Pigall's, the downtown restaurant being reopened by Maisonette executive chef Jean-Robert deCavel, was founded in 1956 by Maurice Gorodetsky, another former chef of the Maisonette, and his wife, Nannette. The original location was at Fifth and Pike streets, downtown.

        Pigall's moved to Fourth Street, between Race and Elm streets, in 1968. Mr. Gorodetsky died in 1972 and Nannette sold the restaurant in 1973 to Don Whittle, who had been the Maisonette maitre d' for 12 years.

        From 1967-1976, Pigall's was a five-star Mobil restaurant (except for 1973 and '74 when it was unrated after the death of its original owner). It shared that distinction with two other Cincinnati restaurants, Maisonette and the Gourmet Room in the Terrace Hilton (now the Crowne Plaza). In 1977, Pigall's was demoted to four stars, which it kept until Mr. Whittle closed the restaurant in August 1990.

        The spot was reopened as Pigall's Cafe in 1991 by Jimmy Gherardi and Paul Sturkey. Out went the crystal chandeliers, red-flocked wallpaper, tinted mirrors and linen tablecloths, as the duo transformed the restaurant into a casual, trendy cafe with Formica-topped tables and paper placemats.

        In the end, the once-fancy French restaurant devolved into Pig Al's, a barbecue joint serving ribs, a concept that lasted only from fall 1999 to April 2000.

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