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Mayor Mike's Is Back

Hartford Courant

October 02, 2009

When a restaurant closes for renovations in this still-challenging economy, the temporary all too often becomes the permanent; the establishment never reopens. Thus we are happy to see Mayor Mike's Restaurant — now Mayor Mike's Bistro — open its doors once more.

The Asylum Street establishment was opened several years ago by former Mayor Michael P. Peters and some partners. When the beloved "Mayor Mike" was hospitalized with a liver ailment in the fall, his brother Bob Peters, a stockbroker, jumped in to help run the restaurant.

The tightknit Peters family was devastated when Mike Peters passed away in January, but determined to keep the restaurant going in his memory. "Mike was such a great cheerleader for downtown. He would have been crushed if the restaurant closed," said Bob Peters.

He and Jeannette Peters, the former mayor's widow, are now the partners, and other family members are also involved. They thought the restaurant needed a new look, and closed on Aug. 1 for renovations. The bistro reopened last week with a new chef and new menu. The early reviews are positive.

But as the folks down at the legendary Yale hangout Mory's in New Haven (closed for remaking) can tell you, restaurants don't make it on nostalgia. Bob Peters is well aware of this, and said he is aiming for good food at a good price in a congenial atmosphere — "the kind of place Mike and his friends would like." We wish him well.