The city’s most exclusive restaurants are cooking up wildly successful donation campaigns.
Hot spots including Carbone, Daniel, Le Bernardin, Masa and Jean Georges have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars via GoFundMe campaigns over the past month since they were ordered to close to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“We are grateful for your consideration and generosity and eagerly await the day we get to serve you once again,” reads the GoFundMe site for the restaurant group of Jean-Georges Vongerichten, which includes his namesake restaurant in Trump Tower, Mercer Kitchen, AbcV and others that employ over 1,000.
The company has collected $185,265 from more than 518 donors, including a $38,000 gift under Vongerichten’s name and $20,000 from business partner Phil Suarez, according to the site.
“100% of the donations made here will go to our employees who are no longer able to earn a living because of this forced closure to the public,” the webpage reads.
Three-Michelin-starred Le Bernardin closed its GoFundMe campaign after raising $226,222.
“The closure of Le Bernardin and Aldo Sohm Wine Bar due to COVID-19 has caused a great many people to reach out to see how they can help our team through this difficult time, and so we have created the Le Bernardin and Aldo Sohm Wine Bar Family Fund,” wrote owner/chef Eric Ripert and his business partner Maguy Le Coze on the site. All proceeds will go to employees at the Midtown restaurant and its nearby wine bar, they said.
It’s unclear if the owners donated to the campaign — Ripert boasts a net worth of about $20 million — but deep-pocketed diners hoping to preserve their hangouts until the pandemic ends answered the call.
“I love Le Bernardin and these days I am dreaming often about dining again soon. Thank You to the LB team for taking such wonderful care every time I have dined. See you soon!” $500 donor Susan wrote in the comments section of the GoFundMe page.
The company did not reply to questions about the fundraiser.
Widely known as America’s most expensive restaurant, Japanese eatery Masa at Columbus Circle has collected $73,800. The fundraiser organizer did not respond to a message seeking comment. It’s unclear if company owner Masa Takayama, with a net worth around $10 million, has contributed.
The largest donation, $30,000, was made under the names of cosmetics tycoons Ronald and Jo Carole Lauder.
Daniel Boulud, the owner of seven New York City restaurants including Daniel and Café Boulud, has brought in $171,422. The famed chef said he set up a nonprofit, named Hand in Hand, to distribute donations to employees.
“When this all passes we look forward to welcoming you again so that we can pamper you with our warm hospitality, affection and good food,” he wrote in a letter posted to the GoFundMe page.
Daniel Boulud CEO Sebastien Silvestri said he, Boulud and other company leaders contributed to the campaign, but declined to say how much. “Everyone wanted to pitch in … I think most of us were anonymous, and we would like to keep it like that,” Silvestri said.
Silvestri said the money has been distributed evenly among 150 employees.
A donor listed as “Jack Bovender Jr.,” the name of the former Hospital Corporation of America CEO, gave $20,000 to Daniel. The name also appeared next to a $10,000 donation to Jean Georges.
Major Food Group, which owns the Greenwich Village Italian eatery Carbone and Midtown steakhouse The Grill, has raised $101,181 of its $500,000 goal. The company said it will match all donations, 100% of which “will go directly toward supporting our teams who need immediate relief.”
Together, the five restaurants have brought in $757,890.
Other high-end restaurant companies are fundraising on non-public sites, such as Per Se owner Thomas Keller, who set up a 501 (c)(3) patrons can donate to via a digital platform similar to GoFundMe, called Donorbox.