"You'd think that having the Kardashians, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Barack Obama as fans would protect a restaurant chain from bankruptcy, but in the unusual case of Il Mulino, sometimes success also attracts more problems. You may not have heard of Il Mulino, because even at its height it only had 17 locations. It occupies that strange, rarefied space of high-end chains with a handful of locations in major hotspots, often from name-brand chefs like Gordon Ramsay."
"Originally opened in 1981 in Greenwich Village, for decades Il Mulino was considered one of New York City's best Italian restaurants, and catered to an exclusive clientele. The restaurant featured dishes from the founder's home region of Abruzzo in Italy, although it also had plenty of Italian-American classics like chicken fettuccine Alfredo and shrimp scampi. Il Mulino was also known for its mountains of complimentary antipasti including focaccia, pan-fried zucchini, and salumi, although the prices were so high that some free extra didn't exactly make it a deal."
Il Mulino opened in 1981 in Greenwich Village and built a reputation as one of New York City's premier Italian restaurants, serving Abruzzo specialties and classic Italian-American dishes. The restaurant became known for extensive complimentary antipasti and an exclusive, celebrity- and Wall Street–oriented clientele, supported by high prices and hard-to-get reservations. Owners sold the brand in 2001 and pursued expansion, adding locations in Long Island and Las Vegas and accelerating growth in the late 2010s. The chain reached only a few dozen outlets at its peak while introducing new concepts like Il Mulino Prime and partnering with hospitality groups, but expansion created mounting problems including bankruptcy.
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