Sardi’s Sold to the Shuberts; Will Undergo Renovations

[Kad]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 8:24am

 

Max Klimavicius, who rose from kitchen expediter to become the sole owner after 33 years, is exiting the stage, selling the Sardi’s name (as well as all kitchen fixtures and more than 1,000 caricatures) to the Shubert Organization, the theater company giant that is also his landlord. Mr. Klimavicius declined to disclose the financial details, though he said the restaurant’s art was appraised in 2020 at $6.9 million.

He will continue to run the business until June 24. Sardi’s will then close for several months for renovations, but not a redesign, Mr. Klimavicius emphasized. He was assured that the walls of celebrity caricatures weren’t going anywhere (other than to temporary storage)

 

Gift link from NYTimes here 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 10:28am

And chill folks, the restaurant interior and exterior will remain intact. Benches, tables, decor will all remain as it was. Only the famous caricature artwork has been taken down to protect them and will all go back to their original spots. They are simply upgrading the kitchen, the plumbing, the electrical, etc - which haven’t been upgraded in years. The Shubert Organization is respecting Sardi’s legacy and not tampering with its legendary layout, etc.  

[MasterThespian 2]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 10:30am

Hope they also upgrade the quality of the food. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 10:41am

MasterThespian 2 said: "Hope they also upgrade the quality of the food."

You’re not kidding. Thankfully this was addressed and they say the menu will keep the iconic items but to expect changes.  I’m thrilled with this as I’ve been going to Sardi’s since I was a kid in the 70s and there really was no effort in freshening things up. They’ve been in robot mode for decades with no changes. 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 10:57am

"I have not been there in years and to be honest I was disappointed the last time I was there. We went there for lunch and when we arrived there was nobody checking people in. It took almost 15 minutes to be seated which considering the place had just opened is not good. The waiter we had acted like he hated his job and had no personality at all. The worst thing was I ordered salmon and when I started to eat it saw it was raw/not cooked. I mentioned it to the waiter, and he took the plate away and did not even apologize. He came back fairly quickly with another dish, and the salmon was very good. I must admit I was shocked to see people wearing shorts there. Sard's used to be place you had to be dressed up to dine there. I get times have changed, it just caught me off guard for a minute. Like others have mentioned over the years, the new caricatures are not as good as they once were. Thanks for the gift link to the NY Times article.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 11:03am

A new caricature artist is sorely needed. In recent years, they've often barely resembled their subjects. 

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 11:09am

As long as they keep the crackers and cheese at the bar -- I will be okay

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 11:43am

Kad said: "A new caricature artist is sorely needed. In recent years, they've often barely resembled their subjects."

I agree wholeheartedly.

This is a natural step for the restaurant and for Shubert as their landlord. Shubert has near-unlimited money and Sardi’s is as intrinsic to that company’s culture and history as some of its theatres.

Like Jeffrey Seller & co. taking over the Drama Bookshop, sometimes it’s much better for the longevity of a business to have a theatre-loving corporation as owner.

Given that the Shubert honchos dine and drink there many times a week, that’s a good sign that the existing bartenders and servers will be offered jobs upon reopening.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 11:54am

Last time I went (2023, and it had been a minute before that) was the most disappointing experience. My food was absurdly salty and my dining companion’s lasagna was legitimately still frozen in the center. Just like the earlier commenter, waiter just walked away with it and seemed dead behind the eyes. Was a bummer but hope upcoming changes are for the best! 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 12:20pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Kad said: "A new caricature artist is sorely needed. In recent years, they've often barely resembled their subjects."

I agree wholeheartedly.

This is a natural step for the restaurant and for Shubert as their landlord. Shubert has near-unlimited money and Sardi’s is as intrinsic to that company’s culture and history as some of its theatres.

Like Jeffrey Seller & co. taking over the Drama Bookshop, sometimes it’s much better for the longevity of a business to have a theatre-loving corporation as owner.

Given that the Shubert honchos dine and drink there many times a week, that’s a good sign that the existing bartenders and servers will be offered jobs upon reopening."

I certainly have qualms about the Shuberts generally, but I can't question their dedication to Broadway and think they will be good stewards of Sardi's. They're the best possible choice of ownership- certainly infinitely better than some corporate hospitality group or, even worse, a private equity firm. 

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 2:03pm

I would love for a bit of a refresher:

- Yes, they need a new artist, the last five years or more they look nothing like the person

- Menu - I hope they redo much of the menu, and bring in a quality control, I've experienced it all (frozen meals, cold uncooked fish, cold pasta, produce that was not "fresh") the one thing I hope they revive is the meringue/strawberry/chocolate dessert. I truly loved it, and in my mind maybe it was just a nostalgic post theatre dessert. 

- I just hope that almost revive it as a less commercial, historic, theatre niche, place and don't go too big, just improve and revive it  

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 2:21pm

Agree re: the food and the fugly recent caricatures. I do enjoy the experience of it though. I'll be there in April before Giant, so I guess one last visit while it's still Classic Sardi's. Then we'll just hope they keep the vibe while goosing the details. 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 2:47pm

Glad it's sticking around and I echo others in that I truly hope the entire menu is shaken up. I always get a kick out of watching the famous actors, journalists, producers and more at the caricature unveilings and other press events there as they dodge the passed appetizers like the plague. Everyone knows the food is gross, you're there for the history and the experience. But wouldn't it be great if we could have the experience AND food that was edible?

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 6:39pm

Everyone involved should work for one month at Joe Allens and there might be a chance that the new iteration of the restaurant will actually touch down in New York City, the actual city, sometime in the near future. If it’s just tourists they’re after then proceed as normal.

[clowchan]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 6:44pm

Kad said: "A new caricature artist is sorely needed. In recent years, they've often barely resembled their subjects."

This so much. The art is so laughably bad.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/28/26 at 4:08am

While on paper Sardi's was owned by Max Klimavicius, in practice the Shuberts held much sway over it. Rumors from Shubert employees is to expect more steakhouse items to be on the menu.

Quite frankly, it really needs some sort of update. I ate there on a whim just a few weeks ago, and I felt like I was in a retirement home. But that wasn't because of the age of the diners, but just the overall aura of sitting there just felt "old."

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 3/28/26 at 9:51am

Fosse76 said: "While onpaper Sardi's was owned byMax Klimavicius, in practice the Shuberts held much sway over it. Rumors from Shubert employees is to expect more steakhouse items to be on the menu.

Quite frankly, it really needs some sort of update. I ate thereon a whim just a few weeks ago, and I felt like I was in a retirement home. But that wasn't because of the age of the diners, but just the overall aura of sitting there just felt "old.""

It is a place for theater people, and they tend to be older which probably contributes to the vibe of the restaurant IMO. The caricatures on the wall with some people that were famous decades ago probably helps give the aura of being "old". I think the place needs to be brightened up a bit and have those red walls made a lighter color. If my memory is correct, the majority of the servers were older and came across as stuffy. There are plenty of very good steak house places in NYC so don't know if that menu change would be helpful.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/28/26 at 10:16am

Kad said: "A new caricature artist is sorely needed. In recent years, they've often barely resembled their subjects."

It's like they live in terror of offending the subject. Do a freaking caricature! They all look like the most generic available photo of the subject was run through a crappy AI filter. 

[darquegk]

Posted: 3/28/26 at 9:28pm

There needs to be character, and the character needs to in no way be aping or imitating the style of Al Hirschfeld's iconic originals. 

This is a job for someone with a unique, non-representational visual style and a sense of humor but also of wit and observation, who can do weird stuff with anatomy and perspective that speaks to the subject or the show. In terms of current day artists, you're looking for a Kate Beaton or a Mirka Andolfo, someone stylishly grotesque.