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With a menu meant for sharing, it’s no wonder that Share restaurant in New York City’s trendy East Village opened its doors with this name in place and with a little help from the Fab Five of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fame.
Not only did the Fab Five take co-owner Winston Shih, 37, former Wall Street type, and “joush” him with a new wardrobe and revamped apartment, but they also helped him redesign the small, 35-seat restaurant that he recently opened with his fiancée, co-owner and chef Kay Chun, 33.
Out with the old and cold, white and metal place and in with the new metallic bronze paints by Ronan Paints, Blue Mountain wood-look wallpaper and Robert Abbey lighting controlled by Leviton IllumaTech slide dimmers. Fab Five’s Thom recommended these linen fixtures as a way to minimize sound, extend the light and add a touch of art.
The Fab Five devised an “intimate, comfortable, warm” space on the lower level, says Shih, and then the owners reworked the upper level, which originally was used as a waiting area. By adding seating for 10 against brown and brick walls upstairs, the owners now offer a pleasant entry to this restaurant. Downstairs, vertical bottle racks give a cozy wine cellar feel to the dining area, which includes a large communal-style table.
Chun, a former line chef and food editor, serves seasonal specialties made from pure ingredients and organic resources purchased fresh from local farmers’ markets and suppliers. Organic wines and a Delaware brew, Dogfish Head beer, are among the beverage selections. What comes naturally, such as food grown according to the earth’s cycle and sharing food among friends, is the premise of Share.
