Lumiere (CLOSED)

There's a head-turner in Alphabet City—and we're not talking about any of the artfully disheveled East Villagers strolling the streets. This Mediterranean eatery, overseen by chef Wesley Wobles (the DL), is rigged with angles sharper than a pair of runway cheekbones: Tangram panels cover the whitewashed brick walls, and origami-inspired teal stools cozy up to the bar, softened by bulbous Indian lamps hanging overhead. Despite the mod digs, the menu sticks to classic coastal-European plates: orecchiette with Tuscan kale and grana padano; chou fleur gâteau (cauliflower cake) with chickpea salad; and pistachio-crusted rack of lamb with vegetable gratin. Downstairs, find a red-lit cocktail lounge, offering drinks like a Mediterranean old-fashioned, made with lemon oil and sour cherries.