Upper East Side French Stalwart L'Absinthe Forced to Shutter Without Warning Over the Weekend

After nearly 20 years, L'Absinthe, the popular and well reviewed brasserie at 227 East 67th Street, suddenly closed its doors this past weekend. Although calls to the restaurant still yield a phone recording advertising Thanksgiving and Christmas reservations, chef/owner Jean Michel Bergougnoux posted a letter to customers online on Saturday, saying "An unforeseen and urgent situation with the new building proprietor is the cause for immediate closing.''  He thanked his dedicated staff and as a closing wrote "It is with great sorrow, yet with great appreciation for a most precious chapter in my career that I bid you 'au revoir.'"

Bergougnoux explains to Eater: "It happened quite suddenly and I don't know exactly what I am going to do. My customers are sad and upset, but real estate people don't care about small businesses. They are going to knock this building down and put up a six story one. Everything has to be out by November 18th. I will take a six month break, and then maybe look for a new place on the Upper East Side.''