One of the world’s finest chefs is getting ready to transform a historic Greenwich Village chocolate factory into a luxurious new brasserie and cocktail lounge.
Chef Olivier Limousin is a world-renowned chef who has spent decades of his life working at some of the most well known Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris. Born and raised in Vendée, France, Chef Limousin began his career as a veteran of Le Bellecour and Amphyclès, before moving on to work at the three-Michelin-starred Le Taillevent.
Soon, Chef Limousin was invited to open up Le Table de Joël Robuchon in 2004, where he earned two Michelin stars of his own before moving to London to open up L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon , where he again earned two more Michelin stars. His most recent project, L’Executive Chef, established a new and exclusive private dining concept in 2019, where he sources premium ingredients from around the world for his tailor-made menus. Beyond his illustrious fine dining pedigree, Chef Limousin has made numerous TV appearances on cooking programs like Bon Appetit Bien Sur and Master Chef UK.
Now, it appears that Chef Limousin is preparing to develop a brand new concept for New York. The new concept, Ossea, is described as a “modern brasserie that serves seafood delicacies highlighting the freshest and finest sustainable ingredients, paired with an extensive wine list and specialty cocktails with reasonable prices.” The first floor of Ossea will function as a restaurant that will serve lunch and dinner, as well as brunch on weekends, while the second floor will play host to “an intimate cocktail bar and lounge, offering guests breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
Ossea is currently planned to open up at 39 Clarkson Street, moving into the building that was formerly occupied by Koppers Chocolate Factory. Established in 1937, Koppers Chocolate occupied the historic building until 2015, when they moved out of the city to a new location. The building has since been completely renovated, outfitted with modern new amenities while still preserving its traditional, industrial New York charm. The new new establishment “plans to blend in with the exquisite character of the South Village neighborhood,” and is looking forward to welcoming local residents as their customers.
The establishment spans about 14,230 square feet, divided between the cellar, first floor, and second floor. The cellar will be reserved for storage and prep, while the ground floor will feature an exclusive Chefs Table and customer bar, seating an estimated 102 guests at one time. The second floor cocktail lounge meanwhile will feature a 26 foot bar as well as a private dining room, and is capable of seating an additional 81 guests.
According to a representative of Ossea, the concept is still very early into development and is likely more than a year away from opening at this point, so many of the details could change as the team draws closer to completion. In the meantime, you can follow Chef Limousin on Instagram for updates on all of his new concepts as well information regarding his private dining experiences.
