This is your last weekend to get brunch at this soon-to-close 52-year-old West Village favorite
Opened in 1973 by Dr. George Schwarz, a St. Vincent's Hospital radiation oncologist turned restaurateur, Elephant & Castle quickly became a neighborhood institution. Schwarz named it after a London traffic circle (and the pub that once stood there), then filled the menu with a then-novel blend of New American comfort dishes and brunch before brunch was even a thing. The place became a magnet for locals, Parsons students and downtown creative types—plus famous fans like Isaac Mizrahi, Mo Rocca, Victor Garber and Julianne Moore.
The vibe? Think dark wood-paneled walls dotted with ceramic elephants, jazz playing at a civilized volume and staff who've known the regulars for decades. Chef Gary Kuschnereit has been in the kitchen since 1988; longtime manager Bonnie Jenkins started in '88 as well. Together they've kept the menu largely intact, ranging from French-style omelets and hearty sandwiches to Scarlett O'Hara's Coffee Cantata for dessert, even as dining trends came and went outside.
But even with its fiercely loyal following, Elephant & Castle hasn't been able to withstand rising costs and shrinking crowds. St. Vincent's closing in 2010 dealt a blow to the steady stream of neighborhood diners and the pandemic years made recovery nearly impossible. 'It could not sustain itself financially,' Jenkins told Eater, adding that the decision to close was heartbreaking but inevitable.
Regulars aren't taking the news lightly. Social media has been flooded with memories, tributes and desperate pleas for a white knight to swoop in. Some have floated a GoFundMe; restaurateurs Keith McNally and Danny Meyer have reportedly been approached to take over. So far, no savior has emerged.
So if you want to sip one last perfect cup of coffee (the late Mimi Sheraton once called it the city's best) or tuck into that Gold'n Green omelet, clear your weekend. Elephant & Castle's final service is this Sunday and after that, the elephants go dark.
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