Tomorrow, the blokes behind Highlands open their second venue, Mary Queen of Scots, in the old Allen & Delancey space. Owner Brain McGrory describes it as a French-style brasserie with a “touch of Scottish royalty” (Mary was queen of Scotland and France, after all). That means executive chef Will Hickox (also of Highlands) and his sous-chef Frederico Ribeiro (El Bulli) will use Scottish produce, and the halibut that’s prepared en papillote comes from the Isle of Gigha.
Similarly, a classic French wine list will be matched with a list of over 300 Scotch and malts. And Marcie Franckowiak’s cocktail list is bilingual, too: the French 175 uses Scotch and is served in what’s described as a Marie Antoinette glass, and another drink combines Scotch with lillet Blanc. As with predecessor Allen & Delancey, there’ll be a serious bar program here, manned by the likes of Jim Kearns (Rye House, the Standard, Freemans, Mayahuel), TJ Lynch (Spotted Pig, Rusty Knot, the Breslin), Jay Zimmerman, (Standard, Breslin), and Nate Dumas (Pegu Club, Clover Club).
Click through our slideshow to see what’s been done with the Allen & Delancey space, including dandelion wallpaper from Timorous Beastie (apparently the flower is often used to represent Mary Queen of Scots) and tufted banquettes from Lochcarron, the tartan producer that has supplied Vivienne Westwood and the late Alexander McQueen. The bar-restaurant is open from Monday through Sunday from 6 p.m. till 2 a.m., and there’ll be a weekend brunch starting at 11 a.m.
Mary Queen of Scots Menu [PDF]
Mary Queen of Scots, 115 Allen St., nr. Delancey St.; 212 460 0915
