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In a curious move, Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich's three star Italian diva Del Posto will lose its Enoteca, or the cafe portion of the restaurant. Those familiar with the set up know that the 30-seat cafe is where Del Posto has, since May '06, offered a great prix fixe deal and lower priced menu options. Now, Sam Sifton reports, the separate menu will be gone, as will a group of tables on the mezzanine level:
Does the change mean the recession is over and the restaurant is moving back in the direction of maximum exclusivity? Maybe. Maybe not. The partners also announced that the lunch service they’ve been offering on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays will now take on a fixed price: $29 for three courses, year-round.The move will result in a more cohesive, streamlined restaurant, but the budget-hungry masses will be relegated to lunch, leaving those who can splurge to dine with their own kind.
· Del Posto Posts New Prix Fixe, Fewer Tables [NYT]
