Le Cirque

Le Cirque was a French restaurant that has had several locations throughout the New York City borough of Manhattan for more than forty years. It is currently closed, with its future status unknown.

For the Seurat painting, see The Circus (Seurat painting).

Le Cirque
Restaurant information
Established1974 (1974)
Closed2018 (2018)
Owner(s)Maccioni Family
Food typeFrench
Dress codeFormal
Street address151 East 58th Street in Midtown Manhattan
CityNew York City
StateNew York
Postal/ZIP Code10022
CountryUnited States
Websitelecirque.com

New York City history

Le Cirque was established in 1974 by Italian Sirio Maccioni and continued to be run by the family through its closure in 2018.[1] It opened at the Mayfair Regent Hotel[2] at 58 East 65th Street in March 1974.[3] From 1986 to 1992, Daniel Boulud was executive chef and in 1995, it was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurant.[4][5] Boulud was succeeded in 1992 by Sylvain Portay,[6] and later Sottha Kuhn,[7] Pierre Schaedelin,[8] Christophe Bellanca (2007–2008)[9][10] Craig Hopson (beginning in 2008),[10] and Olivier Reginensi. In 1993, the tasting menu cost $90.[6] The restaurant at the Mayfair closed in 1996[3] and reopened as Le Cirque 2000 at the Palace Hotel in 1997 where it remained a hotspot through 2002.[11]

In 2006, the restaurant moved to a location in the Bloomberg Tower building at One Beacon Court (151 East 58th Street) and operated as Le Cirque New York at One Beacon Court.[12][13][14] It comprised 16,000 square feet (1,500 square meters) and was designed by interior designer Adam Tihany[15] and architect Costas Kondylis. The family's efforts to transition the restaurant were featured in the documentary film Le Cirque: A Table In Heaven directed by Andrew Rossi.[16]

Le Cirque New York closed on January 1, 2018, due to rising rent costs and other operational challenges,[11][1] but operated private events on a boat in 2019.[17] Its future plans are unknown as of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the restaurant industry[18] and the 2020 death of founder Sirio Maccioni.

Other locations

As of 2019, there were Le Cirque in Las Vegas and three Indian locations: New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The Las Vegas location at the Bellagio Hotel served as a second flagship location and had one Michelin Star and an AAA Five-Diamond rating.[19] Their lower-end sister brand Circo has a location in Abu Dhabi, but the Dallas location closed.[17]

References
  1. Rosner, Helen (October 11, 2017). "What Le Cirque Will Be Remembered For". The New Yorker. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  2. Cuozzo, Steve (October 17, 2017). "A final goodbye to the legendary celeb haven Le Cirque". New York Post. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  3. Fabricant, Florence (June 13, 2004). "Le Cirque Is Expected To Move On At Year's End". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  4. Sirio Maccioni Named Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree for 2014
  5. Chef Daniel Boulud: Biography DanielNYC.com
  6. Reichl, Ruth (October 29, 1993). "Restaurants". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  7. Chung, Jen (June 14, 2004). "Cirque du Sirio". Gothamist. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  8. "Jason Kallert Carries the Le Cirque Torch". Grub Street. February 27, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  9. "A 'Clean, Elegant' Lamb Trio at Le Cirque". Grub Street. October 5, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  10. Fabricant, Florence (November 17, 2008). "Craig Hopson Takes Over at Le Cirque". The New York Times.
  11. Tarmy, James; Krader, Kate (March 31, 2017). "What Caused the Downfall of New York City's Glitziest Restaurant?". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  12. Le Cirque | Manhattan | Restaurant Menus and Reviews. Zagat. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  13. Bruni, Frank (February 6, 2008). "In Defense of Decadence". The New York Times. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
  14. DeLucia, Matt (June 2006). "The return of Sirio and Le Cirque to New York". New York Restaurant Insider.
  15. Project Le Cirque Archived February 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Tihany Design
  16. Le Cirque: A Table In Heaven HBO
  17. Tuder, Stefanie (August 19, 2019). "Legendary Le Cirque Is Back, But Only for Pricey Events on a Yacht". Eater NY. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  18. Chaffin, Joshua (March 19, 2020). "Coronavirus brings down a New York restaurant empire". Financial Times. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  19. "Bellagio, Le Cirque". Bellagio.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
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