35th Street gets a mini renaissance with two new eateries

As a whole, the Garment District hasn’t got much to offer in the way of leisure, especially when it comes to anything culinary related. A few blocks south of the Port Authority and hovering near Herald Square, it seems there's not much to eat that doesn't involve $1 pizza, quickie lunch spots and questionable dives suitable for pre-MSG outings or weary commuters.

Things could be changing, as two newbies have set up shop this month on West 35 Street, a particualrly unscenic, uneventful (and some might say unsavory) strip, that promises to deliver more than just your standard wings and Amstel light.

The Gastro Bar on 35th
This new bar and restaurant is nestled inside the lobby of the equally new TRYP by Wyndham hotel, Wyndham’s modern city-centric line. The hotel itself, located on 35th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues (or, “Times Square South," as the hotel seems to have branded it) aims to appeal to social gen x and y'ers with its array of tech-savvy accoutrements (high-speed wireless, Google Chrome laptops and Google TVs, etc.). The Gastropub offers a twist on seasonal tapas for dinner, European breakfast during the day and a variety of international and domestic draft beers, Mediterranean wines and handcrafted cocktails, including organic options.

The Liberty
This bi-level, 5,000-square-foot newbie takes its decor inspiration from two of NYC’s most iconic rooms — the lobby of 30 Rockefeller Center and the Cloud Club in the Chrysler Building — and serves bespoke cocktails, a craft and vintage beer selection and a modern American menu from consulting chef Chris Siversen of Maritime Parc. Options include rock shrimp toast, grilled lamb ribs and mac ‘n’ cheese carbonara. The signature cocktail list includes retro offerings and draft beers from the Northeast, including Narragansett Light (the only NYC bar to serve it). (29 W. 35th St., 212-967-4000) 

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