Billionaire Ronald Perelman and bistro owner Philippe Delgrange have stuck a fork in their famous feud over Le Bilboquet.
The Revlon mogul, who once battled the East 63rd Street eatery over “illegal” sidewalk seats, is amazingly now Delgrange’s pal — and backing him in opening a much larger Le Bilboquet two blocks away.
Back in 2004, Perelman went to war over the tiny, celebrity-fave restaurant’s four outdoor tables, which he said were causing too much noise on the block, where he owns a townhouse.
He and Delgrange eventually reached a compromise after the dispute ended up before the City Council and several city agencies.
Now, Perelman is investing in the new Le Bilboquet at 20 E. 60th St. along with guitar great Eric Clapton and real estate powerhouse Steven Witkoff, Delgrange said yesterday.
As my colleague Jennifer Gould Keil reported, the original place at 25 E. 63rd St. had to close on Dec. 31 after 27 years when its lease expired — but Delgrange was looking for a new location in the East 60s.
The new address was revealed yesterday — and it is, appropriately, next door to French Institute Alliance Française and across the street from two other “scene” restaurants, Philippe and Il Mulino Uptown.
It will open in May and will be four times larger than the old Le Bilboquet — at least 2,000 square feet, compared with the original’s 450-square-foot doll-house dimensions. It will have 100 seats, up from 35.
But weren’t Perelman and Delgrange once enemies?
“It was a big fight,” Delgrange admits. “But,” he laughed, “you know, sometimes . . . Ron’s a super- good guy.
“When they found out I was losing the restaurant, these three guys came up to me,” Delgrange said. “Eric’s been a friend for years.
“They all said, ‘Don’t worry.’ ”
Unlike its predecessor, the new Le Bilboquet has a strong sidewalk presence, including four large windows of what was once a Dooney & Bourke store.
A source told us the rent was a whopping $900,000 a year, but Delgrange would not comment on its accuracy. A rep for Perelman confirmed he’s an investor.