Ben Benson has announced that the steak restaurant in Midtown Manhattan that bears his name, which opened in 1982, will serve its last meals on Father's Day, Sunday, June 17th. In an interview with WCBS radio (which you can listen to here) he indicated that his lease expired and the landlord intended to raise his rent drastically, leaving him no choice other than to close. Mr. Benson leaves open the possibility that Ben Benson's may reopen in some form, somewhere, in the future.

We've been big fans of Ben Benson's since our first visit, not only for the top-notch steaks and terrific chopped salad (with anchovies, please), but also for the way in which the restaurant perfectly captures that NYC steakhouse vibe. It will be missed. In the Roadfood.com review of Ben Benson's, Michael Stern says, "If you are looking for the best prime steak in New York, at a price to match, Ben Benson's is the place to go. Of course, hash browns and creamed spinach are swell; and do not ignore the first-class seafood and salads."