Lincoln Center Presents: Benno's Lincoln

The new Lincoln at 142 W. 65th Street (courtesy Eater NY)

It is not often that a new restaurant opens in the summer in New York City. For one, a large scale high-end project can be risky during a time when many outdoor cafes and niche restaurants are bustling with the summer crowd.

However, fear did not seem to stop former Per Se chef, Johnathan Benno, from creating his Italian inspired Upper West Side restaurant, Lincoln. Although, $20 million and a Lincoln Center backing helps to squelch much of that fear. Opening on September 24th
, the new addition to the Lincoln Center renovations will host its official launch.

The grand scale kitchen for Benno's Italian fare

The new restaurant excites many for a number of reasons. Besides the daring timing of the open, the sheer grandiosity of the project has attracted theater-goers and restaurateurs alike. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro the minds behind the High Line and soon to be transformed Governor's Island, Lincoln includes a 60 by 17 foot open kitchen, sloping grass roof and glass walled exterior.

Downstairs casual dining at Lincoln

The 115 seat fine dining area upstairs will connect to the casual downstairs dining area. Benno and Lincoln Center reached the agreement to make the restaurant easily accessible to varied audiences. While the main dining area upstairs will hold private dining rooms and a fine dining atmosphere a la Per Se, the downstairs will be for those looking for a quick pre-theater meal. In addition to the main dining areas, Lincoln will also have a lounge, bar and outdoor seating overlooking a reflecting pool.

Slanting rooftop and public space nearby reflecting pool

As one of New York City's only freestanding restaurants, the exterior is equally as impressive as its interior design. A 10,000 square foot green roof starts at zero and slants upwards to 23 feet. This will be the public space component of Lincoln for picnics and outdoor events. The renovated pavilion as a whole includes benches along 65nd Street with video screens and a grove.


While the verdict is still out on the menu at Lincoln since it has yet to be seen, the idea of the former chef at a decidedly French restaurant taking on Italian cuisine is just icing on the cake of the new attraction.  Fashion Week party guests were given a taste of what may be to come  with  olive balls stuffed with sausage, prawns wrapped with speck and caponata. The style as a whole will be inspired Italian as a whole versus many regional Italian restaurants. Whether Benno and the large scale project will succeed overtime is yet to be foretold but he sure is doing well staying on top of the massive hype for now.