Sudden Shutter News: Mezze Closing This Saturday

All that work...

By Lesley Balla

Citing an "overwhelming construction site" next to the modern Mediterranean restaurant, chef Micah Wexler and managing partner Michael Kassar will close Mezze after service this Saturday (Oct. 27). The restaurant opened in the former Sona spot to much fanfare in 2011, with a spotlight on Wexler's take on Middle Eastern cuisine with modern and local, seasonal flourishes (we loved the Israeli cous cous with sea urchin, and anything on that amazing flatbread and pita they made in-house). But apparently the construction that began six months ago for the mixed-use project taking place a few feet from the restaurant is just too much to bear.

"The daily occurrence for the past four to six months of cement trucks and tractors in front of the restaurant, coupled with the completely fenced off sidewalk to the south of Mezze has made it impossible for guests to walk by foot from the south," according to Kassar's statement. "There is now no crosswalk to arrive at Mezze from that direction. The construction has also made it extremely difficult to see the restaurant, making it nearly invisible."

It's affected business so much that they're forced to close, and reference legal action being taken against the developers for that site. Saturday night is the final service, with hopes to relocate and start serving again soon: "While this situation is quite a disappointment for us, considering the great path Mezze was on, we promise there will be more extraordinary experiences to come."