NOMEAT/CHELSEA—Batali et al have won a summary judgement in their Del Posto lease battle, according to Page Six: "MARIO Batali and his partners have won a round in their endless court battle with their landlord at Del Posto. Manhattan Civil Court just granted a summary judgment in favor of Batali & Co., whom landlord Somerset Partners accuses of illegally commandeering unauthorized space. "We feel vindicated and are happy to see justice prevail," said Batali partner Joseph Bastianich. But Somerset's Keith Rubenstein told The Post's Braden Keil, "Their vindication will be short-lived." He said the judgment was an aside to the main lawsuit regarding the integrity of the lease, which will be argued in Manhattan Supreme Court." [NYP]
WEST VILLAGE—Primo Valentine's Day spot Little Owl encountered some facilities issues Monday. From a diner, who was there: "Their electricity went out, and their exhaust wasn't working properly. They couldn't serve us dinner. They comped our drinks, and were very apologetic. They couldn't have apologized anymore. I hope this has been fixed." Indeed, we're told all issues have been resolved and tonight's love bird service should go off smoothly. [EaterWire]
MIDTOWN EAST—Cutlets reports on a chef shuffle at Aureole: "Friday is the last day for Dante Bucozzi, the Aureole chef whose Italian cooking kept the restaurant popular after its New American heyday under Charlie Palmer and then Gerry Hayden. Bucozzi will be opening an eatery in Cleveland, his hometown. "It was a situation I couldn't say no to," he tells us. "The restaurant [I'm taking over] was an institution. We're going to call it Dante and reopen after Labor Day." Aureole's corporate chef Tony Aizzi will be promoted to Bucozzi's spot. [Cutlets]
