December 9, 2008 --

RESTAURANT mogul Steve Scher's loved ones are mourning his sudden and shocking Sunday-morning death, but they're taking some solace at how he spent his memorable final night with family and friends. Scher, a partner in BLT Prime and Calle Ocho, had his 50th birthday bash on Saturday night at his new BarBao, where he was toasted by a packed house including Jill Hennessy, Matt Dillon, Bobby Flay, David Rabin and Wendy Maitland. Scher's final year, more than a decade after he opened Union Pacific with Rocco DiSpirito, was one to remember. He got married, saw the birth of his son, sold Django, transformed the former Rain into BarBao and opened Heirloom in New Haven, Conn. His life will be celebrated once more at a memorial service this morning.