Restaurateur Elaine Kaufman Dies at 81

Famous restaurateur Elaine Kaufman died today, December 3, at Lenox Hill Hospital at the age of 81. Kaufman's iconic restaurant 'Elaine's' attracted a following among prominent actors and other celebrities. According to a representative for her restaurant, she suffered 'complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and pulmonary hypertension.'  

Kaufman was born in Manhattan, and raised in Queens and the Bronx. After a variety of jobs, including night cosmetician, she started in the restaurant business in 1959, joining Alfredo Viazzi-then her boyfriend-in running his recently-opened Greenwich Village restaurant Portofino. Portofino was frequented by people in the downtown publishing business and Off-Broadway theater.

Four years later, after she and Viazzi split up, she bought a restaurant in the Upper East Side and Elaine's was born. Despite the location-not popular at the time-many customers from Portofino followed her to the new spot. Over the years, Kaufman bought the entire building that housed the restaurant, as well as the building next door. Kaufman was designated a living landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy in 2003.