Butter

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A New York Classic, Revisited

Butter has held its place in New York City's restaurant scene since 2002, when it opened on Lafayette Street as Executive Chef Alex Guarnaschelli's first restaurant at the helm. More than two decades on, it has relocated to Midtown and continues to draw a loyal following — a testament to the kind of cooking that earns staying power rather than just attention.

The Chef Behind the Kitchen

Alex Guarnaschelli, widely known as a Food Network star, built her reputation here before becoming a household name. At Butter, she channels that expertise into a seasonal American menu driven by what the greenmarket offers — meaning the food shifts with the seasons rather than settling into a fixed identity. It's a French-inflected sensibility applied to American ingredients: precise, considered, and rooted in produce rather than spectacle.

The Room

The dining room at Butter Midtown is designed to work for different kinds of evenings. High arching ceilings capped with a large-format nature scape give the space a sense of scale, while cozy booths pull the room back to something more intimate — well suited for a quiet dinner for two. An inviting bar anchors the space for those who want something less formal. The result is a room that doesn't force a mood on you.

Recognition Worth Noting

Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence reflects what regulars already know: the wine program at Butter is taken seriously. For a restaurant serving French-leaning American cuisine in the heart of Midtown, a well-curated list isn't an afterthought — it's part of the experience.

Lunch is available Tuesday through Friday; dinner runs Tuesday through Saturday.