Just months after it opened with chef Jamie DeRosa at the helm, Atlantic Ocean Club in Delray Beach shut down.
According to Twitter, the final service for the "farm-to-table" restaurant came Saturday night, after which the entire staff was let go. The determinate nail in the coffin was posted on Atlantic Ocean Club's Facebook page yesterday, along with an announcement regarding future plans for the space.
Atlantic Ocean Club wrote:
Atlantic Ocean Club has set sail. The PopUp by Glen Manfra will be
occupying it's space at 217 Atlantic Ave for a limited time. Thank you
for your patronage this season.
Almost simultaneously, Treskoi PR, who previously handled the
restaurant, sent out a press release comfirming the
information.
Atlantic Ocean Club has had a tumultuous run. It's chef Jamie DeRosa, who previously worked at Allen Susser's Taste in Delray Beach, left the restaurant just a month after its opening. Rumors swirled that turnover was high among both managers and staff. Now, AOC is being replaced by another restaurant within days of shutting its doors. Strange times, to say the least.
The release regarding the Pop Up has some interesting information. For starters, this Italian-themed restaurant is being run by Glen Manfra, the former Culinary Director for Vic & Angelo's and David Manero Restaurants. The release touts that the restaurant will have a "by the locals, for the locals" approach (presumably since Manfra has worked so long on Atlantic Avenue?) But the most interesting portion of the release is the fact that the Pop Up has an expiration date. Opening in late May, the restaurant will conclude its service by "the beginning of fall."
Wow.
The means this pop up Pop Up will be open only for the slowest portion of the restaurant year, summer. Usually when restaurants open their doors during the summer, its so that they can work out the kinks for when the real rush starts hitting late in the fall. Such a limited stay during the low point of the season seems pretty odd. Especially since Vic & Angelo's website still lists Manfra as the culinary director.
According to Louise Henry of Treskoi PR, the reason for the four month stint is "for Glen and his cuisine to re-introduce themselves to Atlantic Avenue." Henry also noted that the menu -- meant as a summer treat to the locals -- will change regularly and maintain a "lower price point."
Some questions remain. According to Treskoi, Manfra is leasing the space from AMG for this summer. We're unsure if this means Manfra has split from David Manero Restaurants, or if Manero has a hand in the Pop Up as well. We'll update this post later in the day as we find out more.
Till then, click ahead for the full release.
CHEF GLEN MANFRA INTRODUCES THE POP-UP IN FORMER ATLANTIC OCEAN CLUB SPACE
Delray Beach's First Ever Pop-Up Concept Takes Home to 217 E. Atlantic Avenue For Four Months - Opening Late May 2011
DELRAY BEACH, FL - (May 2011) - Inaugurating his homecoming to Atlantic Avenue, Chef Glen Manfra, best known for his heavy-hitting resume of Italian-influenced restaurants like Vic and Angelo's and The Office, announces the opening of his limited-time-only concept, The Pop-Up. The restaurant is located in the former Atlantic Ocean Club location (217 E. Atlantic Avenue) and hugs the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Railroad Avenue. Opening in mid-May for dinner only, the four month restaurant will complete service the beginning of fall.
The menu is created with a "by-the-locals, for-the-locals" approach, offering a competitively priced menu and ingredients that change frequently to celebrate what is available from the area's local farmers. While the design will maintain the look and feel of Atlantic Ocean Club, this temporary home for Manfra comes with everything new- including staff, management and menu.
Its keynote feature, "downright good food," lends itself to simple eats with menu categories include starters, pastas, wood-fired pizzas and entrees. Guests can start their meal with the "usual suspects" of caprese, tuna tartare, fried calamari, soups, chopped salad and antipasto and follow with homemade pizza, fired in a wood-burning oven. Other options include six pasta dishes; starting at $16, with items including Lobster Ravioli, Cheese Gnocchi, Italian-Bacon Rigattoni, Linguini with Clam Sauce and Manfra's signature's Pappardelle and Garganelli. Entrees offer five selections of fish dishes - salmon, snapper, grouper and two different styles of sea bass- along with veal, chicken and steaks.
The Pop-Up by Glen Manfra is set in 5,000-square-feet with a split level 1,500-square-foot mezzanine level. Interior and exterior seats a total of 210 locals. Guests can expect chalkboard specials, a strong wine and cocktail list, live entertainment, greeting from Chef Manfra himself and of course, downright good eating.
MORE ABOUT THE POP-UP
A Chef Glen Manfra restaurant, The Pop Up comes to 217 E. Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach (formerly Atlantic Ocean Club) for a limited-time-only. During a four month summer-run, opening May 2011 and closing in the fall, The Pop-Up is a first-of-its-kind in Delray Beach and inaugurates Manfra's homecoming. Bringing all things local, guests can experience the marriage of Italian cuisine with the restaurants mantra of "downright good eating." The Pop-Up is open for dinner service Tuesday through Thursday from 4:30-10:00pm and Friday and Saturday until 11:00pm. For more information please call or visit www.thepopupdelray.com
