Cuozzo Criticizes Plans for 9/11 Museum Restaurant

Following up on his tweets from Tuesday, today Post critic Steve Cuozzo unleashes his full rant about Union Square Events' proposed 80-seat restaurant at the National September 11 Memorial Museum. Restaurant legend Danny Meyer says that his company is "not doing this for crass or commercial reasons." But still, Cuozzo takes issue with the very fact that anyone is opening a restaurant on this site, for any reason:

Memorial/museum president Joe Daniels argues that such solemn sites as Gettysburg and Israel's Yad Vashem have restaurants, too.

But Gettysburg was fought 151 years ago, and Yad Vashem is not at the site where the Holocaust took place.

The 9/11 Museum is where the terrorist attack took place a mere 13 years ago — and where remains of 1,115 unidentified victims are stored.

Meyer explains that his team is paying "significantly above-market" rent, and they are donating a percentage of the proceeds to the museum. The restaurateur and his team also have extensive experience with operating dining establishments at museums like the MOMA and the Whitney. But Cuozzo writes: "I can go for tomato soup and grilled cheese after staring at Picassos for a few hours. My appetite isn't the same after a tour through hell."

The restaurant, dubbed The Pavilion Cafe, is slated to open this summer.
· 9/11 Museum's 'Comfort Food' Cafe is a Disgrace [NYP]
· Union Square Events to Open September 11 Museum Cafe [~EN~]
[A view of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum via Amy Dreher/Curbed NY]