Wednesday, December 26, 2018

L'Espalier in Boston's Back Bay Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

One of Boston's best-known restaurants is getting ready to call it a day.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, L'Espalier on Boylston Street is closing on December 31, as chef/owner Frank McClelland says "The lease is up, and I don't really have the desire to continue to do this and renew." The post says that McClelland is working on a new project, though no information has been given on that as of yet.

L'Espalier, which first opened in 1978, has gained national recognition over the years as a high-end restaurant featuring French and regional cuisine that has seen the likes of such well-known people as Mick Jagger, Henry Kissinger, and Julia Child, according to the Globe. McClelland has owned the place since 1988, when he purchased it from Moncef Meddeb, who was the original owner and chef. The restaurant started out on Boylston Street, moving to Gloucester Street in 1982, then moving back to Boylston Street to its current home in 2008 next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

The address for L'Espalier is 774 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02199. Its website is at http://lespalier.com/

[January 9, 2019 update: According to a note from E. F. Smith & Son, an auction will take place at the site of L'Espalier on Wednesday, January 16.]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]