Gotham Magazine: New Plant-Forward Restaurant The Wesley Takes West Village By Storm
Gotham By Chandler Presson
Executive chef Santiago Astudillo, previously of Le Bernadin and Daniel, helms the restaurant with his vegetable-focused and produce-driven menu. Astudillo partners with Justin Cohen, founder of Mulberry Hospitality to bring the concept to life. General Manager Gabriel Maldonado, previously of Jean-Georges and Le Cou Cou, has curated a beverage program of fresh ingredients and locally-made spirits alongside a wine list of predominantly female producers to complement the menu. Maldonado brings extensive experience from his time at STARR Restaurants, where he opened Pastis, Electric Lemon and Veronika.
Expect to find delicious sharable small plates, such as fall kale with frisee, shaved fennel, Brussel sprouts, sweet potato, squash puree and hemp seeds on the menu. Other small plates highlights include the baby lettuce and fennel with persimmon, almond ricotta and jalapeño fennel vinaigrette, and the royal trumpet with garlic, thyme, basil and macadamia nut pesto. Entrees range from the artichoke pasta with saffron, cashew cream and toasted garlic to the Amish chicken, with roasted breast, braised thigh, white corn, shitake and swiss chard.
The beverage program complements the cuisine with health-forward ingredients such as vegetable juices, tea and other gut-conscious components. Cocktails include the Silencio Brutto, The Wesley’s take on an Aperol Spritz, with sparkling wine, Faccia Brutto, vermouth and carrot, and the Conniption with gin, mezcal, dry vermouth, celery juice and an absinthe spritz. The wine list is entirely composed of producers that are either vegan, organic/biodynamic and/or female-founded.
The food and beverage programs are served inside a gorgeously outfitted 60-seat subterranean space designed by Elmo Studios, with each of the three rooms embodying The Wesley’s health-oriented concept. Each room feels like a natural environment thanks to textural materials and organic elements. The bar, or “green room” features a dark charcoal limewash and a seven-foot living plant wall, cleansing guests of the hustle and bustle of NYC as soon as they enter. The nearby dining room, or “grain room” is treated with a honey-colored palette that transports guests to a wheat field on a sunny day. Warm limewash walls, a rattan ceiling, ochre velvet banquettes, organically shaped frames and an illuminated installation of dried grain all transform the senses. Lastly, the back dining room, or the “root room” gives off dark and moody vibes thanks to its velvet-draped walls and rich mahogany accents, for an intimate and secluded ambiance. Between the health-conscious yet delicious food, beverage program and design, The Wesley delivers an NYC dining experience that is not soon forgotten.
