David Burke's Tavern 62 closes down after alleged fight
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Celebrity “Iron Chef’’ competitor David Burke’s Upper East Side eatery Tavern 62 was abruptly 86’d on Tuesday — leading to a scuffle between a staffer and the company that managed the restaurant, sources said.
ESquared Hospitality, which ran the eatery in a deal with Burke, said in a statement that its workers were on-site in the morning “to take the necessary measures to close the restaurant.”
Burke’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, said tersely, “We’ll respond accordingly.”
A source said Burke, who once took on Iron Chef Bobby Flay on the hit TV show, didn’t know the place was being shut down.
Workers from ESquared got into an argument with a female staffer at the restaurant, and she accused one of the men of grabbing her, and the cops were called, sources said. Burke was not present.
NYPD officers arrived at the upscale tavern, which occupies a townhouse at 135 E. 62nd St., after receiving a 911 call at about 11:45 a.m., police said.
A manager at a nearby restaurant who declined to give his name told The Post that seven or eight cops responded and escorted restaurant staff off the property.
ESquared claimed that “a person completely unrelated to the restaurant or our organization made a false claim that led to the Police Department’s unnecessary arrival.”
A sign posted on the restaurant’s front door Tuesday afternoon read: “It is with great regret that we have decided to close our doors after 2 years in business. Thank you for all your support and memories.”
Puzzled patrons who arrived for the tavern’s 4 p.m. happy hour were confronted by the surprise closure note and a chained-and-padlocked front door.
“I’m just stunned. Wow,” said one flummoxed customer. “I know David. I mean, he parks his car right here. But I had no idea. I just can’t believe it. It was open yesterday.”
Tavern 62 opened in 2016 in the same building that housed Burke’s popular seafood restaurant Fishtail, which closed earlier the same year over a lease dispute, according to eater.com.
Additional reporting by Alex Taylor and Ben Feuerherd
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