Harvey Weinstein Reportedly Made a Reservation at Mario Batali’s Babbo Last Night

Today in celebrity dining that is extremely on the nose: Harvey Weinstein, or at least someone repping him, made a 10:30 p.m. reservation last night at Babbo, the famed Greenwich Village restaurant still partly owned by chef Mario Batali.

Someone speaking for Weinstein, who posted the $1 million bail following his arrest on rape charges this year, tried to make a reservation for six people on Wednesday night, according to the restaurant. Diners who exited the restaurant around 10:45 p.m. said that he was in there as they left. A single photographer also hung out outside the restaurant, saying he was there waiting for Weinstein.

But reps with the restaurant say that Weinstein canceled the reservation, assuming the whole thing was a prank. A Weinstein spokesperson said “we do not know where he ate or who he knows” in response to questions about Weinstein and Batali’s relationship.

Babbo, of course, is one of Batali’s best known restaurants and now known for being a hotbed of alleged sexual misconduct — from both Batali and other staffers. The chef stepped away from the Michelin-starred restaurant following allegations and plans to divest from the empire he built with Joe Bastianich. But that process has not yet finalized, meaning he still benefits financially.

Update: This story has been updated to reflect new information from the restaurant.

Update 2: It was indeed a prank.

With reporting by Robert Sietsema