Fri. December 26, 2003
New York City -
Lucky Cheng's, an East Village eatery famed for its drag queen waiters who do impromptu and often bawdy shows while delivering food to tables, is suing the Zagat Survey for $10 million for damaging its business with a bad review.
The Zagat guide, with its reviews of restaurants, is considered a Bible for tourists. Zagat prints its Review for dozens of American cities.
But, the review of Cheng's was anything but lucky.
The review, which rated the food 9 out of 30, said: "God knows 'you don't go for the food' ... rather you go to 'gawk' at the 'hilarious,' 'cross dressing' staff. Well-wishers suggest they 'freshen up the menu -- and their makeup."'
In court documents filed this week Lucky Cheng's seeks damages for libel and negligence and a halt to more copies of the review being printed.
The suit says the guide's comments "falsely state the quality of food and beverage, service, wait staff, sanitation and cleanliness are substandard and unworthy of patronage."
In addition to $10 million in damages, the restaurant is also suing for an estimated $30,000 a week in lost income since the review's publication in October and reimbursement of $250,000 in advertising costs.
Representatives of New York-based Zagat declined to comment on the lawsuit.
The 2004 Zagat guide gave Lucky Cheng's a food rating of nine out of a possible 30.
by Beth Shapiro
365Gay.com Newscenter
New York Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2003
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