Goodnight, Ko
Our go-to spot for anniversaries, birthdays, new years, job celebrations, people visiting NYC, people leaving NYC, and rainy day meals.
Saturday night, I had my very last meal at Momofuku Ko, which will close on November 4.
If my records are correct, that was visit number 49: 5 at First Avenue during the original run, and 44 at Extra Place. (My records are probably off, so let’s call that an even 50.) It was our go-to spot for anniversaries, birthdays, new years, job celebrations, people visiting NYC, people leaving NYC, and rainy day meals.
What I will miss the most is not the food (as excellent and iconic as it was!) but the feel, the aesthetic, the — god help me — vibes of it all. Refined yet comfortable atmosphere; attentive yet loving service; serious and playful and ridiculously over the top in perfect harmony. I felt so at home there, helped by the fact that I don’t think I ever once needed to dress up for the occasion.
And I would say I miss the people of Ko, but they aren’t dead. The diaspora of Ko alums is already huge, and we have plenty of places to go and visit. Ko team, my eternal thanks for making us feel welcome.
