In New York City, history is rarely quiet. It’s carved into buildings, whispered in subway tile, and poured – sometimes literally – across the bar. And if you’ve ever sipped a martini or tucked into a ribeye at the legendary Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan, you’ve experienced this truth firsthand.
But what you may not have noticed – until now – is that the bar holding your glass, the shelves behind the sommelier, and the wood-paneled warmth of the space were all crafted by New York Custom Interior Millwork (NYCIM).
This isn’t just a bar. It’s an architectural love letter to timeless design, built to honor the past, serve the present, and elevate every dining experience in between.
A Legacy Project for NYCIM – and for Elizabeth
This wasn’t just any project for our team – it was personal.
Our founder, Elizabeth Lagos-Molinari, worked on Smith & Wollensky’s flagship location early in her career – side-by-side with her father. At the time, it was a challenging job: tight timelines, complicated logistics, and intricate design details. But it was also the kind of project that cements your love of craft.
Today, Elizabeth points to this millwork job as one of her all-time favorites, not only because of the restaurant’s status but because it taught her what great craftsmanship really requires: patience, skill, and pride.
Custom Mahogany Millwork That Sets the Bar
Walk into Smith & Wollensky today and you’ll be greeted by two floors of immersive, elegant millwork. We designed, fabricated, and installed custom woodwork across all three of the restaurant’s bars, using mahogany as the foundational material for its strength, longevity, and warmth.
Highlights Include:
Solid mahogany bar tops with a stained lacquer finish, designed to take the wear of high traffic while maintaining their beauty
Custom back bar cabinetry and wine storage, integrated with service in mind – everything is both visible and accessible for staff
Recessed panel moldings that nod to classic design without overwhelming the space
Cohesive trim and paneling throughout, unifying both bar levels for a seamless brand experience
Second-Floor Surprise: Antique Mailboxes as a Design Feature
One of our favorite elements of the project lives upstairs.
At the second-floor bar, the back wall is built not just from custom cabinetry, but from antique post office mailboxes, sourced from our friends at Good Olde Things. These upcycled boxes were refinished, structurally integrated into the wall, and adapted for bar storage use.
The best part? During installation, we discovered vintage postcards still tucked inside a few of the boxes – a magical touch that tied past to present.
These creative, story-driven design choices are what we love most about custom millwork. It’s not just about wood – it’s about narrative.
A Downstairs Bar Designed for Durability and Drama
The ground-level bar remains one of the busiest spaces in the restaurant, serving hundreds of guests every day. That meant our millwork had to be:
Structurally sound and resistant to wear
Aesthetically aligned with the historic feel of the space
Easy to maintain and clean
Designed for storage, display, and speed of service
We delivered on all fronts with mahogany cabinetry, custom wine drawers, hidden compartments, and finishes that age beautifully over time.
The use of stained lacquer brought out the depth of the wood’s natural grain while providing protection against everyday spills, scuffs, and heat. A custom brass foot rail was added for both comfort and style.
Every Detail Considered – Because That’s What Lasts
You might not notice things like:
The way the trim wraps around columns
How each grain line on the bar top flows uninterrupted
Or how every drawer opens quietly and closes flush
But you feel it.
That’s what sets custom millwork apart from prefab options – the quiet details that reflect the skill and care of the craftsmen who created it.
At Smith & Wollensky, those details make the difference between a generic steakhouse and a New York City icon.
From Classic Steakhouses to Modern Bars: Our Work Translates Everywhere
While Smith & Wollensky is all about old-school grandeur, our approach can flex to suit any setting. We’ve designed and built custom millwork for:
Modern cocktail lounges in Brooklyn
Hotel rooftop bars in Midtown
Boutique wine bars in the Lower East Side
Corporate event spaces and private clubs
What remains the same? The dedication to flawless fabrication, timeless design, and functionality that makes every square inch matter.
Why Commercial Clients Choose NYCIM
We’re more than just a shop – we’re a strategic partner in your design process. Here’s what our clients know:
We meet tight deadlines without sacrificing quality
We offer shop drawings, on-site consultations, and prototyping
We work directly with architects, contractors, and designers
Our shop in Astoria uses state-of-the-art equipment and time-tested handcraft techniques
And we do it all with pride. Because like Elizabeth learned working on Smith & Wollensky: every detail matters.
Raise the Bar with New York Custom Interior Millwork
Whether you’re redesigning a hospitality space, opening a flagship restaurant, or restoring a historic venue to its former glory, our team is ready to make it unforgettable.
Serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and the greater NYC area
Call (718) 392-1600 to schedule a consultation
Learn more at nycmillwork.com
Email us at info@nycmillwork.com
