Jun 03 2008
Nasu Blanca in Locust Point closes
This may not come as a surprise to some of you, it certainly did not come as a surprise to me and my husband, but Nasu Blanca, the Spanish/Japanese restaurant in Locust Point on Fort Ave. has closed it doors. According to the Baltimore Business Journal, a voice mail message confirms it closure but gives no reason. I would suspect it was from a lack of patronage due to its high dinner prices (and the infamous $9 beer!!). My husband and I ate dinner there once. I got the rather expensive paella. It was pretty good, but not worth the price. I later knew it was overpriced when I went to an upscale neighborhood in San Francisco, CA and got a similar paella for $5 dollars less. I love Locust Point and all, but there is no comparison between Nasu Blanca in Locust Point, Baltimore and an indoor/outdoor restaurant on a beautiful street in San Francisco. Don’t get me wrong, the restaurant is beautifully done. And we had seen another higher scale restaurant success at the Wine Market (which I consider to be a better restaurant with better prices). But I thought Nasu Blanca totally outpriced its neighborhood. What finally turned us off from ever going again into the restaurant was when we stopped in for happy hour. I got a happy hour sangria, and my husband asked what kind of beer they had. The bartender offered him some beer on tap. He drank it. Got the bill for it and it was $9. Hello!! We are there for happy hour!!! That was our last trip to Nasu Blanca.
2 Comments to “Nasu Blanca in Locust Point closes”
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Some might say Nasu Blanca was ahead of its time in Locust Point. That once Silo Point and Ruppert Homes, and McHenry Row are built there will be a bigger market for upscale dining in Locust Point. But I think they just missed the mark. And I’m not sure the restaurant would succeed two years from now. The portions and menu were small, but the price wasn’t. We’ve seen upscale dining work in the neighborhood with the Wine Market and Pazza Luna; so that wasn’t necessarily the problem. Perhaps Nasu would have faired better in a place like Harbor East or Mt. Vernon where there’s lots of foot traffic, hotels, tourists, and in general a dining destination. But in a neighborhood like Locust Point you need to win over the locals. It apparently didn’t happen. I predicted that this place wouldn’t make it pretty much after our first visit. Which is the same thought I had for the former Coca Moca Cafe just down the street which lasted barely more than a year I think. It’s a shame because although I wasn’t a fan of the place, they did a beautiful job on the renovation – and spent a ton of money on it. Hopefully something nice takes its place. Mexican !?!?
Sushi !?!?!