STEAKHOUSE owner and internet meme Salt Bae has lost the second of his three restaurants in New York City.
Turkish butcher Nusret Gökçe has closed his Nusr-Et Steakhouse in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District due to poor performance.
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A representative for the restaurant group confirmed the closure, saying it is part of a planned move into international markets.
“They experimented with a few markets,” the spokesperson said Eater New York.
“Some worked while others didn’t.”
Salt Bae owns the Nusr-Et chain with fellow entrepreneurs Ferit Sahenk and Mithat Erdem.
After closing its Salt Bae Burger location in Manhattan last year, Gökçe has just one restaurant left in the city, located in Midtown.
The latest closure comes just two years after Nusr-Et Steakhouse opened in the meatpacking district.
The steakhouse chain has more than 30 restaurants spread internationally, including England, Italy and Mexico.
However, it has repeatedly received criticism from customers who have been charged ten times the retail value for a Sprite, as well as $1,000 for a golden steak.
A detailed invoice from a Nusr-Et restaurant shared on X, previously Twitter showed that a Sprite cost $10 to a restaurant.
Most shockingly, the Golden Tomahawk steak covered in edible gold foil cost $1,000.
The cost breakdown was shared by a “concerned citizen” with other shocking allegations including Golden Baklava for $65 a serving and sides of spinach and mashed potatoes for almost $40 each.
“In what universe does spaghetti cost $80 per serving????” a shocked viewer commented.
“I just did the math and the bill was $4,602.90 and with tip (20%) it’s $5,523.48,” added another.
In addition to criticism over its prices, the restaurant group and its figurehead have also been hit with several lawsuits, including one over withholding tips from workers.
Who is Salt Bae?
The Turkish butcher, chef and restaurateur rose to fame in 2017 when he became a viral internet meme.
His real name is Nusret Gökçe and he has a passion for beef and butchery that has inspired his numerous restaurants.
In 2017, he became an internet sensation after a clip of him went viral showing him extravagantly cutting meat and sprinkling salt while preparing a steak.
The original video racked up over 10 million views on Instagram and he was given the nickname Salt Bae.
Since then, he has cooked for celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and David Beckham and has over 53 million followers.
The restaurateur’s net worth is estimated to be around $80 million.
Despite the closures and criticism, the famous chef is expanding his services.
The restaurateur’s latest venture will take him to celebrations that include weddings and birthdays.
It comes after the 40-year-old applied for a trademark on his name in capital letters.
Classifications for the news industry include providing food and drink for “special occasions.”
US Sun has reached out to Nusr-Et for comment on the latest closure.
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