Premier NYC French Restaurant Lespinasse to Close

The Associated Press ^ | 4/11/03 | The Associated Press

[jimbo123]

NEW YORK (AP) - One of Manhattan's premier French restaurants, Lespinasse, announced it would close next week because of the economic and political climate. The 12-year-old restaurant in the midtown St. Regis Hotel was favored for its sumptuous beige and gold antique decor and prize-winning wine list and cuisine.

Lespinasse was one of six Manhattan restaurants with a four-star rating from The New York Times.

A statement from the owners said the current economic and world political climate made staying open unprofitable. The restaurant will close April 19.

Guenter H. Richter, managing director of the St. Regis, said, "We carried it as long as we could. Any reopening will be determined by the pace of the economic recovery."

There was no indication that the closing was due to anti-French sentiment over France's opposition to the war in Iraq. The city tourism agency, NYC & Company, said some French restaurants have suffered from tense U.S.-French relations, though no formal boycott was evident.

[cubreporter]

I'm always puzzled by people who must eat at certain places or must wear designer labels to appear sophisticated. If some of those so called dresses the hollywood crowd wear are supposed to be designer well, I'll leave that to them because I think they look silly. Also, what if you are wearing something from a department store and then put the label of a designer in it...the phonies would think it really was the designers...they wouldn't know the difference unless they were told. Also, would like to see these people blindfolded and then given cheeses and wines to taste. I wonder how many could REALLY tell the difference. Eat, drink and be merry all....as for me, it will be California wines and cheeses from our own farmlands. That's our perogative to buy American...everyone else's perogative to buy French if they so choose...bgetter them than me. American all the way with our purchases AND we do a lot of checking to MAKE SURE it is made here.

[cubreporter]

Yaaay, it's Friday. Time for Americans to celebrate the end of their hardworking work week with the foods they love so much. Wine, beer, nachos, all that good stuff. :) Eat up everyone. Happy Weekend everyone! :)

[cubreporter]

Probably. :))))

[jriemer]

"I'll take wonderbread, HI-C, Busch and so on. Also, Wisconsin cheese and California wines. Nothing wrong with ANY of that."

Agreed, nothing like nachos and beer to round off the week :) Mouth starting to water as I speak.

Mmmm, nachos....

[Fifth Business]

...as for me, it will be California wines and cheeses from our own farmlands.

I agree that some American boutique cheeses are comparable to French cheeses. I disagree about the wine. But I don't expect our palates to be the same. Do you?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Wine, beer, nachos, all that good stuff.

Wait, NACHOS? Those Mexicans didn't support us in the UN either!

(Just kidding. You have a great weekend, too!)

[activationproducts]

A mouth watering menu. Probably doesn't do much for people whose culinary reference is McDonalds.

[miss marmelstein]

Many French restaurants in NYC are owned by American citizens (even if French-born). Most of their employees are American. They, in no way, should be held responsible for Jacques Chirac's stupidity. NYC's economy is terrible and this does not help.

[b4its2late]

No doubt a chinese restaurant will open in its' place....

[jimbo123]

Or an Olive Garden.

[b4its2late]

True.

[Publius6961]

French restaurants are getting hit the hardest.

Get with the program dude!

Women and the poor are always hit the hardest!

[jimbo123]

Women, children and minorities.

[Clemenza]

Hmmm... I'm surprised to see the restaurant close. Are things that bad? I know many on Wall Street are out of work

Yes, things are pretty bad at many upscale restaurants. Unlike the severe economic downturns of the 1970s, there are no wealthy oil men/sheikhs to fill the seats this time. Many more moderately priced neighborhood places are doing well, as people are eating closer to home at lower prices. Walk in the West Village or Soho on any given Friday night and you will see that the more casual places are still doing well.

Bars on the other hand have been hit hard by the smoking ban all over. Especially in cold weather, people don't want to stand outside smoking, so bars have been more empty than before the ban. I have found places, however, where the owners "wink" at the laws, if you know what I mean. Despite the fact that cigs have been banned in restaurants since 1994, I even know of one old school Italian joint here in Brooklyn that allows smoking in part of the restaurant.

[Clemenza]

April 19th is, ironically, Patriot's Day.

[Mihalis]

I find discussions of objective vs. subjective quite fascinating and at times frustrating. You mention freshness, hormone free etc, which are objective points indeed. I was thinking more of the sensations caused to the tastebuds by the various foods, which we call "taste" and which is very subjective. I do enjoy gourmet French meals. But I can't say that, from a taste point of view, they're "superior" to a juicy, all-American burger (with the works!).

[Clemenza]

We boycott French restaurants and still buy our gas and newspapers, whose stores are primarily owned by Muslims

Good point, although you still won't stop me from getting my Falafel at Karam (which is owned by Christian Arabs anyway, despite a heavily Muslim clientele). It is incredible that most newstands in NYC (and I assume NJ) are owned by Pakistanis or Bangladeshis, although the Paki at my local newstand was strongly in favor of taking out Saddam.

[onehipdad]

I saw a better rendition of this idea when I was in college in the early '70's.

[onehipdad]

Jeez, do you know how many sliders you can get for $135??

[montag813]

Lespinasse was one of the 5 best restaurants at which I have ever dined. It will be missed. Wasn't even French-owned. Only Americans will be hurt. The St. Regis is an incredible hotel. Pity. I would much rather we put Evian, Peugeot and TotalFinaElf out of business.