Fire At The Waverly Inn Temporarily Shuts The Restaurant

Just before dinnertime Monday a fire broke out in the basement of the building which houses the Waverly Inn and Garden, the A-list restaurant owned by Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter in Manhattan's West Village.

Nearly 60 firefighters responded to the 5:20 p.m. call to the restaurant at 16 Bank Street. Firefighters had the fire under control by 6:15 p.m., according to DNAinfo. It is not clear how the fire started or if the fire is even linked to the celebrity hangout.

No injuries were reported, but restaurant workers helped a panicked woman out of her first-floor apartment window when they heard her screaming for help, reported DNAinfo.

The Edward Sorel mural, which covers an entire wall of the restaurant, was ruined when firefighters had to break through the wall to get to the fire, reported Eater. The cartoonish mural featured New York City legends like Andy Warhol and Truman Capote.

"Honestly, the whole thing is of no matter to me," said Sorel of his ruined work in an interview with the New York Post. "It's a replica; it's easily reproduced."

No details have been released as to when the restaurant will open back up for business. Phone calls made to the restaurant by The Daily Meal were not immediately returned.

Sean Flynn is a Junior Writer for The Daily Meal. Follow him on Twitter @BuffaloFlynn