Orik Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 Probably wise to come back into the place with a completely different concept rather than make the changes and pretend it's still Savoy. I can't pretend to be surprised: Back Forty has been such a slamming success, especially through the bleak desert of 2009 when fine restaurants were standing empty, that the temptation to repeat must be irresistible. My only question is whether that Savoy crowd in that SoHo location will be immediately wooed by a Back Forty style. Worth a try for sure. The off-smelling burger place on Prince & Lafayette is doing fantastic business, and Back Forty is selling $24 entrees (and some $35 steaks) on Avenue B, so I'm sure they'll do just fine on that corner. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oakapple Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 It's worth noting that although Savoy felt like an "adult" restaurant, it wasn't all that expensive compared to restaurants in its peer group. You'd pay about the same at Cookshop or ABC Kitchen. The white fireplace and candlelit setting created the appearance of a special occasion place, but the price tag was comparable to many other restaurants with a far less romantic atmosphere. What Savoy lacked was buzz, and with locavore restaurants opening on every street corner, it no longer had a unique selling proposition, other than its lovely ambiance. It needed more regulars who would treat it like a "drop in" place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oakapple Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 By the way, the Savoy website (savoynyc.com) takes you to the Back Forty website. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daisy Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 The ambiance is indeed lovely, and I have been eating at Savoy off and on for about the past fifteen years, so I must like something about it (the fries and their salads spring to mind first). But I have had a lot of uneven meals there and I don't think it is all that inexpensive for what it is. And yes as oakapple pointed out there are now a lot of Savoy clones, although I would take it over Cookshop any day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lippy Posted April 21, 2011 Author Share Posted April 21, 2011 I liked the idea of the restaurant, but always left disappointed somehow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 I liked the idea of the restaurant, but always left disappointed somehow. That sums up my dinner experiences there, but I was often happy when I went for lunch. Had lunch upstairs with the Munchkin a few weeks ago; last time, I guess. It has long been a Munchkin favorite, probably because it was the first restaurant where she got treated like a regular. Will have to break the news gently. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 I liked the idea of the restaurant, but always left disappointed somehow. Me, too. (Also have to make obligatory mention of the fact that Savoy was Ground Zero of NBC, the place at which many of the couples who started the original NBC restaurants met.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rich Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 I always wanted to like it more, but somehow never did. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yvonne johnson Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 The physical space has a very depressing feel. (Maybe it was different years ago.) I only went once for the Ferguson dinner, but thought it was a drag. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 Not the best way to see it because it was so overcrowded. It's usually a pleasant, peaceful atmosphere. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Closed last Saturday. Did anyone go one last time? I actually ate lunch here a few weeks ago before I heard it was closing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oakapple Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 We don't seem to have a Back Forty thread, so this is as good a place as any to note that Back Forty West, which occupies the former Savoy space, will close on July 15, and chef Peter Hoffman will exit the restaurant business. The original Back Forty in the East Village, which opened while Savoy was still in business, closed a couple of years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 This is sad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Suzanne F Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Oh my. We were just there last Friday for the crab boil (AYCE Old Bay crabs, grilled corn, smashed potatoes, cornbread with honey butter, and fruit cobbler) and had a nice chat with Peter. Of course, I'm not surprised he didn't mention that. Well, he's been in the business for a long time and deserves a break. ETA: I just saw that I had an email about this tonight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orik Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Just imagine what Hoffman and Bouley can do if they join sabbaticals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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