Peter Guimaraes: A Modern Renaissance Restaurateur
Photos by Mark Elzey
Cover photo by Hiccup Sibold
Since coming to the U.S. from Portugal at just two years old, Peter Guimaraes has been building his own American dream, one brick – and beverage – at a time, and his latest venture might just be his most exciting one yet. Let’s just say that it will sound like music to your ears, as well as your taste buds.
The former real estate giant, mayoral candidate and co-owner of BiCe, has worn many hats and looked good in all of them. After studying marketing and playing football at Central Connecticut State University, he found yet another calling: real estate. His first venture into entrepreneurship involved buying a plot of land in Connecticut, relying on a loan shark to secure financing. He would go on to not only construct hundreds of homes but also open various restaurants, all in the Connecticut area. These included Dulce, which brought to life his mother’s Portuguese comfort food.
After opening a BiCe location in Miami, and impressing investors and customers alike with his expansion of the brand, he took over the restaurant’s 54th Street location in Manhattan. It was in this space that he revamped and reopened the current BiCe Cucina in 2010.
Guimaraes hasn’t stopped expanding since, and now he is bringing a brand new concept to the city. After being hired to construct Le Bar, an interactive piano bar in Palm Beach, he opened his very own New York location in October. “What makes it so unique is the piano is custom built so you can sit and eat around it,” said Guimaraes.
He shared how their musical director will oversee the music program featuring live singers as well as pianists and even late-night DJs seven days a week.
The king of New York’s Italian food scene is eager to bring the same elevated experience to this decidedly more French space. Open for dinner, guests can enjoy music along with more casual style but still gourmet bites such as tapas, pizzas, caviar, oysters and shrimp cocktail. There will also be sushi-style options as well as an extensive French wine list.
The jewel-box space also features handcrafted cocktails and flaming liqueurs – and in this case, it’s not just what’s on the inside that counts but also the outside – of the glass. In keeping with the upscale vibe, the glassware is all made of solid lead crystal. While Bice services around 300 to 400 diners daily, this more intimate concept space includes just 60 seats, allowing him to pay closer attention to such details.
Guimaraes has also noticed a change in the eating patterns of his own dining patrons at BiCe, which influenced the menu at Au Bar. “People are not eating as much as they used to. Much of the trend now is to have tapas and different arrays of food so we’re going more towards that,” he said.
The goal is to provide an upscale environment for diners who are not looking to be ‘squeezed into a venue or listening to alternative music,” as he describes it. “There are not many places with this kind of high-end atmosphere.”
Au Bar, located on 56th between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, is surrounded by the lights of the world’s best shows and most eclectic restaurants and offers a special ambiance. Quality over quantity is definitely the motto at this unique spot with equally impressive music and mouthwatering bites suited for clientele of various ages.
“We are capturing different generations,” he said. And that’s not all – diners will also get to enjoy the fun well into the wee hours of the night.
“Since Covid, many places, including my own restaurants, don’t keep the kitchens open till past ten whereas before Covid we stayed open till past midnight. It’s very rare, even big well-known spots still close early, but we’ll keep the kitchen open later here,” said Peter.
“It’s really bringing the old-school New York vibe back,” he continued. That includes catering to a customer who appreciates dressing up and enjoying a night out in style. Also planned are special themed nights.
Having built dozens of homes, Guimaraes brought
his stellar vision to the interior of the posh piano bar. “I built everything, from the mirrors to the ceilings to the bar, which has gold and bronze accents with a plum color on the walls and a green ceiling. I wasn’t sure about that in the beginning but it tied everything together and it looks really beautiful. There are also white marble tables, like in France.”
Also meant to suggest a European feel is fine artwork lit up by wall sconces.
Guimaraes, who previously ran for New York City mayor – and still has plenty of fans who hope he puts his hat back in the ring – is indeed giving the idea some real soul-searching.
Despite all of his successes, he is most proud of his daughter, who has also expressed interest in following in her father’s footsteps in the food industry. Currently a student at Pace University, she will train at the bar at Au Bar, making for one very proud papa while ensuring the family’s legacy of upscale hospitality spaces lives on. P
