Chevalier in Midtown’s Baccarat Hotel Quietly Closes its Doors

After a little over a year, the much-balleyhooed Chevalier in the Baccarat hotel, which offered a three-course $96 prix fixe, has suddenly closed its doors. "We served the last meal Saturday and are looking forward a new concept in the fall,'' said one employee. "We found out about a week ago.'' While some staff is staying on at the hotel, Shea Gallante, who earned three New York Times stars at Cru and two at Chevalier is already gone.

"It's a sad moment when a restaurant closes, '' said Charles Masson, the former La Grenouille frontman, who helped open Chevalier, but departed quickly. "A restaurant is a very costly endeavor - it's not something you should try at home.'' Masson is now gearing up to open Majorelle with Christian Delouvrier in the old Post House space.