For a few months now, there’s been speculation about what’s happening at Falai, the high-end Italian restaurant at 68 Clinton Street. This morning Grub Street noticed an ominous message on Falai’s web site, indicating that the business was “temporarily closed due to technical difficulties.”
Now there’s more information from Florence Fabricant of the New York Times. A short time ago, Iacopo Falai told her the 7-year old restaurant has closed for good. “I want to concentrate on the cafe on Lafayette and be in the kitchen more, I want to cook,” Mr. Falai told Flo-Fab. “The Lower East Side neighborhood has changed, I think it might be less fashionable, I don’t see as many customers coming from the Upper East Side,” he added.
The Times was told Falai Panetteria at 79 Clinton Street will remain open. Online real estate listings, however, suggest changes may be in store at this location, as well. The 600 square foot space is being offered for lease ($6300/month plus key money). There have been suggestions that Falai Panetteria would move into a larger space in the same building (the former home of the Lucky variety store that closed last year).
