Dortmund's steakhouse Le Bon Filet: Closed again after just 6 months!

Dortmund's steakhouse Le Bon Filet: Closed again after just 6 months!

There is a lot of excitement in Dortmund about the closure of the steakhouse “Le Bon Filet”, which is located on Dortmunder Wall. Just six months after opening in March 2025, the doors must now remain closed again. Several signs at the entrance inform about the temporary closure, which has been in effect for about two weeks. The restaurant is now even listed as permanently closed on Google Maps. Ruhr24 reports that the operator, the hotel chain HD Hotels, is planning renovation work to modernize the concept and equipment, according to the “Ruhr Nachrichten”. Details about the reopening are not yet known.

The closure of Le Bon Filet is particularly regrettable as this restaurant inherited the traditional location of the cult restaurant Pfefferkorn, which had existed for over 40 years. Pfefferkorn had to close at the end of 2024 due to disagreements between the operator Susanne Eckhardt and the Düsseldorf-based HD Hotelimmobilien GmbH. The hope that “Le Bon Filet” would continue the culinary history and style of Pfefferkorn was short-lived and now caused disappointment among the guests.

What's behind the closure?

The reasons for Le Bon Filet's closure are not yet entirely clear. While the restaurant launched with an extensive menu of steaks and German cuisine, expectations of the new concept do not appear to have been met. The fact that parts of the former Pfefferkorn team moved to the new restaurant was apparently intended to build a bridge, but in the end it was not sustainable.

Rumors say that the operators are taking customer feedback seriously and are now thinking about changing the concept. The hope remains that modernization will create a new, fresh concept that perhaps fits better into today's times. But the uncertainty about what will happen next leaves a bad aftertaste.

A look at the gastronomy landscape

The closure of Le Bon Filet also raises questions about the general gastronomy landscape in Dortmund. How often do people in Dortmund visit restaurants? And which new restaurants manage to hold their own against the competition? A look at current surveys of dining establishments shows that guests' preferences vary greatly. The accumulation of visits to new restaurants and the willingness to try different cuisines make it difficult for newbies to gain a foothold. Some questions from ESL lessons could provide information about the eating habits and preferences of Dortmund residents.

Whether there is still a future for Le Bon Filet or whether the closure is permanent remains to be seen. The dining scene is vibrant and ever-changing, and perhaps Le Bon Filet is just one of the stops it takes to develop a new, better concept.