For those who have always dreamed of dining at Le Cirque but never quite made it into that hallowed space, your dream may go unfulfilled. Shortly after its New Year’s Eve celebration, the 40-year-old gastronomic pleasure palace will be closing its doors due to a rent dispute.
The restaurant whose alumnae include celebrity chefs Daniel Boulud, David Bouley, Jacques Torres, and Michael Lomonaco, has fallen on hard times in recent years. Earlier this year, Le Cirque filed for bankruptcy. Since then, there have been lawsuits over claims of sexual harassment and wage disputes.
As though that weren’t enough, The New York Times in its most recent review demoted the restaurant to a single star.
The good news — yes, there is good news — is that the restaurant might live again at a new address. The owners are eyeing the property around the corner at 36 East 60th Street between Madison and Park Avenues for a potential relaunch. That would be the fourth time in Le Cirque’s history that it had moved.
Le Cirque, 151 East 58th Street, 212-644-0202
