La Bistecca
Hotel lobbies are great for a limited number of things: picking up lonely travelers, waiting around impatiently for a taxi, ringing that little bell over and over even when the guy is standing right there. And now, eating steak, thanks to La Bistecca.
Bistecca's a new Italian steakhouse moving into the jaw-droppingly majestic former lobby of the Downtown Biltmore, adding a massive rose marble fountain and seating for up to 70 people to the space's three-story vaulted ceiling with hand-carved wood beams, Italian travertine stone walls, and bronze and crystal chandeliers so monstrous, they'll attract Mothra. Running the show're a native Sicilian who's worked at La Terza and a former Il Buco chef, cooking up bone-in rib eye, slow-roasted prime rib, NY strip, t-bone, filet, or veal chops, each of which's served with your choice of sauce (marinated porcini bearnaise, Borolo wine, etc) and side, including truffle parmesan fries, brussels sprouts w/ pancetta, and funghi trifolati (hey, if it'll trifolati, it'll try anything). Non-steak options include calamari ai ferri (grilled, w/ lemon juice and olive oil); osso bucco w/ porcini mushrooms, truffles, and Parmigiano; tagliolini w/ lobster ragu; and spicy Kobe meatballs -- and if he were a man, he'd request Shaq confirm their piquance.
For booze, there's a TBA winelist of 20 or so Italians, plus Italian liquor including grappa and limoncello, Italian beers (Peroni/Moretti), and classic cocktails like Negronis and Bellinis, which you'll take to imperiously pounding when they take away your precious bell.
