Craft New York

Forty-three East Nineteenth Street once held a radical idea for American fine dining. When chef Tom Colicchio opened Craft in March two thousand one, he departed from the maximalist trends of the era by stripping away the flourishes and garnishes typical of high-end menus. Instead, he organized his list around primary ingredients—meat, fish, mushrooms, or potatoes—and allowed diners to build their own plates. The restaurant’s name itself referred to the raw materials found in its design, such as stone, wood, and bronze, mirroring the minimalist approach he brought to his kitchen.