Plate, a restaurant at the intersection of County Road 250 and Florida Road, is closing on June 30.
General manager Nicole Clark said the decision to close the casual fine dining restaurant was made about 10 days ago. While restaurant staff received good feedback on the menu and cocktails, the restaurant concept was not self-sustaining for more than three months out of the year, she said.
Plate opened a little more than a year ago and replaced the Main Event Sports Bar and Grill.
“I feel really good about what we’ve done in the last year ...We just haven’t been able to motivate the people of Durango to come here,” she said.
Part of the problem may be that Durangoans usually spend time along Main Avenue, going from eatery to bar to dessert spots, and Plate was out of the way for some.
“We really want to be transparent and honest with the people in Durango,” Clark said.
In the days leading up to closing, the restaurant will serve a daily rotating menu featuring organic ingredients.
Some of the items may include grilled octopus, fresh handmade pasta and Mexican chocolate tarts.
Chef Johnny Fletcher is going to spend time exercising his creativity since the restaurant can buy ingredients in smaller quantities, she said. Fletcher started at the restaurant three months ago.
The restaurant was Clark’s first and she expects to stay in the food service industry after she moves to Austin in the fall.
Plate is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is no longer open for brunch.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
