Stepping into the newly renovated Kilmer building on 31 Lewis Street, within walking distance of the bars, it immediately feels like you’ve stepped outside the bubble of Binghamton. Along with a large, upscale jewelry store, the Kilmer building is home to the Kilmer Brasserie & Steakhouse, a restaurant that feels like a small piece of France.
The building is gorgeous and the restaurant, which is located in the main lobby of the first floor, has a beautiful decor and an incredibly warm atmosphere. The restaurant itself has intricate moldings, columns and floors that date back to the building’s original construction in 1905.
The food is French-style with a very diverse menu to satisfy any pallet. There are many pasta dishes, sandwiches, salads and chicken and fish options. There is a wide range of steak choices, such as filet mignon and NY strip steak, as well as beef Wellington and swordfish steak. There is also an extensive wine list and a mouthwatering dessert menu perfect to top off any meal.
Although French restaurants usually come with an expensive connotation, Kilmer’s prices fit right in with any student’s budget and welcomes BU BUC$. Monica Mavian, a longtime Binghamton resident who owns and runs Kilmer with her husband Jean Baptiste, would love to see more undergraduate students come check it out.
“We are currently in the courting stage with the Binghamton University students,” Mavian said. “There is interest, but because of the space, people expect it to be pricey.”
All sandwiches on the lunch menu are between $8 and $11, and that comes with a side choice of either fries or a garden salad. As for the rest of the lunch menu, most meals are $10 to $15, with no specials going over the $20 mark.
The dinner menu is slightly more expensive, however, though with prices that meet those of many other popular restaurants Downtown and visited by Binghamton University students. The steaks range from $20 to $30 while the rest of the menu stays mostly within the $10 to $20 area. Kilmer also offers a 3-for-$15 prix fixe that consists of an appetizer, main course and dessert.
The staff is truly delightful at Kilmer. The welcoming hostess makes anyone feel very comfortable while the servers are friendly and knowledgeable. The executive chef Jean Baptiste Mavian comes from Paris and is an absolute pleasure to talk to.
The nightlife at Kilmer is very original for a Binghamton restaurant; Fridays and Saturdays Kilmer is open until 1 a.m. and involves either a DJ or a band playing fun music to really make the restaurant come alive.
“Dinner at the Kilmer has a completely different ambiance at night,” Mavian explained. “It’s hip, sultry and very metropolitan. People often just crash in the lounge and order drinks. We also have two private rooms to accommodate larger groups that might want some privacy or need to ‘let their hair down.’”
Kilmer Brasserie & Steakhouse is definitely a great addition to Binghamton that everyone should try out. This sophisticated restaurant would be perfect for a date, and Thursdays at Kilmer is their “Wine Lovers’ Thursdays” where patrons can bring their own bottles of wine. A late night at Kilmer is also a great alternative to the bars if you’re ever looking for something new to try.
“We would like to be more popular with the students because we like the liveliness and creativity of the students,” Mavian said. “This is a college town and we would be thrilled for the students to embrace us.”