.png)
NEW YORK -- The top 100 list for highest grossing independent restaurants was released on Thursday. Five New York City restaurants, including the now-defunct Tavern on the Green, made the top 10. The tavern, which was closed down several months ago, made $27 million and was the second highest grossing restaurant in the United States after the Tao Restaurant and Nightclub in Las Vegas, which made over twice the amount over the Tavern at $59 million.
The Tavern made around $7 million less in 2009 than in 2008, contributing to its demise. The Tavern closed its doors on New Year's Eve in 2009 and is expected to open its doors in a few months under the same name with new owners.
New York restaurants Smith & Wollensky, Carmine's, Buddakan, and the Tao Asian Bistro made it to the top 10. Overall, independent restaurants experienced a decline in revenue—last year, independent restaurants made $1.37 billion compared with $1.52 billion in 2008.
