WANTED: The Location of Restaurant Liebrandt ($500 Reward)
Thursday, August 30, 2007
There is enough credible buzz in circulation to have us fairly convinced that Paul Liebrandt is opening his Restaurant Liebrandt this fall, perhaps quite soon. There was Thorn's sidebar-reveal, then a bit more from Mouthing Off. Plus, if one wades through copious amounts of Flash at PaulLiebrandt.com, one notes that the restaurant is announced on his site for "Fall 2007" (note screen cap). But -- and here's where this goes off the rails -- that's all we know. Liebrandt will not answer our emails or return our calls, and, much more surprising, he's been able to keep the location completely out of the press elsewhere. Frankly, it's driving us mildly insane.
There do exist two theories about where this restaurant will be.
The last known state of Montrachet, from the Kalina Archive.
1) Montrachet: Last we heard, several months back, there was a flutter of activity at Drew Nieporent's shuttered Montrachet in Tribeca. Combine this with the fact that Big Daddy Drew and Liebrandt have for moths been widely rumored to be collaborating and you've got Credible Theory #1: Montrachet will reopen this fall, remade as Restaurant Liebrandt.
2) Uptown: Because it will pimp a bigger reveal we're lining up for you down the line, we're not going to divulge our source on this one, but here's Credible Theory #2: Restaurant Liebrandt will be opening uptown, somewhere just off Fifth Avenue. This does, certainly, jive with the assumption that Liebrandt will once again be making a four-star attempt. After getting BruniBashed at Gilt and retreating to Europe to cook for the royal family of Monaco, he's back for in New York, out for blood.
We're sorry to say that these theories are more educated guesses than actual intel, which brings us to the point of all this. Eater is offering a $500 cash reward for the first person to send us the address and an interior photo (cell/iPhone snaps acceptable) of Restaurant Liebrandt. Think not that we are kidding; contest ends the second the location is revealed here or elsewhere. And now, we wait.
· Restaurant Leibrandt? [Thorn]
· Countdown to Restaurant Liebrandt [Mouthing Off]
· Paul Liebrandt [official site]
Both of those guesses are problematic. The March space probably has the amenities you would want for a high-end restaurant, since it was one before. But Nish had trouble attracting diners to that location, since it's WAY over on the East Side. I also question whether that neighborhood is a good fit for a Liebrandt kitchen.
The Varietal space, with its kitchen in the basement, would need a lot of renovation, and it might never be suitable for a high-end restaurant without a complete gut and rebuild.
Incidentally, although I liked what Liebrandt did at Gilt, I suspect a four-star attempt is a fool's errand in the current environment. The best indicator of what Bruni will do, is what Bruni has already done. And there's no evidence to suggest that Bruni will appreciate a Paul Liebrandt restaurant.
Anyone interested in renting the Varietal space ought to know that it smells like raw sewage during the daytime so you can forget about lunch business.
it's the montrachet space. the deal is signed, the ink is dry. liebrandt has been asking people who have worked with him in the past to come on board for this project. p.s.- save your money.
About Eater
From the newest temples of haute cuisine to the oldest dive bars in New York, from Batali to McNally, Eater has you covered. More about Eater...
Tipping Is Customary
Know about a restaurant opening or closing in your neighborhood, or other NYC restaurant gossip? Do let us know.
There is enough credible buzz in circulation to have us fairly convinced that Paul Liebrandt is opening his Restaurant Liebrandt this fall, perhaps quite soon. There was Thorn's sidebar-reveal, then a bit more from Mouthing Off. Plus, if one wades through copious amounts of Flash at PaulLiebrandt.com, one notes that the restaurant is announced on his site for "Fall 2007" (note screen cap). But -- and here's where this goes off the rails -- that's all we know. Liebrandt will not answer our emails or return our calls, and, much more surprising, he's been able to keep the location completely out of the press elsewhere. Frankly, it's driving us mildly insane. 
Full-Content Feed
