Flamant, the popular Belgian bistro in West Annapolis, will close at year’s end, according to its owner.
“With a heavy heart and a sense of profound gratitude, after much contemplation and consideration, I have made the difficult decision to close Flamant,” owner Frederik De Pue wrote Thursday on social media. “This is undoubtedly a bittersweet moment for me. As I close this chapter, and on behalf of our great team, past and present, I want to thank you [so much] for letting us serve you. We hope you continue supporting the local businesses in West Annapolis that make our community unique.”
The restaurant’s last day of service is Dec. 31. Gift cards and reservations will be honored until closing.
In an interview, De Pue said the decision to sell the property after six years was difficult, but his other restaurant and business ventures left little time for Flamant.
“It’s not an easy decision,” said De Pue, who also runs The Henri in Washington. “Of course, I love that place. I love the neighborhood. I love the support that we have gotten over the years from everybody … but I have another establishment and a couple of companies, and I felt that I was not able to dedicate sufficient time to that restaurant.”
While the sale of 17 Annapolis St. is not yet finalized, De Pue said the future owners of the location “have a rich culinary background” with plans to launch a restaurant with a new menu in the new year.
In early 2015, De Pue bought the old Giant Peach children’s clothing store location for $625,000, according to property records, and then ” ] opened Flamant in June 2017. De Pue, a trained chef from Belgium, had spent the better part of two years designing and completing major renovations to 17 Annapolis St. He previously had restaurants in Washington, including Azure, Menu MBK and Table, a farm-to-table restaurant concept.
“I’m from Belgium, so I want to cook what is in season, what I grew up eating,” he told The Capital at the time. “I’ve taken a couple of these dishes, changed them up, adapted them to this time and just have fun.”
De Pue’s announcement that he was closing Flamant was met with an outcry of disappointment from foodies and neighbors, who enjoyed the authentic European cuisine for years.
One longtime fan, Sarah Wade, lamented the loss of her favorite dish, tomato confit with halloumi, a cheese made of goat and sheep’s milk.
“I just loved that dish. And their crab rolls,” Wade said in a message.
Wade first ate at the restaurant with her father Richard Wade, when he wrote a review of the restaurant for The Capital in July 2017.
“There is something very special about small chef-owned restaurants and, regrettably, there are few in this area.” Richard Wade wrote at the time. “The proprietor has a vision that starts with what he or she wants to put on the plate and builds around it an atmosphere and staff to complement it.”
Sarah Wade said she will miss Flamant’s unique take on food and dining, calling it “a breath of fresh air.”
“The ambiance, the attention to detail where everything was ‘just so.’ It was nice to have that closer to home,” she said. “Upscale restaurants can succeed here when done correctly.”
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December 22, 2023 at 02:42AM
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Flamant, popular Belgian bistro in West Annapolis, to close at year's end, owner announces - Capital Gazette
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