The Spotted Pig
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founder | Ken Friedman |
| Defunct | January 26, 2020 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Key people | Ken Friedman (owner), Mario Batali (investor), April Bloomfield (chef) |
| Products | Gastropub cuisine |
The Spotted Pig was a gastropub situated at 314 West 11th Street in Manhattan's West Village neighborhood, New York City. The establishment was owned by Ken Friedman, with Mario Batali serving as a key investor, and featured British-born chef April Bloomfield. It held one Michelin Star from around 2006 until 2016. The Spotted Pig ceased operations on January 26, 2020.
Sexual harassment and assault controversy
In December 2017, multiple allegations of sexual harassment against owner Ken Friedman were brought to light by The New York Times. Staff members revealed that April Bloomfield was aware of Friedman's conduct but did not take adequate steps to protect employees. Complaints were reportedly dismissed with remarks such as "That's who he is. Get used to it. Or go work for someone else." The restaurant's third floor became notoriously known as "the rape room." Regular visitors included investors Mario Batali and Jay-Z; Batali was also accused of inappropriate behavior on the same floor. Following these revelations, Friedman stepped down from his management role. By January 2020, he had agreed to compensate former employees with $240,000 plus 20% of profits as part of settlements related to harassment and discrimination claims. In December 2017, Bloomfield publicly apologized for failing to safeguard her team.
In popular culture
In the The Office episode The Job (part 1), characters Jim and Karen are shown visiting The Spotted Pig.