Unlucky Thirteen: 2009's First Restaurant Closings

Add The Food Gang to the list of 2009's restaurant victims. We in Miami have also recently lost Christabelle's Quarter, Two Chefs Too and Mr. Chu's Hong Kong Cuisine. And while we didn't notice when El Viajante Segundo became no mas, it is nonetheless shocking -- the Cuban cafeteria had been on Collins Ave. and 16th Street for decades.

Anyway, starting right here and now Short Order will be keeping tabs on local restaurant closings and passing them on -- hopefully saving our readers wasted driving time and frustration. For instance, if you were thinking of getting in your car and heading to Plein Sud for escargot -- don't bother.

Here is the first roll call:
Christabelle's Quarter
DiBono's Italian Cafe
El Viajante Segundo
Fish Joynt
French Kiss Terrasse
Macabi Steakhouse and Bar
Mr. Chu's Hong Kong Cuisine
Nuvo Kafe
Plein Sud
Santo (bar still exists; Novecento now serves the food)
The Food Gang
The Noodle Shop
Two Chefs Too

We don't want to get all gloom-and-doomy about this, so next week we'll shine some light on the silver lining in these dark clouds.