Doubling as a spot that will host art exhibits and live jazz and classical music, new Hamilton Heights restaurant L'Argot couldn't have found a better location.
Nestled in a narrow space at 142 Hamilton Place a few blocks up from Alexander Hamilton's historic home, it's also right across from a plaza named after legendary jazz singer Johnny Hartman. Or as the restaurant's Facebook page puts it, "Tucked in between Hamilton and Hartman, the founding father who inspired the greatest musical ever and the most romantic voice in jazz."
Behind the vision for the restaurant are Moises Tenesaca and Daniel Schnyder, two local partners who, it should come as no surprise, have backgrounds in food and music, respectively. The former has ties to local Mexican eatery Picante and the now-defunct Amsterdam Social, while the latter is a well-known composer and musician who lives nearby.
The menu, still undergoing tweaks, is "new American" with French, Argentinian and Swiss touches (mmm: Appenzeller rösti, a potato pancake with melted Swiss cheese). L'Argot also offers wine and a separate cocktail menu that matches the ambition of the long bar taking up most of the space. (L'Argot plans to have outdoor seating in the summer.)
While the space is snug, it just means there will no bad seats in the house when the live music begins. And, yes, visitors can expect performances by Schnyder, a classically-trained saxophonist.
