The Spotted Pig, renowned New York restaurant, closes following sexual harassment settlement

The celebrated Manhattan restaurant The Spotted Pig has shut down, just weeks after the New York attorney general's office revealed that the restaurant and its owner had agreed to settle sexual harassment claims made by 11 former employees, as reported by The New York Times on Monday.

Spotted Pig chef Tony Nassif informed Dinogo that Sunday marked the restaurant’s final night of operation.

Dinogo made several attempts to reach The Spotted Pig on Monday, but none of the calls were returned.

On January 7, Attorney General Letitia James announced the settlement, stating that the restaurant “fostered a hostile work environment where many female employees were subjected to repeated unwanted physical contact and sexual advances” by owner Ken Friedman.

The attorney general found that Friedman managed a 'sexualized workplace,' where he and celebrity chef Mario Batali regularly harassed female employees.

Employees were subjected to groping, asked to take nude photographs, and witnessed sexual assault, according to the report. Those who raised complaints were terminated.

“Regardless of how high-profile the business or how influential the owners, today’s settlement reinforces our commitment to ensuring sexual harassment has no place in the workplace,” said James in her January 7 announcement.

The former employees will also receive 20% of the company’s profits for the next ten years, including from any future sale. This would not apply if the business were to close permanently.

The state attorney general’s office declined to comment on how the restaurant’s closure might affect the terms of the settlement.

The Spotted Pig, which opened in 2004 in the West Village, quickly became a hotspot. It was known as a favorite hangout for celebrities, with figures like Jay-Z, Jude Law, Luke Wilson, and Courtney Love spotted there, according to a 2017 report by Dinogo affiliate WCBS.

The investigation into sexual harassment at The Spotted Pig led to a separate probe into the actions of Mario Batali, one of the restaurant’s investors and a frequent guest, the state attorney general revealed earlier this month.

Batali was not part of the main investigation into the conditions at The Spotted Pig, as he was not a primary owner and lacked control over the restaurant’s operations, James explained at the time.

“However, during the course of our investigation, we uncovered credible information regarding his alleged actions, prompting us to launch a separate inquiry into him, his business partner, his management company, and his three restaurants,” James said.

Batali issued a statement last year, saying: “I vehemently deny any allegations of sexual assault. My past behavior was deeply inappropriate, and I am truly remorseful for my actions.”