Bayport's famed Le Soir restaurant is rebuilding and hopes to open by the Christmas holiday, according to the eatery's owners.
"We are on our way to reconstructing after the fire and working as fast as we can," owner Janina Kaziewicz told Patch in an interview today. "We are shooting for Christmas to re-open."
The famed French restaurant, which has been at its Bayport Avenue-Montauk Highway location since 1977, suffered a severe fire in the early hours of July 14 that fire officials believed began in the basement.
Workers have been seen doing construction work and repair for several weeks.
The restaurant will be rebuilt as it was, said Kaziewicz, who owns the establishment with her husband and top chef Michael.
"We are working under a fire permit which means it will be the same size restaurant as before. There is no room for expansion. It will be the way it was," said Kaziewicz, who is affectionately known by longtime customers as Jasia.
I live in Bayport, so I get preference! But that does make me prejudiced, so if I say it is the best French restaurant this side of Ile Saint Louis, you won't call to see if you can get in. But be kind and don't step on me -- I'm the guy in the sleeping bag waiting in line for the opening.
I live in Bayport, so I get preference! But that does make me prejudiced, so if I say it is the best French restaurant this side of Ile Saint Louis, you won't call to see if you can get in. But be kind and don't step on me -- I'm the guy in the sleeping bag camped outside the door in line for the opening.