In Manhattan, the workaholic Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is the chef of the 22 Bleecker Restaurant owned by Paula, who sent her to a therapist because she had no other interest in life but cooking and controlling her kitchen. When her only sister dies in a car accident, Kate becomes the guardian of her niece Zoe, who can not overcome the loss of her mother. Paula orders Kate to take a couple of days off to care of Zoe; when Kate returns to the work, she finds that Paula hired the sub-chef Nick without her approval. Nick explains that he is honored to work with Kate, but the jealous Kate does not trust him and believes he wants her position. When Zoe gets close to Nick and invites him to have dinner with Kate and her, she changes her feelings for Nick. But when his work is recognized by the clients of the restaurant, Kate believes she committed a mistake.

otsoNY Comments: The director found a vacant corner space on Bleecker Street at Charles for his restaurant in the West Village, with large windows that offered excellent views of city life out on the street which was specially lit for extras. The space formerly housed a Chinese restaurant and is now a retail store. The temporary presence of a film production in the interim caused some confusion in the neighbourhood, especially as they decided to name the restaurant 22 Bleecker Street. The store front wasn’t anywhere near number 22. The only number not in use on Bleecker Street was 22. Number 24 was a church. So the makers thought they were safe with the name but, in fact, it confused the local messengers when they put the sign up that indicated ‘22 Bleecker’ in a spot that was actually in the upper 300s. In the end, they decided to remove the signage until the moment when they were actually filming the exterior.

22 Bleecker Restaurant, 368 Bleecker Street and Charles Street, Manhattan.

Fulton Fish Market, Fulton Street, Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: Kate's apartment is supposed to be located only a few blocks from the restaurant, but is in fact based in Brooklyn.

Kate's Apartment, 8 Montague Terrace and Remsen Street, Brooklyn.

West 21st Street (btw 8th and 9th Avenues) Manhattan.

PS 11 William T Harris School, 320 West 21st Street and 8th Avenue, Manhattan.

Bleecker Street and Mulberry Street, Manhattan.

Hung Lee Shop, 79 Bayard Street (btw Mott Street and Mulberry Street, Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: In addition to the film made at this location, there has also been a famous television show to feature the building. In September 1994 a series revolving around a group of friends in the area of Manhattan, New York City, who occasionally lived together and shared living expenses premiered on NBC. The television show was called Friends and starred Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. Although the producers always wanted to find the right stories to take advantage of being on location, Friends was never shot in New York. Executive producer Kevin Bright felt that filming outside the studio made episodes less funny, even when shooting on the lot outside, and that the live audience was an integral part of the series.

Kate, Nick and Zoe's Bistro, 90 Bedford Street and Grove Street, Manhattan.