Cheesecake for the Soul: The Golden Girls cafe opens in Manhattan

New York

PICTURE it: Manhattan, 2017. A crisp Saturday morning. Every table in Rue La Rue Cafe - a new restaurant in Washington Heights dedicated to Rue McClanahan and her hit television series, The Golden Girls - was occupied, including one in a replica of the kitchen set from the show. The pumps McClanahan (Blanche) wore in the pilot episode are displayed in a glass case. Mannequins draped in her gowns surrounded a pianist and guitarist playing mellow jazz on a corner stage. Behind them, on a pedestal, was her 1987 Emmy for lead actress.

When the musicians took a break, a mounted television was turned up so customers could watch episodes that play steadily. Conversation happily quieted as Bea Arthur (Dorothy) and Hal Linden were heard saying good night after a sixth-season date. "This is a museum!" said a woman in the queue to order. From behind the counter, the co-owner, Michael LaRue, replied: "It's a museum with good food."