First came the glowing reviews of Madrona's beautifully designed French restaurant, Cremant (including, hyperbolically, mine):

Crémant's only been open for three weeks, but everybody's crazy about it—Madrona neighbors as well as admirers drawn from all over town. Service, perhaps administered by a benevolently solemn, owl-like bespectacled gentleman, unfolds at a pace that enforces enjoyment... Local food luminaries dine, the ladies at the next table converse desultorily in French, a fellow in the tiny bar area wears an aquamarine sequined dress shirt with unbelievable panache, a waiter holds two entrees aloft with a small smile while the recipients finish kissing across their table... if you know chef/owner Scott Emerick's background (Campagne, Le Pichet, Lark), your expectations ought to be ratcheted right up. The rock-solid classic French cooking will not disappoint; in fact, it's wildly pleasing.

Then came the change of ownership: Mike McConnell, of the Caffe Vita/Via Tribunali mini-empire, bought the lion's share of the business.

Then came the lawsuit—with McConnell suing the former partners/former chef.

Then the former partners/former chef/now-defendants responded.

Now comes the "Spring Cleaning Party as imagined by Federico Fellini" that may or may not be the restaurant's last night in business—McConnell's not saying. (From the press release: "Will we re-invent the gorgeous little gem of a restaurant with a new Spring menu? or... Will this be a spirited champagne-fueled wake?" We don't know! And yet we feel annoyed rather than intrigued!)

It's tonight, and it's pay-what-you-can for wine and food.

Full press release after the jump.

For immediate Release. April 28th, 2009. 7pm - 2am.
Cremant. 1423 34th Avenue (34th and Union)
Seattle, Wa.

Restaurant Cremant cleans out the Pantry, empties the Wine Closet, and dusts off the Liquor Shelf. Fresh Start? End of An Era? The Last Night Of A Dream? A Spring Cleaning Party as imagined by Federico Fellini.

The award winning french bistro Cremant invites friends, new friends, and past customers to a special evening of debauchery and... *cleaning. We are going to drink all of the wine we can uncork, empty the larder, cook large platters of delicious Frenchy fare, and drain many bottles of fine liquor. We encourage you to grab your sense of (decadent) adventure and head up the hill to 34th and Union. Tonight.

Why Clean?

Restaurant Cremant has enjoyed several years of critical success and rave reviews and like many restaurants in these darker days we have come to an important crossroads, and we are asking ourselves some difficult questions.

Will we re-invent the gorgeous little gem of a restaurant with a new Spring menu? or... Will this be a spirited champagne-fueled wake?

This question will hang in the air tonight as we get down to the bare bones - and eat and drink in honor of economic peril! Will Lazarus be raised or will this ship sail off into the sunset...? You will have to come on by to find out... And while you are here be sure to raise a glass to celebrate the 21st Birthday of Daniel Weiss!

Cost: There is no such thing as a free lunch - but there is such a thing as a free spring cleaning...

*No, we won't expect our guests to pick up a mop and bucket, but we will expect you to drain a glass or two (three)...

SPRING CLEANING.
APRIL 28th
7pm-2am
Cremant
1423 34th Avenue (34th and Union)
Seattle, Wa.
www.cremantseattle.com