Sel Gris will not reopen

[josephnl]

Sadly I just receive this email re the demise of Sel Gris. I find this quite sad. I loved Sel Gris and the amazing food served by Chef Mondak.

Dear Friends of Sel Gris,

Nearly seven months ago, sel gris was affected by fire and smoke damage.
Although the fire originated in our neighbor’s space; our meltdown became significantly more difficult to overcome due to the prolonged repairs of our shared ceiling and adjoining walls.

Of course, the most important aspect of this incident is that no one was physically hurt, and for that, we are grateful. The real downside of this unwelcome event was watching our impressive and talented staff become instantly unemployed - we all were in a bit of shock - one day we were in business, the next day we were closed.

Close to three seasons have passed, weeks have turned into months and with mortgages to pay and families to feed, it became evident that Chef Mondok and the entire staff had to move on. Please know we tried very hard to defy the odds against us, but obstacles kept mounting, and we soon realized it was improbable that we could put it all back together the way it was. Hard as it is to let go, we had to make the decision to accept sel gris as a fond memory.

Last fall, my former partner and still good friend, Chef Daniel Mondok, joined forces with the restaurant group, ChefsTable. He co-partnered to open the successful Foster Burger in December, 09 and he continues to entertain a number of options.
If we are lucky he and his new team of partners will find the right location to launch a new fine dining restaurant so we will not have to miss his cooking talent too much longer.

It is said that with every end there is a new beginning, so I am excited to introduce you to FIN, a new seafood restaurant which is in the works for a summer opening in the former sel gris space. Chef Trent Pierce and I think this new concept will suit the neighborhood, the new economy, and hopefully bring a fresh and dynamic eatery to the Portland community – stay tuned!

On behalf of Daniel, and the entire sel gris staff you came to know, we truly thank you for all your thoughtful and encouraging emails during our closure.

Should you have gift certificates you want to redeem, please contact me via email at [e-mail] and I will work with you individually to see that you are reimbursed.

With kind regards,

Joan Dumas

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Sel Gris
1852 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR

[MichaelG]

I just want to say that that gift certificate line at the end shows some real class. Unfortunately, people like that are harder and harder to come by these days. Good luck Joan!

[Kazy Ctn]

Wow - major disappointment. As the months passed, I was starting to think that something was awry because I never saw any progress. The email was fairly straightforward, but still leaves a few questions in my mind.

/ I live nearby and I was dreaming of the next time I was going to have their calimari with fried lemon...

[porky pine]

I heard Daniel is going to open up a new restaurant in Carlyle's old space.

[Gizmology]

Wow -- I'm obviously WAY out of the loop -- I haven't been to Sel Gris for a while and had no idea that it wasn't still blissfully serving the best meals in Portland every night. Apart from the elaborate 7-course gastronomical theater that was Genoa, the best meal I ever had in Portland was at Sel Gris about two years ago. My partner and I don't have the money to splurge often, but the three or four times a year we manage to have dinner at a really amazing restaurant are Big Events for me and that dinner at Sel Gris resides in the pinnacle spot in my memory. Everything about the night was perfect -- the service and the ambiance were wonderful, and the food was so perfectly seasoned and roasting of meats timed to the exact moment of peak flavor -- four of us had dinner and we were all equally transported. And besides all of that, the lighting and the mirror in the bathroom gave the most flattering reflection, and each of us came back to the table in turn marvelling about it -- we were just impressed that even that detail had not been neglected -- the whole effect was that we all felt pampered and glimmering like superstars! :) We spoke of that meal in rapturous tones ever after, and it was on my list for the next celebratory dinner. But now I find that it's gone! I guess the search for perfection begins again. I'm so sorry to hear about the closing, and I wish you all the best. Thanks for the dinner and the memories, Joan Dumas, Chef Mondak and everyone else who might've sauteed an onion or gilded a mirror in the pursuit of a diner's delight! :)

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Sel Gris
1852 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR

[JillO]

Chef Mondok is currently cooking at June, newly opened on E. Burnside betw. E22nd and 23rd. And Kelley Swenson, former super 'tender at ten-01also moved over there. Head chef/owner is Greg Perrault from DOC.

http://portlandfood.org/index.php?/topic/10844-june/page__p__135105__hl__june__fromsearch__1#entry135105

http://pdx.eater.com/archives/2010/06...