195477 Wed Jun 12 17:07:32 -0700 2002 3 18 Manhattan 0 1043531 We'll be returning from a two-week trip to Italy on July 5 (Friday), and stopping in NYC overnight en route to San Francisco. I get to New York about twice a decade, and want to have something really good (and non-Italian!) for early dinner that night. Gramercy Tavern is my first choice, but I'm wondering what to expect on the Friday of a long holiday weekend. Any hints (or hard info) relating to this coming holiday insofar as kitchen staffing, restaurant closures, etc. are concerned? -- for Gramercy in particular, but any general guidance will be most welcome. Wed Jun 12 17:07:32 -0700 2002 0 Jonathan King 1 1043539 Anyplace that's open on Friday 7/5 MIGHT be using product that came in on Wednesday, 7/3 -- if the purveyors are nice to their staffs. But at someplace the caliber of GT, I would not worry too much. (Although I personally would not order skate then.) If your implication is that the staff will be reduced to unqualified folks cooking your food -- again, places with high standards have staff well-trained enough to be able to do the work. As a former line cook, it amazes me that lay people think that if THE CHEF is absent, quality goes to hell. Not that you said that, but trust me, you don't cook in a place like that if you CAN'T do it the way you've been shown. (And anyway, in some restaurants the cooks do whatever they damn well please whether the chef is there or not -- but you don't want to go to that type of place.) If you're simply not sure who might be open that day, you can probably check on: Link: http://www.opentable.com Wed Jun 12 18:11:46 -0700 2002 1043531 0 CTer 2 1043593 My husband I tried to go a two years back on July 3rd, but they were closed for the holiday. They were closed s few days I think. Also, they are closing for a bit because they are renovating their kitchen. I am not sure when. Take care. Thu Jun 13 12:25:53 -0700 2002 1043539 0 jo 3 1043604 I believe they're closing for around two weeks in late August to renovate the kitchen, but the dates are still tentative. I think Danny Meyer's restaurants all generally close for the big holidays, perhaps including the 4th of July. Thu Jun 13 14:32:01 -0700 2002 1043593 0 Caitlin McGrath