"Two very rich moms bragged to me on two separate occasions recently that Lee Hanson is taking over the kitchen at El Quijote. Evidently, this is the guy behind the devastation at the Minetta and was the former head chef at Balthazar. Of course we knew it was coming, but still. I went to El Quijote for a meal and ate food that wasn't 'amazing'; instead, it was simply perfect."
[*Update: Rumor confirmed]
Back in May, I first broke the news that El Quijote--the beloved, rough around the edges restaurant in the Chelsea Hotel since 1930--would be changing management. I was told that the restaurant would be upscaled and sanitized in a fashion similar to what happened to Minetta Tavern.
My intel was soon confirmed. Ed Scheetz, the man who took over the hotel, took over El Quijote, too. His rep said they would "retain the signature look and feel of El Quijote" while "maintaining its authenticity."
Last month, another reader informed me of a "very intimate party celebrating the last night under Manny Ramirez," the long-time manager of the restaurant.
NY Times: Hanson, Nasr, McNally at Minetta's
And now we hear about Lee Hanson, who did the cooking for the Keith McNally empire for several years, along with Riad Nasr. "It's time for us to brave new challenges," the duo said when they left McNally last year.
You have to love words like "signature" - bandied about like some rarefied jewel, which it is not. If everyone pushes the same sound-smart button in the form of lazy nouveau verbiage, it loses all meaning, which it hasn't much of, anyway. Thus, the truth is hidden - that the trove of affordable too-good-to-last discoveries in New York have lasted all they're going to.
ReplyDeleteHow many days do we have left?!
ReplyDeleteThis place has been on my list but since we're from out of town we haven't made it there yet.
Sigh.
Drunk brunches of the more common sort can't be far behind.
ReplyDeleteI loved sitting at the bar here back when I was drinking. Exceptional and classy bartenders, and they played MUZAK. Actual MUZAK. Don't see that surviving 'the change.' Another mark in the overloaded 'loss' column.
ReplyDeleteAy caramba! Ay yay yay yay! Le zumba el mango!
ReplyDeleteEl Quijote has been a regular go-to spot for me for at least the last 15 years. I'll try to get in there one more time before it becomes whatever it is that it's becoming. After that I'll give it another chance, but if personal experience with the changes that any of these other places went through are any indication, it's very likely that I'll be priced-out, cultured-out or both.
ReplyDeleteIt was good while it lasted…
The feeling of this place and the taste of the food....rich, deep and of another time will be sorely missed. New York is no longer for people who grew up here
ReplyDeleteI never see them cook a dish,and I work for them for 13 years,how they come super chefs???????
ReplyDeleteI was at El Quijote this weekend (November 26, 2016) and I did not notice any change yet. The same great affordable bar food and the same great old bartender. Did the deal go sour? I hope so! Maybe we'll get to keep our Quijote after all!
ReplyDelete