Eat To Impress – Atera

If you want a sure-fire way to win over your most discerning dining buddies, you’ll want to make a reservation at the new Tribeca spot, Atera. Portland Oregon import, Executive Chef Matthew Lightner, has proven himself a master of modern cuisine at this wildly original Tribeca eatery, furbished with the city’s first vertical garden. Lightner first garnered praise when he won Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in America just two years ago.  Fast forward to present where he’s melding his penchant for molecular gastronomy and plant fetish at Atera.  The result is cutting edge creations, like Beet Ember with trout roe, black bread, and crustacean emulsion or Warm Mozzarella Spheres with smoked grapes and apple-celery foam.  If your dining companion’s still not impressed, the Parsley Root Split with banana ice cream and a meringue should seal the deal.