Theatreland icon and restaurateur Joe Allen dies aged 87 Theatreland restaurateur Joe Allen, whose eponymous Covent Garden brassiere opened more than 40 years ago, has passed away at the age of 87.
Allen, who also had restaurants on Broadway and in Paris, died Sunday (7 February) in Hampton, New Hampshire, according to Jason Woodruff, a former staffer for the Allen family of restaurants who spoke to the family.
An icon of Theatreland, Allen opened his first restaurant in 1965 just off Broadway, which soon became a haven for budding actors who would often be found waiting the tables between treading the boards.
In 1977 he opened his restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden, London. The restaurant found fame soon after opening, fondly dubbed ‘the West End’s canteen’ due to the fact that it drew in large numbers of theatregoers, actors, celebrities and even royalty, who flocked to the venue known for its classic American cuisine in a New York-s
RIP Joe Allen. Shared a few nice lunches in the Covent Garden restaurant with some charming and talented people. It was where I was coaxed into believing that my novel The Waiting Room could be more than a short story about hubris. Francis Cottam (@fgcottam) February 9, 2021
Visiting Joe Allen and Bar Centrale (both a block away from the Golden) during the show was the greatest gift during my first Broadway run and sipping on martinis with my cast and designers there was the marker that i wasn t dreaming. This was real. I ll miss you @JoeAllenNYC. https://t.co/JwIBdlylGn MOST TONY NOMINATED ONEHIT WONDER Jeremy O. Harris (@jeremyoharris) February 9, 2021