Other Cities
Tree Bistro
The Scoop: A long, long time ago, long before Tree Bistro opened, long before he even moved to New York, Mark Kelly spent two years traveling the world, taking in history and sampling various countries' cuisines. Okay, so it wasn't really that long ago. But the guy was seriously living the life. So, after he tired of nomadic ways, planted some roots in New York and set out to assist his cousin, Colm Clancy (you starting to guess these guys' heritage yet?), in creating the kind of place they would want to hang out, it just made sense to work some of his international experiences into the menu. Especially since Colm already had his hand in the décor and beverage selection. (Hey, Mark had to get his two cents in there somewhere, right?) Lucky for you, their combined ideas are a match made in heaven and, between the quaint little interior, giant year-round backyard garden and entrees so reasonably priced they max out at $25, we swear you'll never want to leave. Sadly, you'll have to. But don't worry; you can always go back.
Scout Notes: The moment I set foot in Tree, I fell in love. The vibe is cool, but sophisticated, romantic, yet unassuming. The diverse menu of bistro food is drawn from the four corners of the world and re-imagined with Mark and Colm's own personal touches, the same way the comfortable décor was created: Family photos and mirrors from the pair's apartments join L.A.2 paintings and a few remaining slabs of concrete (painted with swirling flowers and buxom women) on the original, exposed brick walls. Half of a massive, faux barrel acts as a partition between the dining room and kitchen (proudly made by Colm with his own two hands, as is true for the sturdy wooden bar) and the pillow-clad, window-side table in the front acts as a perfect winter respite, just begging for a bottle of wine, steaming French Onion soup and some serious cuddling. No coincidence, I'm sure.
But before you get too comfortable, just keep walking. Head all the way to the back and you'll find the eclectically landscaped secret garden for which Tree Bistro is known. Sure, it's an oxymoron, but it doesn't make the space any less enchanting: bamboo fences surround the slate-ground patio and are illuminated by strands of hanging lights, while lush, colorfully lit ever-greenery grows up around more antique-framed mirrors and whimsical stakes. In the winter, the garden is enclosed in clear plastic and pumped full of heat, so you can stray from that cozy corner table even on the coldest of nights, but as warmer days approach (it's just a matter of weeks now), you can look forward to a billowy canopy and breezes that are as intoxicating as that second bottle of wine you just popped open. Of course, nothing goes better with a garden than internationally inspired bites (some of the best pairs weren't as obvious as PB&J, you know), the majority of which changes daily, based on seasonal availability and purveyor recommendations. For something you can count on, though, go for the Grilled Duck Confit Flatbread (Italian), Seared Salmon (Thai) or Scallops (Spanish) and you'll see how it feels to eat like Mark. Or at least like Mark circa 2005.
Menu Highlights:
House-Cured Charcuterie Board, $6 (1 piece) or $15 (3 pieces)
French Onion Soup, $9
Grilled Flatbred, $12
Seared Salmon, $20
Seared Scallops, $23
Hours:
Monday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday – Saturday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Sunday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Scout Notes: The moment I set foot in Tree, I fell in love. The vibe is cool, but sophisticated, romantic, yet unassuming. The diverse menu of bistro food is drawn from the four corners of the world and re-imagined with Mark and Colm's own personal touches, the same way the comfortable décor was created: Family photos and mirrors from the pair's apartments join L.A.2 paintings and a few remaining slabs of concrete (painted with swirling flowers and buxom women) on the original, exposed brick walls. Half of a massive, faux barrel acts as a partition between the dining room and kitchen (proudly made by Colm with his own two hands, as is true for the sturdy wooden bar) and the pillow-clad, window-side table in the front acts as a perfect winter respite, just begging for a bottle of wine, steaming French Onion soup and some serious cuddling. No coincidence, I'm sure.
But before you get too comfortable, just keep walking. Head all the way to the back and you'll find the eclectically landscaped secret garden for which Tree Bistro is known. Sure, it's an oxymoron, but it doesn't make the space any less enchanting: bamboo fences surround the slate-ground patio and are illuminated by strands of hanging lights, while lush, colorfully lit ever-greenery grows up around more antique-framed mirrors and whimsical stakes. In the winter, the garden is enclosed in clear plastic and pumped full of heat, so you can stray from that cozy corner table even on the coldest of nights, but as warmer days approach (it's just a matter of weeks now), you can look forward to a billowy canopy and breezes that are as intoxicating as that second bottle of wine you just popped open. Of course, nothing goes better with a garden than internationally inspired bites (some of the best pairs weren't as obvious as PB&J, you know), the majority of which changes daily, based on seasonal availability and purveyor recommendations. For something you can count on, though, go for the Grilled Duck Confit Flatbread (Italian), Seared Salmon (Thai) or Scallops (Spanish) and you'll see how it feels to eat like Mark. Or at least like Mark circa 2005.
Menu Highlights:
House-Cured Charcuterie Board, $6 (1 piece) or $15 (3 pieces)
French Onion Soup, $9
Grilled Flatbred, $12
Seared Salmon, $20
Seared Scallops, $23
Hours:
Monday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday – Saturday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Sunday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
