Pino Luongo's 11 Year-Old Centolire Files for Bankruptcy

Once prolific restaurateur Pino Luongo is officially closing his last NYC property, the Upper East Side Tuscan restaurant Centolire. Luongo officially filled for bankruptcy on June 1, reports Bloomberg, saying: "We will close the business." The restaurant filed for Chapter 11 back in May without a lawyer, which Luongo said he could not afford. He has since asked that the prior case be dismissed so that Centolire's assets may be auctioned off.

Trouble appeared imminent as early as this past January when the restaurant was seized and closed temporarily. As of right now, the phone at the restaurant is disconnected and Luongo and his legal team declined speaking with Bloomberg. At one time, Luongo ran a mini-empire, with restaurants like l Cantinori, Sapore di Mare in the Hamptons, Le Madri in Chelsea, and the Tuscan Square at Rockefeller Center. The revered but often controversial chef was described by Anthony Bourdain in his book Kitchen Confidential as being, "...a man envied, feared, despised, emulated and admired by many who have worked for and with him." Centolire, which was opened 11 years ago in 2001, is currently shuttered.
· Luongo’s Centolire to Close Amid Restaurant Bankruptcy [Bloomberg]
· Centolire Siezed! [~ENY~]
· All Coverage of Pino Luongo [~ENY~]
· All Coverage of Centolire [~ENY~]
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