Sad news for fans of the Chinatown hotspot Orange Rouge today, as it announced the closure of its restaurant after seven years:
In the post, the restaurant thanks its fans, partners, and suppliers, but notes that the "current situation does not allow us to pursue our passion" since the Chinese restaurant first took flight in September 2013. Orange Rouge, like so many other restaurants in Montreal, had been forced to close in March of this year following the outbreak.
Earlier this month, the restaurant announced on its Instagram account that it was open for delivery and takeout, doing dishes such as Peking duck meal kits for four people and had made its menu available through Uber Eats. Those efforts, however, appear to not have been enough for the restaurant; as many noted prior to the pandemic hitting the city, Chinatown has been subject to discrimination and racism as diners preemptively and incorrectly associated Chinese food and businesses with the virus.
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The restaurant was run by Patrick Dumont, Antoine Lapointe and Claudia Barila alongside chef Minh Phat, whose Chinese-forward menu filled with incorporations of Japanese, Vietnamese and other Asian cuisines made the restaurant stand out as one of its neighbourhood's premiere fine dining destinations.
Orange Rouge joins a collection of notable bars and restaurants that have been forced to close since the outbreak began, many of which have been forced to shutter in the face of diminished sales and restrictive reopening policies that social distancing, use of PPE and other adaptations necessitate.Long loved by locals for its ambiance and style, it joins the growing list of addresses Montrealers will no longer be able to enjoy. We've personally championed this place as one of the best restaurants in Chinatown, bar none.
The announcement is still fresh; Time Out Montreal has reached to ask both the restaurant and chef for comments on whether another restaurant or bar is in the cards, and where else we might be able to try chef Minh Phat's cooking again.
As always, remember to continue supporting hospitality workers who are unemployed by donating to the Montreal Restaurant Workers Relief Fund.
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