Today Sauce magazine confirmed yet another swirling rumor: that Larry Forgione was closing An American Place (822 Washington, inside the Renaissance Grand Hotel), and that he would not be opening another restaurant here. For diners wanting one final meal from Forgione, the closing date was rumored to be October 30, although Sauce reports today that it could be as late as mid November.
An American Place came bounding onto the scene 6 years ago, buoyed by the reputation of the original AAP in NYC (New York Times, three stars) and the ongoing success of Forgione, a chef who enjoyed "celebrity chef" status long before the food networks tipped over that moniker.
In its last roundup of "Best Restaurants in St Louis" (published in October 2008), SLM heaped praise on AAP, calling it "St. Louis' best hotel dining and one of the best restaurants, period." The 2010 "Best Restaurants" issue is on newsstands now, and AAP did not make the cut this time 'round. In this writer's eyes, the 2008 accolades were largely due to the talents of then-Chef de Cuisine Josh Galliano (who left AAP in August 2008 to become Exec Chef at Monarch ).
In the last two years--the post-Galliano years--AAP mysteriously disappeared off the local radar, save for the occasional swanky party or wedding reception.
It is not clear what will become of the spectacular room with the 30-foot ceilings, by all estimations one of the most romantic dining spots in the city. An executive with the Renaissance Grand said it has not been determined whether the parent company (Marriott) would operate the restaurant itself or whether they would pursue another operator.
