Lenny's Chop House, which opened 15 months ago, will serve its final dinner Saturday night, closing its doors after its owner and the management company operating the Harbor Inn Pier 5, where the restaurant is located, failed to reach a business agreement.

"We couldn't agree on the rental terms," said Lenny Kaplan, who owns Lenny's Chop House and the Polo Grill in North Baltimore.

"It is not a hostile separation. It feels like the best thing to do."

A spokesman for the management company, Meyer Jabara Hotels of Danbury, Conn., could not be reached for comment yesterday.

John Paterakis Sr., through his H&S; Properties Development Corp., bought the long-troubled Harbor Inn Pier 5 hotel in September.

The former owners were a partnership led by Michael W. Lasky and Otis Warren Jr. But the hotel ran into trouble after Lasky's Inphomation Communication Inc. filed for bankruptcy last year, listing liabilities of more than $11 million.

Oceanic Hotels International Inc. operated and managed the hotel until recently. Meyer Jabara Hotels started as management company for the hotel about a month ago.

Harbor Inn Pier 5 also is home to the Dish Cafe and seafood restaurant McCormick & Schmick's.

"It was fun," said Kaplan, who has operated Lenny's Chop House since January 1998.

"Sure it's disappointing, but it's business. I'm enjoying being at the Polo Grill full time."

Pub Date: 4/15/99