Don't get us wrong, endless salad and breadsticks are great, but this tidbit from Post columnist Steve Cuozzo's feature on the recent rash of restaurant closings was pretty depressing: "Prudential Douglas Elliman's Faith Hope Consolo said landlords want chain "Fig & Olive types." "Every time I get a space that's fit for a restaurant, the landlord calls and says, 'I don't want a typical restaurant -- I want Pret a Manger," she said. "Or, 'Bring me another Olive Garden.'" Well, not only are you family at the OG, you can also apparently find classy chicks.
Cuozzo adds Angelo & Maxie's and Maxie's Grill to a list of closings that includes Tabla, Matsugen, Japonais, Montenapo, Convivio and Alto, noting "All were big (more than 200 seats including bars and lounges). Most were helmed by big-name owners or chefs, and/or occupied prime locations." BR Guest's Stephen Hanson opined, "The big ones have double-edged swords. When the economy's great, you can do very well. When it's not, the expense of running such a large operation can eat you up very quickly."
There's also some sniping about upcoming joints: One broker referred to the new Danny Meyer restaurant, North End Grill, which will be headed by Tabla's former chef Floyd Cardoz, "I don't know how much business there is in Battery Park City. But at least Lloyd Blankfein will have a good place for lunch."
