Goodbye to Chew Man Chu

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Goodbye to Chew Man Chu

POSTED: Monday, May 10, 2010, 4:26 PM

Filed Under: Closings

Photo | Drew Lazor

Restaurateur Marty Grims just called Meal Ticket to let us know that Sunday was the last night for Chew Man Chu, the Asian eatery he opened in October at the Symphony House at Broad and Pine. He cites a rough review from the Inquirer's Craig LaBan and the subsequent resignation of chef Tyson Wong Ophaso as mitigating factors. "For right now, we are exploring all options," Grims says in regards to what will happen to the Avenue of the Arts space. He's both open to taking on a strategic partner for a new concept and to selling the space.

Rock Colors

Posted 2010-05-10 20:14:59

Needs to be something that caters to all the UArts students around. Maybe a diner type thing? Or mid-range market/deli?

Diane

Posted 2010-05-13 10:45:47

What a shame. I loved that restaurant! That an inaccurate review from someone like Craig LaBan can put a good mom and pop out of business, especially in this economic climate, is just sad. Shame on Craig LaBan.

Benjamin

Posted 2010-05-14 10:06:55

I wouldn't really call it a good mom and pop...and the "economic climate" surely isn't stopping stronger concepts, executed in the right niche.  It's almost an excuse that "the critic's bad review put us out of business," but a restaurant that can't turn around after a bad review really can't compete anyways, or maybe shouldn't have ever entered the competition...  I had read the review, and it was pretty awful, almost personal...  But you can't blame the restaurant's entire failure on a writer.  I think that Chew Man Chew just wasn't a great concept from the beginning.

Denise

Posted 2010-05-15 11:15:33

I don't know about that, I didn't go there because of the review. If I didn't go, how many others didn't go. Normally, I read the review and weigh if it was an off night or what not, but there was so much wrong in the one review, I just didn't want to ever go there.

Laurel

Posted 2010-05-26 17:59:06

I hope that Marty Grims gives it another shot. I bet that his chef leaving had more of an impact that Craig did but I agree with Diane, above. We loved Chew Man Chu and ate there at least once a week. Not sure why Craig LaBan put such a blight on them. I find that he has questionable taste and judgment and now make it a point to try all the restaurants LaBan disses just because I know of two he's panned that we actually like (a lot). Unfortunately, Chew Man Chu is now but a memory. We are so bummed.

What We Wrote*, May 10-14 Ticket Stubs: Weekly Recap, May 10-14 :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-05-28 18:25:22

[...] - Chew Man Chu calls it a day. [...]

Posted by Drew Lazor @ 4:26 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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Founded in October 2008, Meal Ticket is a City Paper blog about food, drink and assorted other things that make you go mmm. We do recipes, interviews, restaurant news, commentary and much more. We don't do restaurant reviews here — those are handled in print, mostly by our critic (and Meal Ticket contributor) Adam Erace. Got a tip, question, thought or concern? Just want to say hello? Please shoot a note to caroline@citypaper.net.

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