It’s a common complaint among New York restaurant patrons: restaurants are loud. Very loud! Too loud! However, for former mayor Michael Bloomberg, that cacophony is – at least for the moment – a welcomed and reassuring sound. “I was just at a restaurant last night. You couldn’t hear, the noise was so loud,” he noted while speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Ronald Perelman Performing Arts Center.

The context for these comments: Bloomberg was praising current Mayor Eric Adams for his commitment to “supporting the arts and culture,” and he added that he has “never been more optimistic” about the city’s future or its vitality: “People were standing, literally, looking down at my dinner. I thought they were going to take something from the table.” Once again, this is seen as a positive thing in the eyes of the former mayor. The opening of the center – slated to kick off performances on September 15, with a restaurant by Marcus Samuelsson in its foyer – marks a sort of personal victory for the former mayor, who contributed $130 million towards its construction. But let’s return to the subject of this noisy restaurant. Where was all this wonderful and reassuring commotion coming from?

During his speech, Bloomberg didn’t mention the name of the establishment. However, when ‘questioned’ after the event, he revealed the name: Elio’s, the Italian club of the Upper East Side known for its history as a gathering spot for politicians.