Melt

The dramatic décor of the main dining room – appointed with a massive fireplace, curvaceous banquette booths and an elevated mezzanine dining level  – gets an unexpected glow of intimacy from the graceful clusters of warmly luminous hanging lights that adorn the soaring ceiling. To complete the perfect stage setting for the sultry Italian Paxos restaurant, Melt’s invitation for guests to relax and delve into full-flavored food and spirits extends to a generous bar and lounge with Italian inspired cocktails.

Lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch menus proffer a wide range of dishes that highlight Italy’s renowned ability to highlight natural, simple flavors. However, don’t conflate “simple” with “boring.” Famed minimalist architect Mies van der Rohe once noted, “God is in the details.” This observation is equally appropriate to Italian cuisine. A chef’s ability to coax every nuance of taste and texture from ingredients requires exceptional devotion and skill. One tasty example is Agnello Brasato, a highly popular new main dish. A lamb shank, the a meaty cut from the lower lamb leg, braised in red wine, mirepoix, garlic and tomatoes for up to four hours transforms into lusciously tender and juicy flesh. The lamb is placed on a rich and nurturing bed of mascarpone polenta, with the indulgent braising sauce – mounted with butter – spilled over top. The French-trimmed bone of the lamb shank adds a dash of architectural flair to the dish, taking us back to the vital importance of detail, no?

The recipe for Mussels Fra Diavolo, a wildly popular new spicy app, is shared with readers on page 90 (lucky you!); modern twists on tradition take pizza from comforting toppings to hedonistic short ribs-and-brie heights; eight types of house-made pasta are matched with premium ingredients for ultimate taste and mouth-feel (individual and large portions for table sharing are available.)

Melt’s second floor showcases huge versatility of private party and business event spaces, with customizable menus and first-rate hospitality.