Cassis has closed
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The patio at Cassis during the first Restaurant Week.
PHOTO BY DAVE MCNAIR
Cassis, one of downtown Charlottesville’s poshest eateries and one of the original participants in Charlottesville Restaurant Week, has closed. According to owner and chef Sean Lawford, who opened Cassis in 2004 after stints as a chef at Tim Burgess and Vincent Derquennes-owned Bizou and Metropolitain, the restaurant’s last night was Saturday, April 3. He declined comment on the reason for the closure.
Let me hazard a guess-the economy . I am stunned by the for sale signs everywhere I go, and, with city, county, and many other employees looking at no raises last year, this year or next year; there must be some serious budgeting going on- eating out becomes a dispensable luxury.
I couldn’t afford to eat there, but darn the food was unbelievable. He is an awesome chef.
It appears through the Charlottesville grapevine that it took a full week for anyone to notice that the restaurant has closed. So it can’t be *that* surprising or disappointing?
so how can you say the food was unbelievable if you didnt eat there? it was a good run though, but in a college town, bar food and good drink deals will always win!!
As will the Chang effect…
http://readthehook.com/dish/index.php/the-chang-effect-wooing-palates-breaking-hearts-and-why-he-left/
This is sad, but honestly I am more torn up about Larry’s Toy Store which is closing at the end of the month. This store has been a lifeline to so many children who bought a toy following difficult days at either the Kluge Children’s Rehab. or after a difficult procedure at the UVA Children’s Hospital, including my own. It’s a shame when any business succumbs to downturns in the economy especially icons such as Cassis and Uncle Larry’s.
just to inform nancy the city used our taxes to give bonuses last year totaling 600,000.00 to city employees. some peoply are doing good.
“Let me hazard a guess-the economy . I am stunned by the for sale signs everywhere I go, and, with city, county, and many other employees looking at no raises last year, this year or next year”
Didn’t the City employees just get a bonus?
…and we see daily reports of the state government refusing to reduce any spending of our money - as they spend it on themselves.
A most repulsive situation.
Does the word reality enter the minds of these tax-vampires?
isn’t it so appropriate that congress goes on paid vacation after cutting off unemployment benefits?
So much for the compassion for the people out of work due to the economy and down on their luck!
I can say the food was great when I ate there, but I couldn’t afford to eat there more than twice a year. If I could afford it I would have eaten there often.
Just for the record, as a state employee we havent had a raise of any kind in 2 years, before that we had two years of 3% raises, and before that we had our pay frozen for several years. Insurance costs have gone up, unpaid furlough days are mandatory and if any position becomes vacant, it cant be filled, making the remaining folks have to pick up the slack. State govt is reducing spending…on the backs of the state employees. Please dont confuse them with a handful of city employees who did indeed see a raise this year. We wouldnt know what that is……….
another great location for the brixx pizza chain . MMMM more pizza
I only ate a Cassis a few times, and while the prices and offerings were originally in line with what other eateries in the same target market charged, the food did not impress me all that much. It was OK, but not a rave.
The last time I went was in the early fall when they insisted on a “tapas-style” “summer” menu (the second time I was unpleasantly surprised by this, the first was actually during the summer), which translated to: buy every single item (small portions) separately, and run up the bill. The quality of the food did not improve commensurately with price. The location was nice, but not that special. It was pretty empty the last couple of times I went. After two disappointing rounds there, I wasn’t going back. For that kind of scratch, I’d much prefer to tie my feed bag on at l’Etoile. Duners remains the yardstick.
Deleted by moderator.
The reviews on charlottesvilledining.com were less than stellar. I thought it was overrated and overpriced. For the kind of money they wanted we preferred several other places in town by a long shot. I guess others agreed.
Imagine that; another Charlottesville lemonade stand closes!! The usual drill is: after using different suppliers and ending up COD with all of them, running up a 2 year deficit on payroll tax payments, scrambling to keep the utilities from being cut off, running a year plus rent arrearage, the plug is finally pulled. Don’t know if it played out this way, but that seems the way of Charlottesville restaurants. This post may be deleted for potentially libelous content, but am not singling these folks out.
Charlottesville has had a dismal record of restaurant start-ups by people who thing a spiffy name and cute decor will enable them to sell the squeal and keep the pig.
Does seem strange that this happened so close to graduation and the guaranteed $mall fortune that can be made that weekend..
Regardless, Sean is a very talented chef and a good guy and I wish him the best for whatever he takes on next.
It’s sad to have the closed restaurant Oxo staring across the street at now closed Cassis. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that both had a higher price point. Regardless, still sad.