Gotham Restaurant first opened its doors as Gotham Bar & Grill in 1984, quickly establishing itself as a signature fine-dining destination. Credit: Sameer Neamah Mahdi/ Shutterstock.

Gotham Restaurant, a once-celebrated culinary landmark in New York City, US has closed its doors, marking the end of an era.  

The restaurant’s official website now bears a farewell message reading: “Gotham at 12 East 12 Street is permanently closed. We thank you for an extraordinary 40 years. Enjoy this site for sense memories of a place you loved”.

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The closure follows a series of financial struggles including a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and significant debt accumulation during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The restaurant’s financial woes were exacerbated by a cyberscam in June 2024 that cost $45,000 and hindered its ability to meet payroll obligations.  

This led to a temporary suspension of lunch and dinner services in August, described by a phone reply message as for “a few improvements”.

The restaurant’s financial difficulties were further highlighted by court documents revealing debts including almost $484,000 to the New York State Department of Taxation Finance Bankruptcy/Special Procedures Section.  

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Suppliers, credit card companies, utility providers and other service providers are among those owed money, and the underlying issues have proved too great to overcome.

Gotham Restaurant first opened its doors as Gotham Bar & Grill in 1984, quickly establishing itself as a signature fine-dining destination under the guidance of executive chef and partner Alfred Portale.  

Portale’s innovative “tall food” presentations became emblematic of the restaurant’s trend-setting approach.  

Despite parting ways with Gotham in 2019 to operate his own Italian outlet, Portale’s legacy at Gotham remains influential.  

His successor Victoria Blamey continued the tradition of culinary excellence during her tenure.  

Meanwhile, co-owners Cassandra and Bret Csencsitz plan to maintain connections with their community through the Friends of Gotham newsletter, as revealed by Andrea Strong, author of The Strong Buzz substack [online platform].