bar Q

Just because the warm weather has fled doesn’t mean that al fresco dining is gone, too. Well, at least not entirely.

Tucked in the back of chef Anita Lo’s West Village restaurant, bar Q, is a striking, enclosed atrium designed by Hiromi Tsuruta that seats up to 40 diners. Lo (of acclaimed Michelin-starred Annisa) has long been known for fusing Asian and American flavors. Here, she enlivens a quintessential American staple – barbecue – with Far Eastern flavors all in a chic, white-on-white minimalist setting.

“The food is fun,” explains Lo. “It’s Asian-style barbecue but with a little sophistication that can work for either a very casual event or a more formal one.”

In addition to such barbecue entrees as Grilled Shortrib with Korean Flavors or Grilled Shrimp with Tamarind, Roasted Yellow Pepper and Chili, bar Q has a great raw bar featuring classics like raw oysters and clams as well as sashimi and creative maki rolls. Exotic cocktails like the Cocktail Q (Poire Williams, Sake, and Elderflower) or the Margaret Lo (Kaffir Lime Margarita with a Chili Salt Rim) named for Lo’s sister, complement the eats. Lo will also work with clients to create customized menus for events.

Renting out the enclosed garden starts at about $120 per person (depending on the day of the week and menu options) and includes the use of the space for the entire evening. For larger events, a complete buyout of the restaurant is a possibility, accommodating up to 128 seated guests.

But, if you’re holding out for true outdoor dining, you’ll have to wait until April when bar Q’s outdoor patio seating for 28 (adjacent to the enclosed garden) will reopen.

bar Q is located at 308-310 Bleecker Street (near Grove Street), New York. To host an event at the restaurant, contact Jorge Salamea at 212-206-7817.

Lauren Shockey is a food writer who has contributed to publications including The New York Times Magazine, Gastronomica, Brides and ELLEgirl.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Bar Q