Lovers of Le Bernardin, one of the nation’s greatest restaurants since it opened in 1987, can celebrate.
The four-star, seafood-focused, modern-French eatery at 155 W. 51st St. has at last formally renewed its lease with landlord AXA Equitable, chef and co-owner Eric Ripert confirmed.
The 15-year deal, finalized last week, includes two five-year extension options, Ripert said.
If you thought the long-awaited renewal was already nailed down, it was anything but until a few days ago. Ever since Ripert revealed in his 2009 book “On the Line” that the lease was up in late 2011, Le Bernardin fans had sweated it out.
In a market where some landlords would cheerfully lose a four-star restaurant for a higher-paying drug store, nothing could be taken for granted. Earlier online rumors that the lease was already renewed were false.
Terms were not disclosed. Ripert and co-owner Maguy Le Coze will close the restaurant for a month beginning around Aug. 1 for a much-needed redesign.