THE CLOCKTOWER

The Restaurateur Club’s visit to The Clocktower was one to remember. The Michelin star restaurant’s staff greeted us graciously, and showed us through the four elaborate dining rooms to our table in the Old New York room. The ambiance there was a nod to the history of the building in which the restaurant sits, the original Metropolitan Life building, and the vigor of the city that bustles around it. Framed pictures covered the walls from chair rail to ceiling, full of famous faces and historic moments, illuminated by the warm glow of a structured chandelier. The meal’s soundtrack was the excited chatter of diners like us, who had come to experience a Michelin-approved meal.

The chef chose for us to indulge in some starters to share, and a range of entrees perfected for weekday luncheon. Club members agreed that the Brooklyn burrata (with crispy vegetables, English walnuts, and blackberry-plum gelée) and duck leg with roasted peach dishes were easy favorites. When main courses arrived, servers poured pools of sauce to complete the dishes at the table.

After the meal, the restaurateur club had the privilege of speaking with General Manager James Horn. As the main coordinator for all Clocktower operations, he has a clear view of the restaurant’s vision, and we could tell that his goal was to lead with lighthearted refinement. It was clear that his composed but humorous disposition had guided him to a natural passion for hospitality. James told us plainly that The Clocktower’s response to the Michelin star would be to take it as a sign that they had been doing something right; therefore, he did not direct any big changes. They would continue to make sure that the dining experience within their four dining rooms was the best possible. The star was an honor that had, he reported, encouraged more business and focused the staff.

James helped open the restaurant in 2015. He encouraged the decision to focus on décor in chef Jason Atherton’s first New York restaurant, to ensure a curated dining experience that guests could not find anywhere else citywide. Each dining room has its own theme: Old New York, Actors, Musicians, and the Billiards Room. The walls of each, James explained, was adorned with photos according to each theme and special lighting design to illuminate the most important elements. The central light fixtures, the billiards room, and the small tables give the restaurant a modernized feel of an English pub, alluding to the famous chef’s British sensibilities. The Restaurateur Club, honored to have visited this Michelin star restaurant, offered our congratulations to the staff.