A Long Island City restaurant recently launched with a grand opening hosted by TV personality Jax Taylor last week…but it’s still full of secrets and hidden spaces.
Located beneath the former Z Hotel, The Newsroom is “a realm of discreet allure,” according to its website.
To enter, patrons walk through Station Lounge, a chic new bar with an NYC subway feel. They stroll past a newsstand that conceals a secret behind the refrigerators. Then, they step through a door and into a dining room marked by mahogany, leather, and gold.
Mystery and opulence, too.
Let’s go back to the website: “This exquisite hideaway, balancing luxury and subtlety, serves as a sanctuary for discretion.”
It’s kind of like the speakeasies that proliferated during the Prohibition Era in the 1920s, expect the booze is prominent and the food is something to shout about. Celebrity Chef Ricardo Cardona, whose resume includes head chef for the New York Yankees, has fused Nuevo Latino and European flavors to create the menu.
Here’s a quick look.
Latin Dip: Turmeric and ginger hummus and white bean bacalao served with assorted chips.
Chickpea Dusted Sauteed Shrimp with a squid ink couscous in a spicy saffron red pepper sauce.
Ropa Vieja Croquette with Chipotle Guava Sauce.
Newsroom Paella: Latin/Spanish rice cooked in squid ink, pulpo, shrimp, clams, chicken, and herb sofrito.
Filet Mignon Taquitos: Fresh made herb tortillas and avocado corn salsa.
Triple Pork Pizza: Guanciale, bacon lardons, Spanish chorizo, pecorino, and mozzarella.
And here are some drinks.
The Front Page: Vodka, matcha, lemon, honey, and edible flowers.
Editors Punch: Cachaca, lime, orgeat, falernum, grenadine, and frankincense aroma.
The Interview: Mezcal, coconut milk, orange blossom water, and chocolate bitters.
Columnist Quencher: Gin, grapefruit-infused gin, maraschino liqueur vermouth, and hibiscus blossom.
Breaking Booze: Reposado tequila, cane syrup, cardamom bitters, and lemon zest smoked with applewood.
The Newsroom is located at 11-01 43rd Ave.…if you can find it.
Chef Cardona has a personal story to match his kitchen skills. He started as a dishwasher at age 15 in 1982, just after fleeing war-torn El Salvador. Within weeks, he was working with the chefs, and by age 18, he was at The Ritz-Carlton despite lacking formal training. A little more on-the-job learning, and now he’s working for Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and the Bronx Bombers.
Editor’s note: Multi-award-winning photographer Luciana Pampalone (immediately above) found the Station Lounge’s secret door to The Newsroom at the opening party on Sept. 28.