In a statement issued today, the Lueddes announced the closure, saying that the end of operations will allow them to focus on a new restaurant concept they will be announcing later this month. No details were given on the new venture.
"As exciting [sic] as we are about the next adventure, ending the Libertine is truly bittersweet," the Lueddes wrote.
The Libertine has been a Clayton mainstay since opening in 2013, even though it has undergone more changes in its four-year run than a lesser restaurant could endure. When it opened, the Libertine was quickly recognized as one of the city's best, with a Southern-inflected menu created by acclaimed chef Josh Galliano, a best-in-class cocktail program and an atmosphere that perfectly hit the sweet spot between upscale and comfortable.
See also: The RFT's initial review of the Libertine
After Galliano left, however, the restaurant changed its culinary identity, first as Italian, old-school dining under chef Matt Bessler and next as a farm-to-table concept under chef Samantha Mitchell.
Says Nick Luedde about the restaurant's run, "Audra and I will cherish the great times we shared with all of you at the Libertine and we will truly never forget them."
We will update this post as more information becomes available. You can read the Lueddes' statement in its entirety below.
Dear FriendsWe are always hungry for tips and feedback. Email the author at [email protected]
This Saturday, January 6th we will serve our last meal as The Libertine.
We will be ending operations as The Libertine so as to focus our collective efforts on a brand new restaurant concept that we will be announcing the details of later this month... so stay tuned!
All that said, as exciting as we are about the next adventure, ending The Libertine is truly bittersweet.
The Luedde family would like to extend a heartfelt 'thank you' to all of you for the past five years of unforgettable moments that only a night at The Libertine could provide.
Audra and I will cherish the great times we shared with all of you at The Libertine and we will truly never forget them. I am so proud of what we have done at The Libertine, its contributions to the STL culinary scene and what The Libertine represented. We are so grateful to our staff, family, patrons and friends who have made the experience of operating The Libertine so unforgettable!
Again, thank you to everyone that helped make The Libertine a truly special place and we look forward to feeding you all very soon! So for now...stay tuned for our next big news coming your way very soon!
Cheers, Nick and Audra Luedde
