East Rutherford’s Park & Orchard, a longtime fixture of the New Jersey dining scene (and of Zagat’s best restaurants list), has closed less than a year after reopening under new ownership.
Park & Orchard, or the P&O, announced on its website last month that it would be closing for the month of January but would reopen in February. But the website is now down, the phone rings unanswered, and sources in the restaurant industry tell NJ.com that the new owners have shut it down and are looking to sell.
The restaurant started life in 1978 as a healthy, vegetarian-friendly restaurant, and while it expanded its options over the years, it remained sensitive to dietary restrictions, including vegan and gluten-free menu options. It also was hailed for its extensive wine list, recognized many times by Wine Spectator magazine.
In 2015, P&O owners Buddy and Ken Gebhardt sold the liquor license and the restaurant’s name (but not the property) to David Madison (formerly of the Saddle River Inn) and Andrew Guarino, although Madison reportedly has since left the partnership.
After undergoing a major renovation and bringing on acclaimed farm-to-table chef Christopher Albrecht, formerly of Eno Terra in Kingston, the restaurant opened in April. In August, it earned a “very good” from the New York Times, its second-highest rating. Albrecht left in the fall to head the kitchen at the Ryland Inn, one of New Jersey’s most storied restaurants.
Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out Remote Possibilities, the TV podcast from Vicki Hyman and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or Spreaker, or listen below or here.
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