From today’s NY Times; another NY landmark bites the dust:
“La Côte Basque, the high-society temple of classic French cuisine that became the setting of a catty and thinly veiled excerpt from an unfinished novel by Truman Capote, plans to shut down early next year. The closing, after 45 years of serving guests like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Babe Paley and Frank Sinatra, is considered by some restaurant watchers as another blow to New York’s dwindling corps of rigidly traditional haute cuisine establishments, with their high-calorie sauces, dress codes and taciturn waiters. La Côte Basque, at 60 West 55th Street since 1995 and just a block to the east before that, is known as much for its elegantly arrayed tables, set against a backdrop of handsome French seaside murals, as for its food. Mr. Rachou said he spent more than $2,200 a week on flowers and more than $3,000 on linen. The restaurant was opened in the late 1950’s by Henri Soulé, who earlier opened Le Pavillon. It quickly became an intimate dining spot for the upper crust.”
—If the Algonquin ever closes, I am just leaving, that’s all.