What could be better than dining in a top restaurant’s private dining room? How about dining in a private space designed by Phoebe Cates, actress, style icon, and owner of the posh gift store, Blue Tree?

Sfoglia, the popular Upper East Side Italian restaurant, has opened its top floor for private dinners. And to make sure that this space would truly be special, Adrien Martin, Sfoglia’s general manager, asked Phoebe Cates to help. Completing the work in only a month, Cates combined existing pieces from the restaurant’s furnishings, with carefully selected items from outside sources, her store, and her personal collection. The result is a dining space that is warm, cozy, romantic, welcoming, and totally unpretentious. Guests may forget they are in a restaurant, but feel like they are enjoying a special meal in someone’s home.

For Martin, the relationship between Sfoglia and Blue Tree seems natural. “In terms of restaurants, I don’t think there are a lot of restaurants in this neighborhood of the same caliber [as Sfoglia] and I would say the same about Blue Tree, in terms of stores,” she said. One evening when Cates and her husband, Kevin Kline, dined at Sfoglia, Martin approached Phoebe about collaborating on a project. “The next day I went to her store and told her that we had this private dining room and would really like it to resemble Blue Tree, or at least have some of the flavor of Blue Tree,” said Martin. Cates was enthusiastic and signed on to the project, bringing items to the restaurant from her store.

Working with a limited budget, Cates and Martin found that less was indeed more. Looking to cut costs, Cates decided to paint rather than refinish the room’s wood paneled walls. That lighter look casts a soft glow over the entire room, while also adding texture and interest to the walls. A large Venetian mirror dominates one wall, bracketed by inexpensive yet elegant looking candle sconces in the shape of fronds.

Underneath the mirror is a wire cage that often drew admiring glances when sitting in the window at Blue Tree. A large wooden table and 12 chairs dominate the room. Above the table are three large globe lanterns that once hung over the bar at Civetta, a downtown restaurant.

Cates has a talent for finding unusual items for her store, and she certainly created surprises within Sfoglia’s private dining room. Above the tiled fireplace, is a large black and white photograph showing men in Shanghai, gathered around a table, smoking. A smaller version is displayed in her Madison Avenue store, and sensing it would be perfect for the dining space, Cates asked the well known photographer Brigitte Lacombe, to enlarge the photo. Brass cranes from Blue Tree perch on the mantle, curiously staring up at the photo. Perhaps they are as intrigued as the diners at this choice of art.

The dining space was once an apartment so there is a private bathroom for the convenience of the guests. Cates selected a lovely Moroccan lantern for an overhead light fixture and interesting prints for the walls.

Martin said that several parties have already been held in the room, a thirtieth birthday party, several company dinner meetings, and other gatherings between friends. The guest list, because of the space, is limited to 12, and there are three different tiers of menus ranging in price to choose from. The chef, however, will work to accommodate special requests. There is also a room charge of $500.

The restaurant has not yet opened its book for May, traditionally a busy time in the neighborhood with graduations, engagements, religious celebrations, and other events. Those interested should book well in advance.

Sfoglia
1402 Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street
212-831-1402
www.sfogliarestaurant.com

Blue Tree
1283 Madison Avenue
212-369-2583
www.bluetreenyc.com