Famed chef Thierry Rautureau of Seattle’s French bistro Loulay Kitchen & Bar closes doors for good

Another popular downtown Seattle foodie destination has closed its doors with a final “au revoir”.

James Beard Award-winning chef Thierry Rautureau – also known as “Chef in the Hat” – announced on Monday that Loulay Kitchen & Bar had served its last meal and is now officially closed after eight years in business. The restaurant on the ground floor of the Sheraton Hotel was inspired by Rautureau’s hometown of Saint Hilaire de Loulay in France.

“Covid has hit many of us hard, and Loulay is no different. After closing for over a year, we decided to let it go,” Rautureau wrote in a blog post. “We are very sad to have come to this decision and would like to really thank you all for your support over the years. Many friendships and memories have been made and will not be forgotten – Merci beaucoup.”

Rautureau’s other restaurant in Seattle, the more casual French Café Luc in Madison Valley, will also be closed for good on August 28 after eleven years due to a “financially unstable lease”. Reservations for the last few weeks of the restaurant are still possible.

The closure marks the end of Rautureau’s tenure in the Seattle restaurant industry as his third restaurant, Rover’s, closed in 2013 after 26 years. Now he plans to work in his garden with his wife, Kathy, who does flower design in town.

Luc in Madison Valley will also close this month.

JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

“We have been dining out in Seattle for the past 34 years and look forward to seeing the next generation take it over and move it forward,” he wrote.

Rautureau isn’t the only Seattle chef to shut down once well-known restaurants after the pandemic. After chef Tom Douglas closed two of his South Lake Union restaurants at the start of the pandemic, he closed his landmark Dahlia Lounge in March after 32 years in the business. The space now houses an expanded Dahlia Bakery that has more space for Douglas’ famous Triple Coconut Cream Pie and the new Mochi Donut Popup.

Chef Renee Erickson also closed her lauded Belltown French restaurant, Boat Street Kitchen, last November amid pandemic food restrictions.