBO serves American food such as brick-oven flatbreads, salads, burgers, sandwiches, and composed entrees, as well as sushi, sushi rolls, and sashimi. The dessert menu (subject to change) included some unique dishes like gianduja panna cotta, rum baba, and pineapple napoleon. Chef Bill Peet graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, and has worked previously at New York restaurants such as Lutece, Aretsky’s Patroom, Asia da Cuba, 44, and Café des Artistes.

If you are looking for a restaurant in the Times Square area, do not overlook URBO. The interior space is unique, and the menu seems to offer something for every taste and budget.