PB Brasserie

A centrally located arch shaped marble topped bar in deep blues, greens and gold serves as the primary anchor for the front-of-house space. Positioned between the lounge and the main dining room, it is both efficient for the customers, and inviting with banquette tables for casual groups at the side.  Gentle, intimate lighting is calibrated to highlight the bar’s curved form.

The casually elegant main dining space is planned for comfort, flexibility and durability. Jewel toned, plush tufted seating helps keep noise levels suppressed while balancing the harder surfaces of the walls. Vintage mirrors are strategically placed to expand the space, add glitter and interest, while subtly varying light distribution. Warm, low set lighting fixtures create consistent illumination across tables without introducing visual clutter A musician/DJ area sets the dining apart from the bar in the later evenings up front.

The intimate “Chef’s room” private dining space beyond the main hall offers an exclusive environment for private events. The room’s proportions and lighting are designed to support small gatherings while remaining visually and acoustically open to the larger restaurant. A floor to ceiling wine wall functions as both storage and a backdrop to the dining experience.

The material palette sets the modern ambience while keeping longevity and ease of maintenance in mind. Porcelain flooring, pearl plaster, durable paper and fabric covered walls, and brushed metal accents develop the light feel. Combined with the upholstery, wood elements, and mirrored surfaces, the design creates a casually attractive environment that supports the restaurant’s cuisine and sets the tone for diners and staff. A stainless steel kitchen was planned with advanced smoke precipitation in consideration of the residential apartments above.

PB Brasserie is planned as a sequence of functional zones that transition from public to more intimate spaces. Circulation paths, lighting, and material choices work together to support both the restaurant’s service model and its cultural narrative. The result is a dining environment that is rooted in the architectural clarity characteristic of Harlem’s evolving commercial corridor with efficient, practical materials and details.

The project is the culmination of a process lasting over thirteen years. We worked with a previous owner on two apartment building designs. This design was complex, involving a zoning lot merger with an adjacent co-op apartment building, and accommodating a sloping site with three long, irregular street facades. The site is oddly shaped, very extended and narrow. Our solution was to create a single-loaded corridor design, where the apartments take advantage of light and views in multiple directions while making the building as efficient as possible.