Monday, May 4, 2009
Chow Cremant Is Officially Closed
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Mon, May 4, 2009 at 11:38 AM
After the glowing reviews, the change of ownership, the lawsuit, and the "Spring Cleaning Party as imagined by Federico Fellini" (more here), it's officially the end for Madrona French restaurant Cremant.
The sign says:
Dear Friends,We are sorry to announce that Cremant is no more. While most good things do eventually come to an end, please understand that the closing of our doors is also an opening of opportunity for the next venture to inhabit this very special place.
So thank you for your patronage and stay tuned.
Yours,
Cremant
New owner Mike McConnell has yet to return a call for comment. He also owns Caffe Vita and Via Tribunali—maybe Madrona's about to get one of those.
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1
Yay! One of the handful of Seattle restaurants that served foie gras is closed. The others are soon to follow, leaving their morally bankrupt former owners bankrupt. Seattle doesn't tolerate extreme socially conservative food.
2
the meal i had at cremant last fall was good, but i can't afford to eat like that ($75/person) when i might lose my job next month. i suspect every other restaurant at this price point is in similar trouble. i'm looking at YOU, cantinetta where i walked out hungry after spending $150 for 2.
time to reimagine your menus or join the dodos.
and @1: "extreme socially conservative food" is more like the wedgewood broiler.
time to reimagine your menus or join the dodos.
and @1: "extreme socially conservative food" is more like the wedgewood broiler.
4
Good. My first and only visit was in January, taken by a friend because it was my birthday. One of the worst restaurant meals I'd ever been served.
5
yep, to join the petty criticism, my meal there had me waited on by a really uninterested server. her mind was blown by my triple-appetizer one main dish quaruple-side meal and she couldn't course it out and treated me like i was trying to be cheap. i can afford meals like that fine, but only when they're accompanied by a server who like, doesn't think i am white trash and will recommend a decent wine and not avoid me. i don't need fucking smiles or anything, but c'mon, i have had many servers expertly course out meals like that.
i don't even remember how the fois gras was.
i don't even remember how the fois gras was.
6
Yeah this place was cute but unfit for the hood. Basement style boutique "bistro" dining for $70/person should not interest anyone who lives near it. The demise of this joint is a good sign, another coffee or sando joint would be excellent here. Not sure about trendy urban white folk pizza, but it would be an improvement.
7
mother jones, why would a place like Cremant not "fit" into the "hood". maybe you've missed the median home price, particularly on the east side of 34th, but i think the price fit the clients.
8
I never got the appeal of that place. Traditional French, nothing exciting, nothing new. The service was patronizing. Seemed to be a hit with the elderly nouveau riche, though.
9
I had a good experience at Cremant. I'm sad it's gone. If only they didn't serve foie gras, they would still be open! Not really.
11
That party was a weird, weird scene, with people who could've afforded it clawing at each other for food, griping at the bartenders, and generally being insufferable. Used to love that place, but that party made me glad it was dunzo. now put in a bar with good food that stays open after 11 and doesn't allow children!
12
I think many including "Dacoach" have missed the point(s) raised here; Cremant was not that amazing to begin with, often the service was sub-par--regardless of menu price that's no good for any restaurant, and it does (did) not fit into the neighborhood because of the price as a function with its limited hours--their newly created fancy brunch hastened their demise. It did not really serve a large percentage of its neighbors (mostly cheapos) with a consistent price:experience. Its getting harder and harder to be a high end place that does not do it exquisitely, and without fail every time within the (even special occasion) price point (i'm looking at you Dulces).
And as far as price goes DaCoach try looking at the cost of home ownership in CH, Madison Park, Queen Anne, or Laurelhurst and you will find even in those spendy neighborhoods there are a lot more variety in their local neighborhood joints than in the 2 blocks and 4-5 that is Madrona.
And as far as price goes DaCoach try looking at the cost of home ownership in CH, Madison Park, Queen Anne, or Laurelhurst and you will find even in those spendy neighborhoods there are a lot more variety in their local neighborhood joints than in the 2 blocks and 4-5 that is Madrona.
13
foxy fred barnes
it really wasn't that expensive. it wasnt canlis expensive. it was on par with bistro turquaz, which is packed most nights because their food is consistently good.
the place didn't make it not b/c of their price point, but b/c the managers compiled hundreds of thousands of dollars in debit that mcconnell and company couldn't recoup with the model they have.
i agree that the $20+ entree as norm is suffering huge in this market, particuarly at places that never should have been charging that amount. cremant, at its start, was not one of them.
it really wasn't that expensive. it wasnt canlis expensive. it was on par with bistro turquaz, which is packed most nights because their food is consistently good.
the place didn't make it not b/c of their price point, but b/c the managers compiled hundreds of thousands of dollars in debit that mcconnell and company couldn't recoup with the model they have.
i agree that the $20+ entree as norm is suffering huge in this market, particuarly at places that never should have been charging that amount. cremant, at its start, was not one of them.
14
Eh lets hope for a better cheaper place that does not allow children after 8 and is open late. Costs $15 and under, and is very different, turkuaz is very okay but my days of paying more than i should for overpriced middle eastern food never began, im glad its there but certainly would not be bragging up a place that seats under 20 as being excellent and packed all the time. As far as the french joints biz model something aside from bad management and limited hours made it go under....model or not the place was headed downhill for a long time and better planning would have stymied its demise. I hope all the employees landed on theis feet.
15
Please stop talking about this done uppity place. Cheap country food marked way up served in a basement by Snotty people. all that and white tablecloths do not add up to $100/couple meals. Not anymore. Not in madrona. Not for awhile now.
17
I'm surprised by the comments about not allowing kids and staying open late. From my experience working at Cremant, not a patron dared to darken the doors before 7:30 nor after 9:00. By 10:30 not a soul dared walk down lonely 34th St. Also, we rarely to never had kids in the dining room. Finally, even with a fully stocked bar, liquor sales were inconsequential. I'm not so sure that a bar that's open late with no kids in it in the Cremant space is the answer. Lastly, I would like everybody to consider the costs of doing restaurant business, and understand the cost of your food is no more than 32% of what you pay on the menu. That means that your $19 leg of lamb cost six dollars to bring to plate. I defy you to go shopping with six dollars and come home with a composed entree. Add up your bottle of wine, foie gras and two entrees, don't get sticker shock and blog about it.
p.s. - "chefgirl" - of which restaurant in Seattle are you the *chef*?
p.s. - "chefgirl" - of which restaurant in Seattle are you the *chef*?
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