Chapter 7 for Govind Armstrong's Table 8 on South Beach

8 Oz. Burger Bar

Spin city

​Govind Armstrong's challenged upscale seafood chain, with locations in LA and New York, has severed its weakest link: South Beach. 

As reported in the Miami Herald bankruptcy column today, Table 8 has filed for Chapter 7.  For those of you not familiar, this means full-on liquidation -- and not of the ocean type. 

8 Oz. Burger Bar, a popular meat and bun-focused spin-off, will remain open.  Co-owner Eric Fried relayed to Short Order in a phone conversation today that, despite sharing a common brand and executive chef in Armstrong, the two restaurants "have absolutely no financial relationship." 

Table 8, which opened on South Beach in December 2006, had been on shaky ground for a while with both customers and critics.  "Market-driven California cuisine" may have a place in South Florida, but its going to take a more hands-on approach than what Armstrong was willing to invest.