Known for cooking up delicious, wild and sustainably-caught local seafood, Sea Rocket Bistro has been a North Park favorite since opening in June 2008. Headed by Executive Chef Tommy Fraioli, General Manager and Co-Owners Elena Rivellino and businessman Dennis Stein, the restaurant's closure is yet another disheartening demonstration of the trials and tribulations facing restaurants operating on moral principles and devoted to the sustainable sourcing of ingredients.
Elena Rivellino announced the closure on Sea Rocket's blog this morning:
"The time has come to bid this wonderful adventure known as Sea Rocket Bistro goodbye. It pains me to tell you this because I will miss you all terribly – you, our friends, neighbors, and guests whom we’ve gotten to know so well over the years – but after over half a decade working to bring our locally-inspired menu to life, we’ve had to accept that the costs of doing business this way exceed the restaurant’s ability to make money. It’s been the most amazing experience I’ve ever had and I have been honored to meet all of the people the bistro has brought into my life, but we’ve decided to accept an offer from a new restauranteur and allow our space to host a fresh new idea. Our home in the Lynhurst will be remodeled and reconcepted into a totally different kind of eatery, but more info on that will follow in the coming weeks as it develops…"
Elena's heartfelt post can be viewed in it's entirety online. We're sad to see another great San Diego restaurant fall, especially one with honorable principles, but Eater San Diego reports that the restaurant has sold and may become a mac and cheese-centric eatery, and we welcome mac and cheese wholeheartedly.
Sea Rocket Bistro plans to continue regular service up to and through Sunday, December 8.
