http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/02/11....ap/index.html

Drat. I always wanted to eat there.

This seems to be part of a trend perhaps-Spago just very quietly closed it's Chicago location.

The times they are a' changin'. The old guard restaurants like Lutece (43 years old) just don't cut it with my Generation X. Too stodgy and boring.

In my humble opinion, and I've only dined there twice, the Chicago Spago closed because the food & service were mediocre at best and just plain bad at worst.

Gekko, I never ate there but what you report is what I've heard as well. Too many other good restaurants here and in NYC to pay too much for the name.

I've been to Lutece twice in NYC and both times were expense account business.

Both times I saw Kathy Lee Gifford eating dinner there.

It really was never the same after Andre Soltner sold it and left in 1994. It was getting by more on its name than anything else the last 10 years.

I agree, almesq. This is not as sad, though, as when Lespinasse closed its doors. What a shame.

Also closing, in March, is La Cote Basque.

I had some wonderful dinners at Lutece. The headwaiter was like a father figure, comforting and attentive. The food divine. Quenelles! It has been a while. Not long ago I noted on this thread that the company that owned Lutece also owned the tackily glorious Lorelei in Islamorada Florida. Two opposites making for a truly schizoid restaurant operation.

I am totally bored with new cuisine, after 25 years I think it has taken silly turns as the new "chefs" (graduated by the thousands and so few truly gifted) try "top this" cuisine.

RIP Lutece. Most of your most serious patrons are dead anyway. Babe Paley and her gang.

The garden room was lovely. (sigh).

Next on the block: Caravelle and La Grenouille. LilMsFoodie.

Thank goodness the "Food Art" fad has gone by the wayside.

Presentation is one thing but the inch-in-diameter-twelve-inches-tall thing was too much.

That is too bad about Lutece. I read that the Las Vegas Lutece is doing very well though I have not eaten there yet.

On a side note, I also saw on CNN that Rocco of "The restaurant" is being sued by it's investors. They claim the restaurant has lost over 600k. How is that possible when the restaurant is packed every night?

Rocco's packed?? The few times that I have been there, it was almost empty (Wed or Thurs night around 9:00). I have to say, the food was pretty horrible.

I had one of the greatest meals of my life there in the days of Soltner. Was that really 10 years ago?

Isn't it scary that the mid nineties were ten years ago?

overpriced and pretentious. good riddance.

Lutece wasn't pretentious at all. It was superb cuisine in a formal atmosphere with more to do with a Paris fine restaurant than a place like La Cote Basque or Cirque. Many are intimidated by French service. It isn't pretentious at all, it is simply a well oiled machine that isn't even noticed when properly done. Lutece was good service at its best when it was in its heyday 10-20 years ago. I imagine it was just used as a status symbol for its owner for the past few years. The stock market crash and 9/11 have pretty much killed that kind of haute restaurant. Pity.

LMF

Hi - new to your forum, hope you don't mind the intrusion. I am a newby culinary writer and recently visited Le Periogord off of 1st (east side). Food is very classis French -- right out of Briton is the chef...worked for a long while at Lutece...

Prices are not uncomfortable -- $32 lunch $64 dinner pre fixe. Food is fresh, well prepared. People/Owner very, very nice. Excellent wine list, runs about double what you would pay in a wine store -- which keeps it moderate.

Servers are knowledgable...friendly -- classic .. thought I would share.

jac