This week, The New York Times reported that Le Cirque, one of New York's most storied power-lunching spots, will be officially closing after dinner on New Year's Eve. Tucked inside the Bloomberg Tower at 58th Street and Lexington Avenue, Le Cirque is one of New York City's most famous restaurants. The restaurant, established in 1974 by Sirio Maccioni, has been a staple of the New York dining scene since its inception.
Trouble has been brewing over the last few years — including the filing of several class-action and sexual-harassment lawsuits— and earlier this year, Le Cirque and its sister restaurant, Circo, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In September, President Trump hosted a GOP fundraising dinner at Le Cirque. In response, angry reviewers flooded the restaurant's Yelp page, including one commenter who said that Le Cirque was "aiding and abetting fascists and white supremacists." A Yelp account under the username Maccioni replied: "Remove this social media nazi white supremacist who incites hate and violence against hard working immigrant restaurant workers."
While high rent is reportedly the main reason for the restaurant's closing, the Maccionis are currently looking for a smaller space closer to Madison Avenue for a new location.
A spokesperson for the restaurant did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment on plans for Le Cirque.
Le Cirque is known for inventing spaghetti primavera, but it's been the launching pad for multiple famous chefs, including Daniel Boulud, David Bouley, and Terrance Brennan. A mixture of style, wonderful food, and famous clientele have given Le Cirque its place in New York City's fine-dining history.
In March 2016, we shadowed Mario Wainer, who's been the maître d’ and manager of Le Cirque for more than 25 years. He's helped seat a list of famous guests that includes Beyonce and Jay Z, members of The Rolling Stones, former US presidents, and even the pope. His work is like a song and dance between the waitstaff and the guests — he greets regular diners like he would an old friend, and sees that everything is running smoothly.
We followed Wainer on a typical Tuesday during Le Cirque's lunch hours, and learned how the power lunch has changed in his time there.
The restaurant sits inside the Bloomberg Tower in Midtown Manhattan. Many Bloomberg reporters, including food critic Peter Elliot, hop over to Le Cirque for lunch.
Le Cirque's front dining room seats about 120 people.
There's also the Le Cirque Cafe, which has full service at night, although some lunchtime regulars choose to eat their meals at the bar.
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