Multi-floor Vida Restaurant in Thornwood brings sultry Spanish cuisine to Westchester

There's an upstairs/downstairs energy to Vida Restaurant, which opens Oct. 25 in the old Abis space in Thornwood.

Chef Marc Taxiera and his wife, Brianne Myers, owners of Augustine's Salumeria in Mamaroneck, have created a two-story spot that on one level has a sexy, sultry supper club vibe, while upstairs has the elegant ambiance of a European parlor.

The couple, who relied on their silent partner's design background for the decor, wanted to create one mood on the first floor — that alluring, seductive spirit — and contradict it on the second with what feels like an old Victorian mansion complete with seven chandeliers, a mantel dripping in vintage candlesticks and a smattering of loveseats and tables, some of which look like what your great-grandmother might have had in her home.

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Taxiera and Myers are calling this 40-seat eclectic spot The Lounge, where they'll host private events as well as offer cocktails and light bites. There's also a sizeable outdoor rooftop terrace, with room for about 50, that will be open seasonally, also with light bites and drinks (an outside door takes you directly upstairs).

What about the food?

Those who know Taxiera — and have tasted his food at the two-and-a-half-year-old Augustine's or drank from his Italian restaurant's impressive wine list — the eatery was one of 14 on Wine Spectator's 2024 list, a high honor in the restaurant and wine world — know he's serious, yet playful with his creations, forever elevating traditional dishes into something memorable and distinctive.

Among the menu items: Lots of tapas such as papas brava (smashed crispy potato bites); cheesy croquettes with Serrano ham; chocolate-rubbed lamb belly with purple mustard; albóndigas (aka Spanish meatballs); and olive-oil-fried duck egg with sea urchin hollandaise and caviar.

There's also — naturally — paella including Valenciana, with chicken, rabbit, escargot, sofrito and saffron; seafood, with lobster, mussels, and scallops as well as a vegetarian version. Other entrée highlights include heirloom corn tacos and a Parilla section with grass-fed beef and Iberico pork served with a variety of accoutrements (think mojo verde, mojo rojo, and chimichurri) as well as Basque beans and field greens.

Diners can also expect signature cocktails crafted with artistry and passion, as well as a wine list that leans heavily on Spanish vineyards.

Vida decor's 'wow' factor

The space is definitely a wow with details everywhere, starting with a large mural near the front entryway (by a Ukrainian artist) of a lion. Meyers said the couples had originally toyed with naming the restaurant Leon, the Spanish name meaning lion, as it represents strength and courage, but ended up with Vida, which means life.

Red and black are big themes on the first floor with a mixture of fringed black chandeliers and smaller black lamps. Towards the back is the "wow" — a bar backlit by bottles of booze and red roses, giving it a downtown speakeasy soul.

The other wow: a semi-private dining space tucked into a corner near the front flanked by a red velvet couch at the end, red cushioned walls and a gold chained curtain that drapes the space. The room, which seats 12, also sports a variety of candlesticks in various heights and textures.

The 60-seat dining room features a mix-matched combo of vintage plates, adding to the eclectic feel. Items for the restaurant were sourced from a hodgepodge of antique stores and thrift shops to create the perfect balance of old and modern.

Said Myers: "We're so excited to be in a new community offering guests three different and very distinct dining experiences."

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If you go

Address: 14 Marble Ave, Thornwood, 914-825-8020, vidarestaurantny.com .

Hours: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday; brunch to come.

Good to know: The restaurant has its own parking lot though turning left when you leave it can be tough.

FYI: Check out the bathrooms which keep that mansion ambiance alive with decorative wallpaper and chandeliers.

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter .

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Multi-floor Vida Restaurant in Thornwood brings sultry Spanish cuisine to Westchester