Le Reve is closing down (Bowie: buy, restaurants, costs)

[perticusrex]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet buuuuut....
Ed Tijerina reports Le Reve, SA's most recognized restaurant, is closing. http://tinyurl.com/yacgl7t

[pr57001]

Originally Posted by perticusrex

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet buuuuut....
Ed Tijerina reports Le Reve, SA's most recognized restaurant, is closing. http://tinyurl.com/yacgl7t

More in-depth article of the same:

Acclaimed French restaurant Le Rêve closing

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by perticusrex

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet buuuuut....
Ed Tijerina reports Le Reve, SA's most recognized restaurant, is closing. http://tinyurl.com/yacgl7t

That story is front page news on today's paper. Gourmet magazine had ranked Le Reve the 6th best restaurant in the country at some point.

[lemonfresh]

Originally Posted by Bowie

That story is front page news on today's paper. Gourmet magazine had ranked Le Reve the 6th best restaurant in the country at some point.

He's going to The Pearl and is going to own that place with four restaurants.

I see the closing of Le Reve as the beginning of something great for SA and the Pearl.

[tgannaway89]

SA's well known upscale french eatery is going to close. The owner plans to focus on his Pearl Brewery location and spen more time with family.

[lemonfresh]

This belongs in the opening/closing thread, where it's already being discussed.

Also, he's planning on opening 4 restaurants at The Pearl.

[sapphire]

wCat beat you to the thread:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-a...ocked-out.html

[mojokitty]

I think closing Le Reve is a terrible mistake for AW. That restaurant is fantastic and I don't know of another restaurant in town that is like it. I feel like SA has lost a notch by him closing that restaurant. I would have liked to see him move Le Reve to the Pearl and focus on that. The article I read said that LR is packed every night, so why would you close such a success? It just doesn't make sense. I told hubby that I think he wants to cut costs of food but continue to charge LR prices at his other eateries. That's my opinion of it at least.

In other AW news, we ate at the Sandbar the other night and it was the worst meal I've ever had in my life. We actually felt ill afterwards. I wish I had someone to complain to, but I don't think that I do. The fact that I saw one of the chef's drop a container of oil into the trash, pull it out of said trash, throw it on the counter where food was being prepped, use it, and then go on making food without washing his hands (after digging in the trash)...ew. That might fly behind the scenes but with an open kitchen like that one, no way. The food was over seasoned, I mean, to the point where it made me gag. Maybe it was a bad night because I've heard such great things about it. Unfortunately, I won't be going back. I'm a little nervous to try Il Sagno even though I have heard that it is fantastic.

[pr57001]

Originally Posted by mojokitty

I think closing Le Reve is a terrible mistake for AW. That restaurant is fantastic and I don't know of another restaurant in town that is like it. I feel like SA has lost a notch by him closing that restaurant. I would have liked to see him move Le Reve to the Pearl and focus on that. The article I read said that LR is packed every night, so why would you close such a success? It just doesn't make sense. I told hubby that I think he wants to cut costs of food but continue to charge LR prices at his other eateries. That's my opinion of it at least.

I'm not sure I buy the "spend more time with my family" when the restaurant is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Perhaps with the other ventures collectively La Reve is more work and requires more personal attention.

Alternatively, maybe business is down and after a flurry of last minute reservations from the "I always wanted to eat there" crowd, he will magically announce a few weeks from now it is to remain open. We'll call it marketing. Does anyone know the last day?

[dvlpr]

Originally Posted by pr57001

I'm not sure I buy the "spend more time with my family" when the restaurant is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Perhaps with the other ventures collectively La Reve is more work and requires more personal attention.

Alternatively, maybe business is down and after a flurry of last minute reservations from the "I always wanted to eat there" crowd, he will magically announce a few weeks from now it is to remain open. We'll call it marketing. Does anyone know the last day?

First, AW's commitment to first-class food is a major time commitment. It's not like he just goes in during dining hours and leaves. Second, those dining hours are in the evening...a time when most people are spending time with their families.

And the restaurant was completely booked on Thursday night (I tried to get reservations, and couldn't). Same thing about 5 weeks ago. The man's not having business problems. It would probably be appropriate to refrain from posting your "hunches" on this board without any facts.