Italian-American chef Nick Di Bona has partnered with New York-based Celano Design Studio to create his first restaurant, Madison Kitchen.
A native of Westchester, 28 year old Chef Di Bona has already proven himself a creative force in his own right, serving as executive chef at the renowned Pratt’s Inn and helping to bring its highest Zagat rating to date. Madison Kitchen will be Di Bona’s first solo restaurant venture, and will feature Di Bona’s personal twist on New American. “I wanted to offer an eclectic mix of good food. Westchester has a lot to offer, Asian markets, Italian grocers.” Inspired by Di Bona’s Italian-American background, his respect for fresh and locally sourced ingredients, and his continuous search for new combinations of food and flavor, Madison Kitchen will bring delicious, inventive cuisine to Larchmont.
After tapping Vincent Celano to create the space, Di Bona and Celano established a close working relationship, collaborating directly to drive the concept for Madison Kitchen. In the bar and lounge area, the reclaimed wood bar and bio-fueled fireplace creates an intimate vibe, complemented by the modern black tile feature wall and custom zinc bar top. “Nick was looking for an upscale yet comfortable atmosphere,” says Vincent Celano, of Celano Design Studio. “We incorporated structural showpieces like the fireplace, complemented by modern textures, to achieve that fusion of rustic and modern we were looking for.” The fireplace connects the lounge to the main dining area, where chevron patterned wood plank ceilings and textured stone walls follow a rustic theme. Frank Savastano of Dufine Furniture crafted a custom leather tufted banquette at the back of the space that stands nearly seven feet high. The design team incorporated a variety of lighting elements, from hanging pendants in the lounge to vintage brass drum fixtures in the dining room, creating a warm glow throughout the whole space.
