Starting with a dinner service tonight – Friday, October 27 – fl.2, the newly redesigned restaurant on the second floor of The Fairmont, is officially open to the public.
Full service hours will begin on Saturday morning with breakfast at 6:30 a.m.
fl.2 (pronounced ‘Floor Two’) is replacing ‘Habitat,’ the restaurant that was located on the second floor of The Fairmont for over seven years.
Although Habitat and fl.2 share the same location, the two restaurants are completely unrecognizable from one another. Barcelona-based designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán completely transformed the space in preparation for the new restaurant.
fl.2 now has a modern feel, featuring a warm color palette with many brass and copper accents.
Mirrors adorn the walls, amplifying the space. Every detail – down to the upholstered chairs and linen napkins – adds to the restaurant’s sophisticated and lively atmosphere.
When walking into the restaurant, guests are immediately greeted by central bar, which encircles the front of fl.2. A glass and brass canopy drips from the ceiling above the bar, holding the necessary bar accouterments, as well as a hidden TVs (we’re still in Pittsburgh, after all).
Looks alone would be enough to draw a crowd to the bar, but the drink program is equally inviting. Fresh ingredients are expertly paired with local spirits. And, of course, there is also some flair. Drinks like “Lunch with Joe,” feature a smoked rosemary sprig that’s trapped in a glass jar and opened in front of the patron, engulfing them in the scent of roasted herbs.
The bar program also features local beer and wines from small batch estates.
The menu includes fresh and locally-sourced ingredients paired with items like chicken, roasted on the kitchen’s brand new rotisserie. Other dishes, like the Wild Mushrooms, feature beef tallow and cured roe, as well as a Red Kuri Squash, which transform the fall staple into a smokey entrée. A Pork Belly dish with garlic mojo, cilantro, radish, and queso fresco is hailed as a “deconstructed street taco.”
Save room for dessert – the pastry program is also set impress. It includes treats like pavlova with blueberries and white chocolate, matcha cheesecake, and chocolate tart with lemon curd. These show-stealers will be on your mind for days to come.
Although fl.2 is reminiscent of cosmopolitan cities like Barcelona or New York, it stays true to its Pittsburgh roots. A giant tile mosaic, featuring the Pittsburgh skyline, frames the kitchen window. Another addition is the row of “chef’s table” seats, located directly in front of the window, providing a front-row view of the action.
Even details like the host uniforms, ceramic plates, and leather bar books have a connection to the city. fl.2 worked closely with Pittsburgh craft business accelerator MONMADE to source these products from local designers.
The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. The bar is also open seven days a week, with extended hours until 2:00 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
fl.2 (510 Market Street)
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