HUMM: Daniel Humm's First Namesake Restaurant Opens in the West Village

Chef Daniel Humm now has a restaurant carrying his own name. HUMM opened at 435 Hudson Street in the West Village, in a room of about 7,000 square feet built around a large wood-burning oven.

The menu is casual Modern American, served à la carte. Humm describes the approach plainly: start with the best produce, fish and meat, and don't get in the way of their flavor. Simplicity, he writes, is the quality he values most, in how he cooks and how he eats. A martini cart adds a bit of theater to the evening.

The room is as considered as the food. Humm worked with close friends including designer Pierre Yovanovitch and artists Francesco Clemente and Rashid Johnson. Natural materials and simple forms define the space, while site-specific murals and paintings serve as decoration that complements the cooking. It reflects Humm's long interest in the line between chef and artist.

HUMM is open every day from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Reservations are taken through the booking link on the restaurant's website. For Japanese-speaking New Yorkers looking for a dinner that pairs serious cooking with a strong art and design sensibility, it is a new West Village address worth knowing.