The curtain is falling on the once enigmatic dining experience known as the Frog Club, situated in the storied space of the former Chumley's at 86 Bedford Street. With a history that included a restrictive set of rules – no photos and absolutely no fibbing about your birthday for that extra slice of cake – this New York spot has announced it's closing its doors. In an Instagram post, co-chef Liz Johnson delivered the news to her followers and New Yorkers at large. "To my fellow New Yorkers: I’m here today to talk to you about the future of Frog Club. I regret to inform you that this will be our last week we are open," Johnson wrote. "We will be serving a bar only menu this Tuesday through Saturday, 7pm to midnight. We’d love to have you stop in and say your goodbyes. Chef Liz signing out," according to Timeout.
For a spot that thrived on secrecy, Frog Club's pivot in May to accept reservations via Resy was a move that sparked speculation about its longevity. Despite its aura of mystery, the shift allowed the dining public a simpler path to experience this unique establishment. Yet, all the allure hadn't been enough to sustain the business in the fiercely competitive New York restaurant scene. As reported by Eater, the closure announcement isn't Johnson's first experience with dramatic revelations regarding Frog Club. Prior to its launch, she released a 12-minute spoof of the Great Chefs series, signaling that drama has been part of this venture from its inception.
The closure of Frog Club also marks the end of a chapter in New York's culinary narrative that Liz Johnson and Will Aghajanian began writing with their cooperative projects. The two chefs, who had previously opened the Los Angeles hotspot Horses, seemed to carry with them both their culinary prowess and penchant for controversy. Yet their collaboration later unraveled amid their very public breakup and divorce proceedings, which undoubtedly cast a shadow over their joint ventures and perhaps contributed to the downfall of their ambitious Frog Club experiment.
