"To me, few restaurants have left as profound of a mark as MeMe’s did on the city’s fabric in the relatively short period of time that it was open between 2017 and 2020. Chefs and owners Libby Willis and Bill Clark met while working together at the Brooklyn bakery Ovenly and then translated that expertise in baked goods to create comfort fare with a touch of whimsy, seen in dishes like Texas-style migas served out of a bag of Fritos or the everything-bagel babka. But the restaurant also cultivated a space at the forefront of an emerging queer dining culture across the U.S. From the get-go, Willis and Clark put an emphasis on inclusive hospitality, instructing staffers to use gender-neutral pronouns and to refrain from second-guessing someone’s gender identity based on the name on their credit card. The restaurant was largely staffed by queer and trans people, and early on, the restaurant hosted a queer industry night to spotlight LGBTQ people in the restaurant industry. That inclusivity had a long-lasting impact on the community. When the restaurant announced its closure in November last year, more than 400 people lined up to get one of the last meals it would ever serve. Now, a small piece of the restaurant lives on through Bill Clark’s recipe newsletter, giving fans of the establishment all over the world a glimpse into the ethos of MeMe’s." - Eater Staff
