The Ritz-Carlton Brings "Urban Edge" with Parallel 37

Last month, Eater passed on an image of The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, ripped to the studs, along with some hints about its replacement. Now the latest Inside Scoop column reveals the name of the forthcoming "more casual restaurant and bar" as Parallel 37, representing the latitude line running near the Bay Area, Napa and Sonoma. Siegel tells Scoop he wants to see "a bar that has action and life in it," and Eater has a press release here with a few more details on the design to come from EDG Interior Architecture + Design, the firm on record for all Ritz-Carlton properties.

The described 46-seat bar area will include communal tables, lounge and bar seating, opening directly into the main dining room, where the back wall will be newly lined with banquettes. They're making every effort to "bring an urban edge" to the building with glass wall treatments, "a dramatic glass entranceway from the lobby" and "glowing glass graphic panel of California oaks behind the host stand." Did we mention there will be lots of new glass in here? Further edgifying things will be live-edge wood tables and plaid-embossed leather seating, although they don't say where exactly that will go.

On the food front, chef Ron Siegel describes "American contemporary" small plates that aren't "over-manipulated." The wine program will center on Napa and Sonoma; and you know those cocktails have got to be "mixologist-driven." A fancier tasting menu will be available exclusively to those in the eight prize seats at the off-kitchen chef's table. The website splash page says they're hoping to open before 2012. Expect further teasing on this one soon.

· Ron Siegel to open Parallel 37 at Ritz-Carlton [Chron]
· All Dining Room at the Ritz Coverage [~ ESF ~]