Elaine's: The Rise of One of New York's Most Legendary Restaurants from Those Who Were There

by Amy Phillips Penn, Liz Smith (Preface)

A tribute to legendary restaurateur Elaine Kaufman and her renowned Manhattan creative melting pot.

Elaine’s was a world-famous New York restaurant that became home to writers and celebrities. Owner Elaine Kaufman was known to be “New York feisty,” controversial, often rude, always blunt, with the flare of Gertrude Stein and Dorothy Parker.

Elaine was highly respected and also frequently feared, and Elaine’s the restaurant received the public’s love and praise time and time again. Woody Allen held a regular table there, and Elaine’s was even featured in Allen’s Manhattan and Billy Joel’s song “Big Shot.” Throughout the years, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, and countless celebrities, politicians, socialites, private eyes, athletes, artists, and the biggest names in Hollywood became Elaine’s regulars.

Most emphatically, Elaine’s raison d’être was to nourish “starving writers” with encouragement, introductions to Pulitzer Prize winners, and free food and alcohol. These struggling authors responded to Elaine’s support with profound gratitude.

Elaine passed away in 2010, forcing the restaurant manager to close shop shortly after. “There is no Elaine’s without Elaine,” she decreed. However, the memories remain and are recalled by a variety of Elaine’s regulars in this moving, oftentimes amusing, collection of personal essays.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, History, New York, Food

154 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2015

Reviews

[Drew · Rating 1 out of 5]

They must have spent hours, maybe, putting this book together. This isn't really a book, it's more like a compilation of blurbs from a guest book at a funeral home showing. The Preface and the Introduction, although written by two different people supposedly, say the Exact Same Thing. There's a chapter page with the heading from a previous chapter on the top of the page. Missing words, misspellings, even though it's only 130 pages long. Some of the blurbs about the famous restaurant are barely two pages. Some of the memories captured are truly heartfelt, but I do not think this slipshod book does the memory of Elaine Kaufman any favors.

[Jan C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oral history of a restaurant and the owner. Who was apparently much loved. Big hang-out for writers, sports people, actors, etc. Very chatty, gossipy. They kept comparing her to Toots Shor. Presumably because they both could be found in their restaurants. I do recall seeing Shor in his restaurant on aand visit to New York.

I found this entertaining. Also, it's not a big book. Easy to breeze through. Some nice pictures, too.

[Rhiannon Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having never been to New York, my only knowledge of this legendary restaurant is from the Billy Joel song, and having always thought that the artistic salons of Paris and any gatherings of artists always sounded so romantic, I figured that Elaine's would have been my kind of place. Except I probably couldn't have gotten in.

Read my full review here: http://www.ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.c...

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sloppy, lazy, self-referential.

Elaine’s really was a cultural icon, but you’d never understand why from this book, a collection of short pieces by the forgotten, near-famous and never-weres who used to patronize the place. No copy editor laid hands on this vanity project, a book as much about its author/editor as its subject, which refers to the Mystery Writers of America as “the Edgar Allan Poe Writers Guild” and to the legendary Oriole as “Cal Rifkin.”

[Tena Edlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew nothing about Elaine's except that Woody Allen had a regular table there and that it was mentioned in a Billy Joel song. This was a fun, short listen about a New York icon.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

a touching collection of eulogies

[Ruth Kalen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time

[Bonnie Irwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book because it was on sale and because Stuart Woods often had his characters dine at this iconic NY establishment. Elaine Kaufman was one of a kind and this book had some interesting snippets of legend and lore of the place, especially about its role as a haven for writers. The disappointing thing was the book's format of short anecdotes from multiple people that came across as repetitive. I'm still interested in the place and the woman, but I may seek out a better tale of its history and impact on NY life and culture.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a breezy diary of the NYC famous Elaine's. Growing up, it was often referred to and the
customers who attended - literary folks, and their little stories/remembrances of Elaine herself.
Not know for good food, but conversations, and gossip. The book shares a little of each, each
chapter written by carious attendees. Different, Quick Read.

[Gary Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elaine’s

Elaine’s—one of a kind! Elaine’s (and Elaine) is greatly missed even by us out-of-towners who never made it to the establishment and never had the pleasure of meeting Elaine. Stone Barrington enthusiasts will understand. It was a badge of honor to be “insulted” by her. My kind of place!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elaine's was a place to be and a place to be seen back in the day when Elaine was alive and well. This is a collection of stories from some of the regulars. After reading their stories, I am sad that I never went there to sit at the bar and gawk at the writers. Some fun stories.

[Susan Baranoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very much shorter "memoir" of Elaine's than I was expecting. Interesting in some aspects, irritating in others. A good ol' boy's club with too much money. In another era Elaine would probably have been a madam.

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the recounting of different people's remembrances of an iconic person at the landmark restaurant. What really came through was the theme of how many lives Elaine touched, and what she did to to advance the careers and love lives of some of her customers and friends.

[Arthur I. Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting, light read

A quick read, easy to read episodically since it’s a collection of individual experiences of celebrities, journalists, ordinary people and a smattering of literati.

[Kara Fitzjarrald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like stories could have been more interesting, but fascinating story about a fascinating restaurant.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales of Elaine and her NYC celebrity night club. Various authors.

[Scott Sternlieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I enjoyed each short story of thoughts from those who went to Elaine's. Great job by all who shared info

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting compilation of first-person stories about experiences at a famous restaurant in NYC and the woman who owned it.

[Katherine Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t know much about this iconic restaurant or it’s owner. Enjoyed hearing the different tales and perspectives on it.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story of a New York restaurant. I loved hearing the history and the bend of Southern and NYC cultures-- particularly of Black voices.

[Denice Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting with alot of back stories

[Melanie Guerra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zzzzzzzz.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories about the restaurant.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too redundant. A little self serving on the part of the author.

[Tareq · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Elaine was a person who looked at tomorrow; that's the secret of aging."

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 - 3 stars

[Kim Ayres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a curiosity to me. I lived in NY in the 80's for two years, about 5 or 6 blocks from Elaine's. I was a starving student on a tight budget, so, I only went in once and it was a very quiet night. I didn't notice any one of great celebrity, but I honestly wouldn't recognize most authors/writers if I was standing next to them.
The Elaine's described in this book was legendary. It was fun to take a peek inside. It made me wish I had made more of an effort to take a glimpse..

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 4 out of 5]

"So long, Elaine. Your legend lives on in books, both dog-eared and yet to be written"

I don't understand some of the reviews of this book. I think they were looking for Everyone Comes to Elaine's: Forty Years of Movie Stars, All-Stars, Literary Lions, Financial Scions, Top Cops, Politicians, and Power Brokers at the Legendary Hot Spot, or similar. This book isn't that, but it doesn't pretend to be. It's simply a collection of people's memories of Elaine/Elaine's. Some friends of the authors, some high society, some celebs. A good, quick read.
I enjoyed most of the regular people's stories more than the celebs, although the ones that involved Norman Mailer and Gay Talese were great. There were many phases to Elaine's. A living landmark for so many years in uncharted territory for both women restaurant owners and for a restaurant in this location.

It's sad that it had to close, but there was no Elaine's without Elaine. Still makes me sad to walk past it.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book!

I love books that give a glimpse into lives I know I will never experience. This was that book. Reading it made me want to know Elaine and experience Elaine's. it brings a taste of New York to those of us who may never get there.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

ELAINE'S (WHERE EVERYONE KNEW HER NAME...)

Wonderful book! Makes me sad of the times I've missed in my life. She sounded like a person you would just have to have in your life, and her place sounds like it was a " safe place " for a lot of people!