Foodies mourn as celebrity chef announces closure of iconic flagship New York City restaurant after 25 years

By WILKO MARTÍNEZ-CACHERO, US REPORTER Published: 21:08, 6 June 2026 | Updated: 21:18, 6 June 2026 Foodies lamented the closure of a celebrity chef's flagship New York City restaurant after a quarter–century of service. Tom Colicchio, best known for being the head judge on Top Chef, delighted Manhattan diners at Craft, in Flatiron, with his simple but daring cuisine for 25 years, but that is set to come to an end on June 27. Announcing Wednesday that his restaurant would not operate past the end of the month, Colicchio, 63, said that he was still 'grappling with the situation.' 'Twenty–five years is a long time in New York,' he told The New York Times. The chef added: 'Things have changed, rents and expenses for everything keep going up. You can't function.' Colicchio said that diners were 'more adventurous' when his restaurant opened, noting that he could sell '26 squab a night' back then. 'Now, I'm lucky to get two orders,' Colicchio said. Craft was given three stars by the outlet in 2001 and 2011. It was ranked among the 70 best restaurants to eat in New York as recently as 2024. Tom Colicchio, best known for being the head judge on Top Chef, will close his lower Manhattan restaurant Craft on June 27 Craft has operated for 25 years but Colicchio said in a statement on Instagram he was struggling to pay its lease Colicchio said that 'doing things the Craft way came with a hitch' as he discussed the imminent shuttering of his flagship New York City restaurant Colicchio explained the reasoning behind Craft's name as he shed light on the motives behind its shuttering. 'My approach was food that was craft, not art,' he told The New York Times. In a statement published Wednesday on his Instagram account, Colicchio called his restaurant a 'radical experiment that worked.' 'It married daring austerity with communal warmth, betting on the idea that diners would enjoy having a shared, connected experience and the best food of their lives at the same time,' he wrote. Colicchio thanked his customers and staff before acknowledging that 'doing things the Craft way came with a hitch.' The well–known chef explained that the restaurant had struggled to pay its lease in a neighborhood that had turned into New York City's 'restaurant gold coast.' He said it was time to usher in 'new experiments that can compete in today's attention economy.' Users thanked him for the years of service as they lamented the closure of the restaurant. ‘Thank you Chef! You have been a part of all of my cooking days,’ one said. Another added: ‘Many magnificent meals there. Craft will be missed.’ Colicchio told The New York Times that his approach 'was food that was craft, not art' Customers were attracted to Craft for their focus on seasonal dishes featuring locally–bought ingredients. Colicchio called his restaurant a 'radical experiment that worked' on Wednesday Colicchio's restaurant will discount all wines at 50 percent for the remainder of June ahead of its closure The restaurant's menu includes seasonal dishes featuring locally–bought, high-quality ingredients. ‘To this day my favorite restaurant,’ a third commenter said. ‘Will surely miss dining here in the future but cherish all the memories. Thanks for the ride.’ ‘Loved every meal there,’ another added. However, it has also been celebrated for its stunning and award–winning design. Craft consists of an eighty–foot long room that features a steel and bronze wine vault, as well as a curved Brazilian walnut and leather–paneled wall, according to architects Bentel and Bentel. The main dining room sits 100 guests, according to the restaurant's website. 'We left as many spaces unvarnished as we could – stripped of disguises, the building materials carried a rustic beauty all their own, just as a perfect mushroom or radish or sea scallop does before sauces and garnish,' Colicchio said in his book. Colicchio said the restaurant will offer 50 percent off wines during what he said would be a 'month-long party,' but as of Saturday, all Craft reservations through the month had been snapped up.  After closing Craft, Colicchio will still own other restaurants, including Temple Court and the Bar Room in the Beekman Hotel downtown and Craftsteak in Las Vegas. He also remains head judge on Top Chef, which is airing its 23rd season.    The Daily Mail has reached out to Colicchio for further comment. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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