Walter and Margarita Manzke lose two more LA restaurants, leaving just République after the closures of Petty Cash and Sari Sari Store
A bite of uni from Manzke restaurant in West Los Angeles. Wonho Frank Lee
Los Angeles will bid farewell to one of its most lavish dining spots, Manzke, alongside its companion French bistro, Bicyclette, both set to close their doors on March 1, 2024. This announcement marks the latest in a series of closures by chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke, leaving République as their sole remaining restaurant in the city.
The news of Bicyclette’s closure initially surfaced on Reddit over the weekend, although the original post has since been removed. Eater reached out to Walter Manzke for confirmation, and Sprout LA, the restaurant management group collaborating with the Manzkes, confirmed the closure date in a statement, citing financial losses as the reason for the decision.
The closure of Petty Cash Taquería in late October 2023 and the sudden shuttering of Sari Sari Store in December 2023 added to the string of closures, with no clear explanations provided by the Manzkes.
Bicyclette, which opened its doors in June 2021, gained popularity for its meticulously crafted French bistro fare and secured a spot on the Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants list. Meanwhile, Manzke, established in March 2022, garnered acclaim for its upscale dining experience, featuring a $225 tasting menu and earning a coveted Michelin star in December 2022.
Dining room and bar area of Bicyclette in West LA.
Both venues have hosted iconic establishments in the past, including Sotto and Test Kitchen downstairs, and Picca, Ricardo Zarate’s Peruvian restaurant, upstairs. Prior to these restaurants, the building housed a steakhouse named Spark Woodfire Grill. The closures of Manzke and Bicyclette, both struggling financially, prompt questions about the viability of operating in a location challenged by the constant flow of traffic on Pico Boulevard and limited parking options. (Walter Manzke endured life-threatening injuries from a car accident in 2020 while walking in front of the building.)
Now, with the Manzkes’ one-Michelin-star namesake tasting menu restaurant and Bicyclette closing at the same time, some questions remain about the status of the chefs’ partnership with Los Angeles hospitality heavyweight Sprout LA. Sprout LA is owned primarily by Michael Glick, founder and president of Vesta Foodservice, one of the largest specialty food distributors in the country.
Since its inception more than 10 years ago, Sprout LA developed a reputation for opening chef-driven restaurants with founder Bill Chait, who has since moved on from the company. It currently operates Vespertine, Meteora, Destroyer, Redbird, the Rose Venice, Tsubaki, Ototo, and Yangban. It had also been a part of Bestia, Otium, Broken Spanish, Moruno, and others, making it arguably the most influential force in the LA restaurant scene of the past decade. The group recently parted ways with Rose chef Jason Neroni and closed his restaurant Best Bet after just six months.
In addition to République, which has been open since 2013, the Manzkes are partnered with upwards of 10 locations of Wildflour (with a menu that has clear inspiration from République) in greater Manila, Philippines, six licensed Pink’s Hot Dogs outlets, and other restaurants.
The Manzkes ended their statement to Eater by thanking staff and customers:
Walter and Marge express their deepest gratitude to our cherished guests for their unwavering support throughout the years. Equally, heartfelt appreciation goes to our hardworking and dedicated staff, who have been the backbone of our success.
It is their commitment that has made Bicyclette Bistro & Manzke Restaurant a beloved part of the community. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has been a part of our journey, and we invite you to join us at République to continue the celebration of exceptional food and hospitality.
Dining room of Manzke, a one-Michelin-star restaurant in Los Angeles.
