THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Restaurant 222

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Restaurant 222 Restaurant Review:

Marlies and Frank Valenza’s superb kitchen has generated much buzz in culinary circles. Mr. Valenza, whose landmark price-buster The Palace stood the country on its ear in the ’70’s, claims that the ingredients he uses are simply the best in the world. That means white truffles, Israeli-goose foie gras, sushi-grade tuna, colossal shrimp, triple-O beluga caviar and Kobe steak. In counterpoint to the articulated avalanche of excess in the kitchen, 222 is a cozy paneled setting straight out of a London townhouse. Artfully rustic decorative touches abound, and the staff is helpful and engaging. Your options on the $39 prix-fixe menu include: house-cured gravlax, warm potato cake with black and red caviar and crème fraîche; spicy salmon and tuna tartare, crisp salad galettes, salmon roe, green onions; escargots au Pernod; filet mignon of tuna char-grilled with scallion, ginger, rice cake, soy, saké, mirin sauce and frizzled leeks and char-grilled chopped sirloin steak with caramelized sautéed onions, Cabernet reduction and creamy whipped potatoes. There’s also a prix-fixe, pre-theater dinner menu for $29.95, served Mon.-Sun., 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.