Victoria Blamey, whose culinary pedigree includes stints at Chumley’s and Gotham Bar & Grill as well as pop-ups at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, the Mayflower Inn in Connecticut and Fulgurances Laundromat in Brooklyn, just yesterday opened Mena in the Walker Hotel, though its entrance is up the loading dock stairs at 28 Cortlandt Alley. It’s easy to miss if you don’t expect it to be in the hotel, since the numbers are screwy on the alley and since Google pins it totally wrong. Find it behind the white café curtains on the southwest corner with Walker.

This is Blamey’s first solo restaurant (she’s 42) and it will reflect her Chilean heritage as well as her decades in fine dining. Examples of dishes on the opening prix fixe menu include oysters with seaweed gremolata; scallops with squash leche de tigre and aji limón; and Savoy cabbage with scallop mousse, sea lettuce and vin jaune. The signature cocktails will highlight seasonal fruits, South American spirits and agua frescas. See a sample menu here. The price is $115 per person. I think they only offer a chef’s menu, but I will confirm that…

Born and raised in Santiago, Blamey got three stars from The Times while she was executive chef of Gotham Bar & Grill in 2019, and two stars at Chumley’s before that. Her menu will draw from local and responsible farmers, producers and friends, with a focus on seasonal produce and proteins.

The space is cozy (50 seats) and airy at the same time — it’s a half a floor above the curb, which gives it a little more light. (They weren’t ready for me to take photos since I showed up unannounced midday.) Of course it won’t be daylight for a while at dinner hours, but still. The barstool seats in the window will be *the* spot, IMO.

The restaurant is named for Blamey’s great aunt and is pronounced Men-a, rather than Meen-a. Adding it to the Tribeca Pronunciation Guide. And of course, more TK when I get over there for a meal.

Mena
28 Cortlandt Alley at Walker
212-466-6428
Tuesday through Saturday, 5 to 11p
Reservations on Resy