De Maria is a contemporary restaurant in the vibrant Nolita neighborhood, serving seasonal, modern American fare seven days a week. Casual and approachable, yet undeniably chic, the beautiful, sun-drenched space provides an overall enjoyable experience starting the moment guests walk through the door.
Inspired by conceptual artist Walter De Maria, and the Latin translation ‘of Maria, by Maria,’ the female-led restaurant opened its doors to great acclaim in 2017. The interiors were designed by The MP Shift to replicate an artist’s studio, with Soho in the ‘70’s and the Bauhaus movement in mind.
The new daytime and nighttime menus feature local, beautiful ingredients, from light bites to more hearty options. Chef Merry Harra’s style allows for each ingredient to shine, from plate to palate, with earthy vegetables, fresh fish, and succulent meats. The menus will change every few months to showcase what’s in season.
And no dining experience is complete without a proper beverage program, which is why just as much care has been put into the wine and cocktail menus. De Maria exclusively offers natural wines from independent producers, each of them selected to pair perfectly with the food menu, as well as inventive and dynamic cocktails.
A true neighborhood mainstay, De Maria is a restaurant that draws guests back time and time again to enjoy flavorful meals in an attractive setting.
Humble, hardworking, and refined are just a few words to describe Chef Merry Hara. Joining De Maria mid-March, she has been busy working hand-in-hand with the staff on revising the daytime and nighttime menus, and helping create an overall positive guest experience.
Urbina’s food is inspired by growing up in Caracas, Venezuela. She takes traditional dishes and elevates them to another level, giving people unique tastes from all around the world. Her experience shines through in her beautiful style of plating and food with many layers of flavor.
Prior to joining De Maria, Urbina started as an apprentice at Michelin 3-star restaurant in Spain, Martín Berasategui, and then worked in several fine dining restaurants in New York City, including Atera, Rouge Tomate, and French Louie. She has also been running her own pop-up and private dining company, Tepuy Dining, which has gained her a following, and was a 2017 winner on Food Network’s “Chopped.”
She enhanced her skills from studying at top international culinary programs, L’Ecole de Cuisine Alain Ducasse in France and Sumito Estévez’s Instituto Culinario Caracas in Venezuela.