New Yorkers traveling to Paris may soon cancel their upcoming jet-set plans now that famed restaurant Caviar Kaspia has opened a temporary residency, thanks to Alexandre de Betak’s Bureau Betak, in Spring Studios’s coworking space, Spring Place. The eatery brings with it to New York an arsenal of delectable roe as well as smoked fish, vodka, and the much-Instagrammed baked potato. News of the pop-up opening traveled quickly throughout the city, and on a rainy Tuesday evening, Spring Place opened its doors to a lucky set to kick off the residency. Among those celebrating were Constance Jablonski and Wes Gordon, who caught up over cocktails and snacks such as panna cotta with caviar and quail egg ravioli. Waris Ahluwalia, Tom Sachs, and Sarah Hoover also arrived early to sneak a peek inside the new space before dinner was seated.
What was once a sunken living room covered in burgundy sheepskin carpet and used for movie screenings has been transformed into a cozy restaurant, with oil paintings hanging on the muted walls and tables covered in turquoise cloths and white peonies. The one real design difference between the Paris outpost and this one is the pop-up’s ceiling made of mirrors, which reflects the diners below. The drastic remodeling took only nine days to complete. So at the opening dinner, guests were invited to take their seats beneath the mirrored ceiling and enjoy a meal that has garnered quite a cult following: king crab and crayfish salad and a baked potato topped with caviar, served with a miniature mother-of-pearl spoon. When asked about the menu, Spring Studios cofounder Francesco Costa mused, “Normally in New York you have Chinese, sushi, Italian; this is something different.” Carafes of vodka were also placed at each table while waiters continuously refilled Champagne flutes. Just before the night’s conclusion, plates of raspberries with crème fraîche were passed around—a sweet finish to a great evening.