On paper Reserve, the homegrown effort to beat big name operators behind popular steakhouse brands at their own game, sure seemed like a winner. Owner Didier LaFontant did a great job prepping the place for its big debut back in February, but it didn’t all work out. Foobooz reports the Old City newcomer pulled the plug. What exactly delivered the knockout punch remains unclear. Was it poor kitchen performance? The fact that the economy is still flatlining, and people worried about their finances aren’t so willing to squander hard-earned cash on big-ticket steaks and chops? Or is it Old City itself, and the throngs of wasted, fighting nuisance drinkers who treat the neighborhood as a weekend playground? We suppose we’ll never know for sure. [Foobooz]