Butter Restaurant   

415 Lafayette St
New York, NY 10003
212-253-2828
www.butterrestaurant.com

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The Scene: The diet-conscious can rest assured: Despite the name, Butter isn't the only thing on the menu at this Soho New-American restaurant. Rustic and earthy -- yet far from crunchy -- Butter succeeds at creating a camping experience for the credit card set. Tree trunks (bark and all) act as swank lounge chairs when nestled up to padded, red leather banquettes; a grand, illuminated forest photo becomes a sort of virtual-reality wallpaper; and perfectly curved birch branches form the ceiling overhead. The seasonal menu served in both dining rooms features a selection of greenmarket ingredients such as lily buds, fava beans, and Chinese apples. Fish entrees appear often, and include items like sauteed skate with chanterelles, red wine and grapes, in addition to pan-seared tuna with sugar snap peas, lily buds and hoisin sauce. Spotted Here: While the upstairs dining room is reserved for quiet conversation amongst the trees, the downstairs area appeals to the 'TGIF' crowd with its darker decor and DJ spinning tunes into the early morning hours. The downstairs bar has catered to everyone from Diddy to J. Lo, and co-owner Scott Sartiano has romanced the likes of Lindsay Lohan and, most visibly, Ashley Olsen. Can I Get In? While the downstairs bar may be studded with celebs, it's not too hard to grab a table upstairs for dinner, after which you'll have a much better shot at making your way where the VIP tread.