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Chef Chris D'Ambro out at Bocca
Old City presents both an enticing bustle of pedestrian traffic and a concept conundrum to enterprising restaurateurs.� It is stuffed with tourists visiting historic sites, locals walking to and from their homes workplaces and carloads of ladies in sparkly party tops and well-gelled dudes looking for the happening party every weekend.
Chef Chris D'Ambro out at Bocca
Old City presents both an enticing bustle of pedestrian traffic and a concept conundrum to enterprising restaurateurs.� It is stuffed with tourists visiting historic sites, locals walking to and from their homes workplaces and carloads of ladies in sparkly party tops and well-gelled dudes looking for the happening party every weekend.
Striking the balance between destination bar and favorite restaurant is a tough one.� Bocca (236 Market St.), which opened in April after life as Amici Noi, pleased our critic David Snyder with its modern approach to Italian-influenced small plates.� Chef Chris D'Ambro incorporated newfangled foams and faux "caviars" with more familiar ingredients, but the focus was always on flavor.
But flavor is not enough, since D'Ambro was let go on Tuesday in the wake of a menu reconception.
"They decided to redesign the menu concept and they no longer needed me. I guess you could say 'laid off'.� They went to, like, chicken fingers, quesadillas and nachos and stuff," said D'Ambro in a phone conversation with Meal Ticket.� "We parted ways, no harm, no foul."
D'Ambro is considering a few job offers at this time, but he did admit that ultimately he wants to helm his own ship. "I do want to do something of my own... I"ve come to the quick realization that I'll never really be happy until my name is on the door. Chefs usually are not in it for the money, we just want to pay the bills, cook great food and please the customer."
Meal Ticket is awaiting delivery of Bocca's new menu; more details on that to come.
[...] D’Ambro, the chef who parted ways with Old City resto-lounge Bocca in September, must have done something special to capture the tastebuds of many diners in the city. People keep [...]
What a sad decision on their part. Chef Chris D'Ambro was one of the best things that happened to Olde City in the passed year and Bocca appeared to be quite promising for the neighborhood. This is truly a disappointment. I'm sure those of you who were fortunate enough to experience his genius and radically distinctive take on tapas will agree with me when I say his presence on Market St will be greatly missed. Actually, on second thought, he just may be worth following around. Where to next chef?
Poor, poor decision. Bocca had great potential, strictly because of the menu that Chef Chris D'Ambro created. The food was what kept us coming back to this place, in spite of the tacky atmosphere and poor management. We will be taking our business to wherever this chef goes next (and we can only hope that he opens his own place sooner than later!).
[...] Praised chef Chris D’Ambro is out at Bocca. He says he’s mulling other options. [Meal Ticket] [...]
Bocca is sinking quicker than the Titanic. Management or lack there of, is running this place into the ground. A once enjoyable, eclectic place, Bocca is now serving cafeteria quality food as the manager watches from the alley smoking his cigarette. The linens and produce were not fresh and I was waiting a half hour for a meal I wouldn
I beg to differ! Chef Chris Had To Go With The Wind! If The Food Wasn't Fresh Then HEAD CHEF SHOULD HANDLE IT! Im sure he wasnt ringing in millions! Bocca is getting it much deserved respect for its night-life and dinning!
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