Zucco of Le French Diner Died Saturday

Wow. I’m really sorry to hear this. Zucco was one of a kind.

So sad. What a lovely person! I saw him last a few weeks ago in the health food store around the corner from his restaurant. He was ordering 2 green juices. I hadn’t been in to his place in a while and was happy to see him. I joked with him that he was drinking healthy green juices while the rest of us where hooked on his gratin and lamb! He said something like no more sex, no more alcohol, juice green juice. In retrospect I wonder if he’d been warned of high blood pressure or something. Anyway, he’ll be missed.

Someone commented that they wish they know more about him. What I know is that he built his restaurant by hand and largely by himself. It was a labor of love and it showed.

RIP Zucco

I am heartbroken to have learned of this news today of Zucco. My husband and I had many romantic dates at Zucco, and it was one place I could practice my simple French with a French response and almost a wink. When we were there a few weeks ago, his usually amazing collection of international music was replaced with a family Skype conversation with his cousin — video on a laptop and audio blasting in French through the speakers. We were the only patrons at the time.

Just a perfect little bistro he put together on Orchard Street, and when the behemoth buildings were going up down the street and across the street, it almost seemed like a small miracle that this little authentic gem could stay put.

The food, comforting perfection. The half-glasses of wine at $3.50 or $4.00 a pour — always poured to the tip top of the glass.

RIP, M. Zucco. You will be greatly missed.

-C. Lamb

1978 buick century. Faded color: asylum green, v6 3.8. solid GM cast metal frame. ONE OF A KIND, LIKE OWNER.
I sold this beauty to Zucco,without hesitation, because he saw the the ugly duckling as his chariot, as did I.
So, 500 bucks later, the wheels spun under his direction.
“hey babee, zee monster won’t run”
I would say: Don’t flood the tank when you start her
Ok babee, now she is tres bien!

Aside from the French newspapers in the backseat, he cared for her.

I’ll miss you brother
Mick

Like a number of you here, my boyfriend and I spent almost every weekend brunch at the French Diner, our absolute favortie place in the entire city. Zucco was the just person you wanted to see when your weekend started, or any other time you wanted a little break from your daily hustle-bustle for that matter. The first time I ever went, my friend and I stumbled upon the place and thought it might be nice to have a coffee there. When we first walked in, it looked like there wasn’t a place to sit and turned around to walk out – but Zucco insisted and put us on two stools at his bar, smiled, chatted with us and made sure we comfortable. He won me over with his graciousness first, cafe au lait served properly, and then the tarte tatin. The very next weekend we went back for brunch, and the weekend after that, etc :)

It keeps making me cry to think I will not see him standing outside his restaurant again, catching some sunshine and fresh air (with or without the cigarette), greeting us. He always made me smile, made my French boyfriend feel like he was home. Even though we didn’t know that much about him, he emanated goodness, and it always made my day to see him and have a meal there.