During a recent visit to The Mark, located on Manhattan's prestigious Upper East Side, a mother and daughter shared a disturbing account with DailyMail.com. They claimed to have witnessed two sizable rodents scuttling beneath a nearby table while they were enjoying a lavish lunch at the Caviar Kaspia restaurant.
This dining establishment is renowned for its opulent fish roe dishes, with some offerings reaching as high as $1,100 for a baked potato adorned with caviar.
One of the women, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted the distressing incident: "It was just awful. We were having a mother-daughter lunch, indulging in potato with caviar and a glass of champagne each. We were enjoying it and having a nice time. We then had a sorbet as a palate cleanser, after that we planned to go shopping. Next thing, my daughter gasped and shouted out there were two rats sitting under a table four feet away from us. We were in the front area, and I jumped up – there were two other women seated at another table who were equally horrified."
A waiter approached as I was getting my phone out to take a picture but stood in front of me before I could do it explaining: 'Oh I know- it's a problem in New York, we are very sorry.''
The appalled diners claimed that the hotel's response was to remove the cost of dessert from their substantial bill as compensation for the unsettling encounter.
Adding to the controversy, a recent visit by DailyMail.com to Caviar Kaspia revealed what appeared to be numerous droppings scattered across the restaurant's plush orange carpet.
In a subsequent conversation with staff, one employee disclosed that the luxurious five-star hotel, where the least expensive room commands $1,000 per night, had indeed faced a rat issue. They explained, "We did have a problem - we were told it was handled," and attributed the infestation to a nearby construction site. "Honestly, I've heard of people seeing it, but I haven't. There's a lot of construction outside and next door, we share a lot of the vents - we were told [that's what] the culprit is."
The hotel's supervisor acknowledged that the presence of rats in the restaurant was unacceptable and contrary to the elegant ambiance they aim to maintain: "It is disgusting and unacceptable."
The Mark Hotel has long been a hotspot for A-list celebrities and is famous as the official pre-Met Gala hotel, where many attendees prepare for the prestigious fashion event. Its reputation soared when Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, chose the hotel's $75,000-a-night penthouse to host her lavish baby shower in 2019. This star-studded event, estimated to cost around $500,000, drew luminaries such as Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, and Meghan's former close friend, Jessica Mulroney.
Guests were treated to a harp performance by Erin Hill and received generous gifts, including roses, cotton candy, and suitcases. When it was time to return to the UK, Meghan flew on a private jet, courtesy of George and Amal Clooney. This extravagant celebration stirred controversy, as it seemed incongruent with Meghan's previous expressions of concern for privacy and climate change.
The Mark Hotel has been a favored choice for Met Gala attendees for over a decade, with Vogue editor Anna Wintour often gracing the hotel's iconic red carpet. Actresses Emily Blunt and Cara Delevingne, as well as supermodel Karlie Kloss, have also frequented this luxury establishment to prepare for their Met Gala appearances.
This 1927 architectural gem, transformed into a luxurious haven by renowned designer Jacques Grange, boasts 100 guestrooms and 53 suites.
A spokesperson for The Mark Hotel responded to the rodent claims, emphasizing their commitment to addressing the issue: "The Mark takes rodent claims very seriously and, as such, has several weekly pest control services come through the property. While there was a recent complaint from two diners, which our management addressed promptly, there have never been reported sightings from any staff at Caviar Kaspia of rats or mice. Subsequent visits from our pest control have not verified the presence of any rodents or droppings in Caviar Kaspia.
