Probably the most costly eating places in Los Angeles, Manzke, will shut on March 1, 2024, together with its sister French bistro Bicyclette, which is situated downstairs in the identical constructing. The newest closings by cooks Walter and Margarita Manzke add to 4 shutters whole up to now six months, leaving solely their flagship restaurant République in Mid-Wilshire remaining in Los Angeles.

Information of Bicyclette's closing unfold on Reddit over the weekend, although the unique submit has since been eliminated. Eater reached out to Walter Manzke for remark, and Sprout LA, the restaurant and hospitality administration group that works with the Manzkes in varied capacities, supplied an announcement confirming the March 1 deadline for each eating places. “Bicyclette Bistro & Manzke Restaurant regrets to announce that our final day of service can be March 1, 2024. The choice, reached after cautious consideration alongside our companions, Sprout LA, is because of monetary losses” , the assertion learn partially.

The Manzkes closed Petty Money Taquería on Beverly Boulevard after 10 years in late October 2023, adopted by the abrupt shuttering of Sari Sari Retailer after seven years in Grand Central Market in December 2023. The Manzkes didn’t clarify both closing .

Bicyclette opened in West Los Angeles simply south of Beverly Hills in June 2021, when indoor eating had simply made a tenuous comeback amid the closures of the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant served a well-crafted French bistro menu that apparently had a robust following from the neighborhood, touchdown a thirty eighth place spot. Los Angeles Instances 101 Greatest Eating places this yr. U InstancesCritic Invoice Addison referred to as it “Valentine to the timeless Parisian bistro” and wrote, “They could take American liberties with conventional dishes, however by no means in ways in which dishonor the soul of the kitchen.”

Manzke, the restaurant, opened in March 2022, bringing with it large aspirations, a $225 tasting menu, classic spirits, and refined service that helped earn a coveted Michelin star in December 2022. menu impressed by flavors of Los Angeles, weaving in Korean, Japanese, Thai and Mexican influences with premium elements like caviar, truffles and uni.

Bicyclette Bistro dining room with wooden chairs.

Eating room and bar space of ​​Bicyclette in West LA.
Wonho Frank Lee

Each areas have already got iconic occupants, together with Sotto and Check Kitchen downstairs and Picca, Ricardo Zarate's Peruvian restaurant, upstairs. Earlier than all these eating places, the constructing was a steakhouse referred to as Spark Woodfire Grill. The closings of Manzke and Bicyclette, two eating places that had been struggling financially, increase questions on what sort of operators could possibly be worthwhile in a location challenged by Pico Boulevard's fast-moving site visitors at nearly all hours of the day and few choices for car parking zone (Walter Manzke suffered deadly accidents after being hit by a automotive in a 2020 accident that occurred whereas strolling in entrance of the constructing.)

Now, with Manzkes' eponymous Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurant and Bicyclette closing on the identical time, some questions stay in regards to the standing of the cooks' partnership with Los Angeles hospitality heavyweight Sprout LA . Sprout LA is primarily owned by Michael Glick, founder and president of Vesta Foodservice, one of many largest specialty meals distributors within the nation.

Since its inception greater than 10 years in the past, Sprout LA has developed a status for opening chef-driven eating places with founder Invoice Chait, who has since moved on from the corporate. Presently working Vespertine, Meteora, Destroyer, Redbird, Rose Venice, Tsubaki, Ototo and Yangban. He was additionally part of Bestia, Otium, Damaged Spanish, Moruno, and others, making him maybe probably the most influential power within the LA restaurant scene of the final decade. The group lately parted methods with Rose chef Jason Neroni and closed its Greatest Guess restaurant after simply six months.

Along with République, which has been open since 2013, the Manzkes are partnered with greater than 10 Wildflour areas (with a menu clearly impressed by République) in Larger Manila, the Philippines, six Pink's Sizzling Canines shops and different eating places. .

The Manzkes ended their assertion to Eater by thanking workers and prospects:

Walter and Marge categorical their deepest gratitude to our pricey company for his or her unwavering help all through the years. Equally, a honest appreciation goes to our hardworking and devoted workers, who’ve been the spine of our success.

It’s his dedication that has made Bicyclette Bistro & Manzke Restaurant a beloved a part of the group. We sincerely thank everybody who participated in our journey, and we invite you to affix us at République to proceed the celebration of outstanding meals and hospitality.

Inside the Manzke restaurant in Los Angeles with a Persian rug and wooden tables and chairs with dim lighting.

The eating room at Manzke, a Michelin star restaurant in Los Angeles.
Wonho Frank Lee

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