ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After years of serving the community a unique blend of Norwegian and Asian cuisine, a beloved St. Petersburg restaurant has made the difficult decision to close its doors this weekend.
Lingr, located on 6th Street South, will host its final day of service on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
"After almost 3 years of serving our community, it's time for me to follow the advice I've always given my team—put family and health first," Chef Jeffrey Jew said.
Chef Jew is an alumnus of Bravo's "Top Chef" and winner of Food Network's "Guy's Grocery Games." Having previously worked as executive chef at Bella Brava and Stillwaters Tavern, he opened Lingr in 2021 to celebrate his Norwegian and Asian heritage through contemporary dishes using sustainable, local ingredients.
Chef Jew explained that he'll now be focusing on family, spending time with his mother as they navigate her Lewy body dementia.
While the Lingr staff looks forward to savoring every moment of their final week, their reservations are completely booked. However, they encourage anyone who has "enjoyed Lingr's unique blend of culinary traditions" to join them in donating to the Alzheimer's Association at https://act.alz.org.
"Thank you to everyone—our amazing staff and fabulous customers who have made this journey possible. While we prepare to say goodbye to our space on 6th Street South, we look forward to keeping the spirit of Lingr alive through our continued connection with all of you in the community," the restaurant staff said.
When Lingr announced its closing in a social media post on Monday, patrons flooded the comments to share their memories of the restaurant and express their support for Chef Jew and his family.
It's not clear if Chef Jew plans to return to the St. Pete restaurant scene in the future, but he said he is looking forward to "maintaining strong ties with the community that has steadfastly supported his culinary endeavors."
"We have made so many memories here at Lingr, and we have thoroughly enjoyed the time we have had," the Lingr staff said. "Here’s to making the most of the time we have left together and cherishing every moment."
