BESPOKE: DINING WITH A SIDE OF TELEVISION?

Walking by the Columbia campus recently, we passed the new Bernheim restaurant thinking maybe it would be an interesting spot to hang out since the establishment was named after a Harlem brewery in Manhattanville. The interior is set in the trendy early century mode in the style that is popular downtown or in Brooklyn these days but then the illusion is broken by vistas of massive television screens.  We also noticed the same at the revamped Unione up in Hamilton Heights which would have otherwise been a pretty charming interior.

Call us old fashion, but it appears to us if one wants to emulate the better restaurants in the city, then that should include not having screens meant for folks who want to catch up with the game in plain view.  The reasons are clear because there is a bar crowd that is attracted to watching events but making a point to be either a better dining establishment or a basic bar should be one of the first things businesses should make a decision on.  In our observations over the years, having both rarely helps a restaurant build a strong reputation as a place to have a great meal.