Closings

Orso’s Days Are Numbered, So MacPherson Steps In

Is it the end of the power lunch? Probably not if you’re rich, influential, and headed to The Grill on the Alley in two hours. However, Orso’s days of serving the Ari Golds of the world will come to an end by November 21st, reports The New York Times, saying its demise is a sure sign that leisurely fashions have shifted. It’s a bit of a stretch to connect Orso to Ma Maison and Brown Derby as a group of failed industry hangouts, since each has enjoyed longer runs and spawned more legends than your typical Hollywood-geared eatery. Orso’s end is best attributed to CAA and ICM moving to a new zip code, depriving the restaurant of its powerful client base.

If fashions are indeed changing, the future appears bright for the Orso space, which has been purchased by El Carmen/Bar Lubitsch/Jones owner Sean MacPherson, notes LAist. MacPherson has a dynamite touch for churning out cool places like the recent Roger Room and plans to change Orso to something else, though it might stay Italian. Meanwhile Orso, named for a Venice dog that founder Joe Allen once knew, will be survived by sibling sites in New York and London.

It’s Nearly a Wrap for Hollywood Power Lunches at Orso [New York Times]

Orso’s Days Are Numbered, So MacPherson Steps In