Daniel Patterson Shutters Ume, Expands Plum Bar

[Photo: Ume/Facebook]

Less than four months after a concept shuffle that transformed Daniel Patterson's Plum into the Japanese-inflected Ume, Patterson has abruptly closed the restaurant. A location long in search of a concept that would stick, the space will now become an expansion of the next-door, and more popular, Plum Bar, which is set to transform into a reimagined Plum Bar + Restaurant.

Word from the Daniel Patterson Group is that Ume, which they've characterized as a "pop-up", was designed to test the waters and see if the new concept, and its fried chicken ramen, could succeed. What they found is that even though Ume aimed at a more casual vibe than the former Plum, the neighborhood still craved a more approachable and inexpensive option. According to East Bay Express, the new iteration of Plum Bar will include expanded seating and a larger menu featuring soft-serve ice cream, punch bowls and more.

A lightening-fast turnaround is in the works, with Ume's chef de cuisine Dong Choi moved back to Atlanta and Alta CA's bar manager Ashley Miller, who's been promoted to bar director of the DPG, using the newly expanded spot as a home base.

Losing no time in the shuffle, Plum Bar + Restaurant is expected to open up for lunch and dinner tomorrow (that's Wednesday, September 10th).

· Daniel Patterson's Plum Bar takes over Ume [Eat Drink Play]
· Ume, We Hardly Knew Ye [EBX]