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.

[rmlew]

Thousands in the financial sector have lost their jobs. Those with jobs have seen benefits cut and have not recieved bonuses.
Then look at all of those dependent on the financial sector. Add to that generalized financial concerns and and increase in savings, people are spending less on non-essentials in the region.

[Not Insane]

I have no problem with much of the infatuation with French culture purged from our culture. I'd feel even stronger if I lived in Quebec.

[desertcry]

Americans must remind the frogs that there are consequences.

[Coleus]

Thanks, the Germans killed over 300,000 Americans in WWI and WWII, exterminated almost 10 million Jews and Christians, Voted NO for the US to go into Iraq and yet freepers still drive BMW's and use Bayer Aspirin. Why no Boycotts against the Germans (where we rebuilt their entire country during the Marshall Plan) and their products and the other 130 countries who voted NO? I just don't get it. And our only 2 neighbors, Canada and Mexico (where we lended them $70 billion not to long ago), voted NO, do you think we will wreck our economy by not doing business with them, I think not.

[Taxman]

So you say. I don't eat FRench food anyway.

[oceanview]

Yes, I have eaten at Lespinasse. Top notch, sad to see it go. As long as Daniel survives! And Payard for pastry. And there is still a line at Carmines, and that 20 ounce Kobe hamburger at The Old Homestead is flying off the shelves ($40 for a burger). I still need to get one of those burgers!

Things are slow, and I do think it all started with the "duct tape" turmoil, then moving into this war. Things will get better, every movie attendance in Manhattan is way down. This fall of Baghdad will loosen people up.

[cubreporter]

Probably not but...gonna stick with American made! :)

[firebrand]

The restaurants are just hanging on, and for the French restaurants this is like the last straw. It really is a shame, because French cuisine is the best, a refinement of civilization that it would be very sad to lose. I am sorry to see even one 4-star restaurant go.

The waitstaff is usually not French, as customers find out when they try to speak French. The bus men are almost certainly not French. These people are losing their jobs in a tough economy.

And the French chefs who are here would not be here if they did not love America, as the standards are very high in NY and these talented people could easily find positions in France if they wanted to.

[firebrand]

Ducasse had to shut its doors temporarily the other night--only a handful of the 21 tables were booked.

[oceanview]

Ducasse will close I predict. Its just outrageouly expensive, you can get a similar experience at Daniel for much less. And Daniel has a steady clientele. I really have to eat there again.

[firebrand]

Daniel is supposed to be the best of the classic French places. Never tried it but I'd like to sometime.

[Clemenza]

My father was a regular at Lutece and Le Cirque back in the Wall Street era '80s. Hope those places stay open.

The thing that I find incredible is that Greek place (Milos) in the West 50s that has the nerve to charge Lutece prices when you can get better Greek in Astoria (or even, arguably, at Elia here in Bay Ridge) for half the price. I love Southern French food, but nobody beats the Greeks or Portuguese when it comes to seafood. Unfortunately, one need to go to Newark for good Portuguese as the places in Manhattan are AWFUL (NEVER go to Luzias on the UW Side).

[Clemenza]

And Payard for pastry.

We have Jean Danet here in Brooklyn that is pretty good (despite being owned by Greeks) for French pastry. There is also a bistro Provence en Boite on Third Avenue (also Brooklyn) that has INCREDIBLE desserts. I fear, however, that it may be a victim of the anti-French mentality in my NY Post reading/ABC listening neighborhood (the lovely Provencal owners are proud American citizens who have put a flag in their window in response).

[Malsua]

4 stars just meant you pay about 8x what the food was actually worth. I find that dining in Manhatten is more about knowing the local spots more than having stars.

I've eating some fabulous food at places that probably would only rate 2 stars. I've eaten at places like Nobu and found the food to be good and the attention good but a bit pricy. By the same token, a trip to a "street" Japanese place on 2nd avenue in the 30s reveals food that's just as good.

[jern]

I agree, nothing dumber than a group of knee jerk republicans or democrats.

That Freedom Toast thing was one of the stupidest items I have ever heard of in my life.

[Clemenza]

By the same token, a trip to a "street" Japanese place on 2nd avenue in the 30s reveals food that's just as good.

There are some great AUTHENTIC Japanese places on East 9th Street in the "Little Tokyo" section of the East Village. Nobu's Miami location is just as overpriced as the original in New York and just as crowded!

PJ, Nobu is Howard Stern's favorite restaurant and if you want to eat like the "King of All Media" just go down I-95 to Nobu in South Miami Beach.

[AmishDude]

I'd say so. I mean, a French restaurant named after Les Aspen? How does it get any worse?

[AmishDude]

That Freedom Toast thing was one of the stupidest items I have ever heard of in my life.

Sounds like somebody didn't have his Liberty Cabbage today.

[McGavin999]

Look, the problem is, the french have created an situation where even the thought of anything french turns American's stomachs. That's not real great if your business is selling food.

When people go out to eat, they don't want to be angry or upset and they don't want to think about the things that make them that way.

[firebrand]

And the best Polish food is in Greenpoint I've heard.