In recent months, renowned restaurateur Keith McNally has found himself at the center of a controversy surrounding his involvement in Pastis, one of his famed French eateries. While McNally claims that business is booming at his flagship restaurant, Balthazar, insiders at Pastis have distanced themselves from him and stated that he is only a consultant since the restaurant’s relaunch. This article examines the controversy surrounding McNally’s ownership and delves into the opinions and actions of those involved.
Contrary to popular belief, insiders have revealed that Keith McNally is not an owner of Pastis since its reopening in 2019. According to sources familiar with the situation, McNally signed a consulting agreement instead. This arrangement primarily focuses on his responsibility for the design aspect of the restaurant. Additionally, it has been clarified that Stephen Starr, a well-known restaurateur behind establishments like Upland and Le Coucou, handles the financial side of Pastis. Starr has distanced himself from McNally’s controversy following the latter’s incendiary remarks about the Hamas attacks on Israel.
The controversy surrounding Keith McNally started when he posted his opinion on the Israel attacks by Hamas. His initial post encouraged his followers to “listen to the other side,” which sparked backlash. In response to McNally’s stance, Stephen Starr publicly condemned Hamas, labeling their acts as “indefensible and barbaric.” Starr Restaurants and Pastis explicitly stated that they do not share McNally’s opinions. McNally promptly apologized and claimed that he has never supported Hamas, considering them a terrorist organization. However, he then reposted his original message, along with complaints about the negative impact of hate messages and lies spread about him on social media.
Stephen Starr, in an attempt to distance himself further from the controversy, took to Pastis’ Instagram page to reiterate his condemnation of the attacks and express solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people. Notably, he signed off as the owner of Pastis with no mention of McNally. This led another source to claim that McNally no longer has any involvement in Pastis, to which McNally responded by stating that he is still very much involved in the restaurant. Moreover, McNally announced that he is currently designing and building further locations in Washington D.C., Nashville, and Philadelphia.
Interestingly, despite initially suggesting that he lost business due to online hate messages and lies spread about him, McNally later posted a dinner report from one of his staffers that indicated a thriving night at Balthazar. The report boasted a significant number of covers and a packed bar throughout the night. This contrasting information raises questions about McNally’s claims and hints at discrepancies in his narrative.
The controversy surrounding Keith McNally’s involvement in Pastis is far from settled. While McNally maintains that he continues to be involved and plans to expand his restaurants, insiders and public statements from Stephen Starr paint a different picture. The differing accounts and the fallout from McNally’s controversial remarks highlight the challenges faced by prominent figures in the restaurant industry when their personal views come into conflict with public opinion. Only time will tell how this controversy will ultimately shape McNally’s reputation and the future of his ventures.