Pre-Post:
Before or After Clubbing
It's a Great Place to Eat
By Debrah Burrell

Amid the late night clubs and art galleries, in the vibrant and sometime notorious neighborhood of West Chelsea, there resides a new restaurant that is worth the trip - even if clubbing is not a part of your evening social schedule.

Pre-Post has been opened for just a few months, but exudes a confidence it deserves. The food is even better than it needs to be in order to cater to the "pre and post" club crowd. When they say "post" club they mean it - current restaurant hours are from 5pm to 7am. There is a late night menu that kicks in after 2am, from which you can order pancakes, omelets, burgers and a variety of specialty pizzas.

The special cocktail menu is playful, inventive and creative - using the names of the local clubs for 11 signature drinks such as "Crobar" and "Take Me to Bed." All of the drinks are made with fresh juice wherever possible and the liquors were identified by brand. Top shelf and tasty - you know what you were getting and they go down smooth!

The restaurant is a mix of loungy seating around the perimeter of the room with some separate tables in the middle. The lighting is beautifully done in sexy red tones - providing a complimenting accent on diners and the music is lively and upbeat, even during the early hours (9pm).

My dinner companion and I ordered the Chilean sea bass and the barbeque braised short ribs, but could have ordered any number of dishes from an innovative menu that appeared carefully chosen. Both our plates arrived simply, yet beautifully displayed. The fish was tasty and buttery and the ribs were well seasoned and perfectly cooked to the desired tenderness. Other dishes we wished we had room for included Tuna and Duck Hand Rolls, Lobster Crepes and Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli.

Executive Chef Junnajet Hurapan creates a Nuevo American cuisine for both club and non-clubbers alike. But clubbers will probably be particularly appreciative of the thoughtful "Detox" drinks designed to "refresh, revive and repair" the damage done from too much partying. As long as the crowds from the nearby clubs get hungry and can appreciate a really good restaurant with reasonable prices - this place will no doubt succeed.

Pre-Post is located at 547 West 27th Street, 212.695.7270, www.prepostnyc.com.