The End of an Era: La Grenouille Announces It Will Close This Week
It's the end of an era. La Grenouille, the iconic midtown Manhattan restaurant located on East 52nd Street, is closing this week. Philippe Masson, the owner and son of founders Charles and Gisèle Masson, announced the decision on Instagram.
"La Grenouille has long been a New York institution, famed for its flower displays, gilded luxury and luminary clientele. Among its devotees were Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sidney Poitier, Salvador Dali, Sophia Loren, David Bowie, Truman Capote, Lee Radziwill—a veritable who's who of the world's most beautiful and celebrated. The restaurant's loyal patrons added to the glamour and exuberance that was always in the air at La Grenouille, where power lunches and grand dinners were the order of every day," the message read. "In a world where formal dining has repeatedly gone in and out of fashion, the starched white tablecloths, scarlet banquettes and fine cuisine at La Grenouille remained constant."
The note concludes, "An enormous amount of love, commitment and dedication went into making La Grenouille such an iconic destination. The closing marks the end of an era in New York City, but its legacy will live on in the hearts of all our friends and so many who enjoyed the great pleasures of this cherished restaurant. We thank you all for your loyal devotion throughout the years and through this difficult crossroad."
Already, tributes to La Grenouille have begun to appear on social media, including from T&C Editor in Chief Stellene Volandes, who wrote, "New York is always changing, even when we don’t want it to. @lagrenouillenyc that legendary room of pink lighting and red roses, of cheese soufflé and Christmas chicken, is closing its doors this week. It’s the end of an era, and a place filled with so many memories of friends and family and soft lighting in a harsh world. I will miss knowing that should I dream of a meal made entirely of soufflés to celebrate, or to console, there will be no Grenouille there to make it come true."
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