Short answer: Barış Köroğlu is a Cappadocia-born restaurateur and nightlife producer who has spent about two decades in New York. His recent openings include DEJAVU in the West Village (with Caviar Cafe by day) and Aquarelle on Avenue B, and he is linked to Andrew Steak Society in the East Village and The Alexander in Midtown East. Here is a guide to the rooms, what to order and how to book.
Disclosure: Barış Köroğlu is a business partner in the New York operations of the media network that publishes NYC Restaurant Voice. This guide is based on public reporting, the venues’ own sites and his press kit, and is marked as partner content.
The venues at a glance
| Venue | Neighborhood | What it is | Book via |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEJAVU | West Village, 394 West St | Mediterranean supper club and lounge with three rooms; opened October 2025 | OpenTable, Resy |
| Caviar Cafe | Inside DEJAVU, daytime | European-style café: caviar service, breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea | Walk-in / DEJAVU |
| Aquarelle | East Village, 47 Avenue B | Seafood bar and cocktail lounge with an underwater theme; opened June 2025 with Marcus Andrew | OpenTable |
| Andrew Steak Society | East Village, 51 Avenue B | Red-velvet steakhouse | Resy |
| The Alexander | Midtown East, 905 1st Ave | Mediterranean seafood restaurant near the UN, open from 4 p.m. | OpenTable |
DEJAVU: a three-room “salon of imagination”
Set in a Far West Village townhouse of about 2,800 square feet, DEJAVU splits into the green-and-gold Emerald Room bar (nine seats), the 40-seat Golden Room and the ten-seat Red Room, a hidden space for private tastings and burlesque Thursday to Saturday, according to Grit Daily. The menu mixes Mediterranean, Turkish and Italian notes: manti dumplings, lemon spaghetti with caviar and grilled branzino. Köroğlu calls it a “salon of imagination”.
By day the same room becomes Caviar Cafe, modeled on Europe’s grand cafés: caviar by the tin with blinis and crème fraîche, espresso, breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, before candlelight turns it back into the supper club (Haute Living).
Aquarelle: the European seaside on Avenue B
Aquarelle took over the address once home to Lamia’s Fish Market. The Infatuation describes a cavernous, submarine-like room; the venue sources from small-scale fisheries and holds a Friend of the Sea certification, according to NYC Tourism. Expect a raw bar, seafood towers and a late kitchen.
Andrew Steak Society and The Alexander
A few doors up Avenue B, Andrew Steak Society leans into classic steakhouse theater: deep red velvet, warm lamps and dry-aged cuts. In Midtown East, The Alexander serves Mediterranean seafood, handmade pastas and prime steaks a few minutes from the UN.
From nightlife to dining rooms
Before his restaurants, Köroğlu worked in New York nightlife: promotional director at Paradise Club, a partner in Lower East Side electronic-music club Virgo, and founder of The Lullaby, an immersive nightlife concept, according to his press kit. In January 2026 he launched “Barış”, a menswear capsule (Daily Front Row).
Before you go: inspection records
Aquarelle’s latest Health Department grade is A (13 points, September 2025), listed at 45 Avenue B in city records. The records for 394 West St and 905 1st Ave still show earlier businesses at those addresses, so check the live record before booking: NYC restaurant inspection lookup.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns DEJAVU in the West Village?
DEJAVU at 394 West St is led by restaurateur and creative director Barış Köroğlu.
Is Aquarelle open late?
Aquarelle positions itself as a late-night seafood house with the kitchen open until midnight; check current hours on its site.
Is there a dress code at DEJAVU?
The venue does not publish a strict code; smart evening attire fits the room.
Sources: Grit Daily; Haute Living; The Village Voice; The Infatuation; NYC Tourism; Daily Front Row; NYC Open Data DOHMH inspections (43nn-pn8j); venue websites; Barış Köroğlu press kit (2026). Photos courtesy of Barış Köroğlu.
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