Legendary restaurateur Sirio Maccioni has died at the age of 88, The New York Post referred to Le Cirque as “the city’s premier showplace for the era’s excess and glamour” during the ’80s. Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump, with wives Ivana and Marla Maples, and Barbara Walters were regulars. Even before that, Frank Sinatra gave his review of each meal by being handed a sheet of paper at the end and writing “yes” or “no” as to whether he approved of his meal.
Le Cirque launched the careers of top chefs including Daniel Boulud, David Bouley and Jacques Torres, acting as a power hub during its more than 40-year run.
When the restaurant finally closed in 2017, Sirio recalled some of its greatest moments to The Post, like how Henry Kissinger pretended not to love dessert. “So we would hide him a crème brûlée behind the bar … he’d take a trip to the bathroom and eat some pieces of the creme brûlée on his way back,” Sirio said.