2009 Dec 10 Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
Agua, the award-winning Legation Quarter restaurant helmed by Spanish chef Jordi Valles, has been closed for business for several days over the past week. The restaurant told us they are having problems with the electrics and hope to be open again soon. However, an inside source claims that the management company in charge of the complex have cut the power due to months of unpaid rent.
An employee at a restaurant opposite told us they have seen office equipment being removed from Agua during the past two days. We were also told that Agua have asked that an event be moved to a neighboring restaurant next week.
Agua is part of the Aqua Restaurant Group, which also operates Hex Bar, Fez Bar and upscale Japanese restaurant Shiro Matsu, making up almost half of the businesses in the Legation Quarter, also called Qianmen 23, Beijing's newest and most upscale dining complex. It's logical to assume that a problem for one is a problem for all. We were unable to get through to both Agua and Shiro Matsu this afternoon when we called their reservation number.
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Legation Quarter Ltd. and its controlling shareholder, HKC (Holdings) Ltd has adamantly denied claims made in Aqua's recent press release concerning the circumstances surrounding the impending closure of their restaurant at Ch'ien Men 23. The following is Legation Quarter Ltd.'s official press release:
Legation Quarter Closures: Agua, Fez Bar, Shiro Matsu
Today, Aqua Restaurant Group announced that it is closing its operations in the Legation Quarter. Spanish restaurant Agua, Japanese restaurant Shiro Matsu and both Fez Bar and Hex Bar will all cease to trade at Ch’ien Men 23.
Here is the full press release from Aqua Group:
“Since the opening of Agua, Shiro Matsu, Fez Bar and Hex Bar in Ch’ien Men 23 in 2008, we are honored by the support shown to us by the people of Beijing. Agua and Fez Bar are proud to have been named:
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Pijiu12
Re: Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
Is this a joke???
I was having lunch at Saddler today with a colleague, since you told everyone that agua is closed and i wanted to see for myself. But , to my surprise it is not true! They are open and the staff are all working???
Then I rang the reception number and they answered....good one guys! Maybe you should have waited a little longer to get the facts straight and not jumped the gun.
tomomalley
Re: Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
Did you try to book a table?
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esperegus
Re: Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
I called to ask about booking for tonight, and was told that Agua the restaurant is closed - they mentioned something about electricity - but they said it "will reopen soon." They say that the bar is open. Strange.
Pijiu12
Re: Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
Yeah i just called and they said they are open for business but just have to restock the restaurants after power was down for two days..... wow, they don't want to poison their customers with bad food, that must mean something....
So my friend called and has booked a table for monday night. Guess they are back and it was a power problem.
Today i was also talking to another friend who said this sort of thing has happened in the past and it's definitely not a first at Ch'ienmen 23.
Did you find out how many times the power has gone out in other restaurants in Ch'ienmen 23 since they opened??
In fact, apparently all Maison Boulud, Saddler and Meat and Wine have gone through power cuts at one stage or another according to friends who told the me they were there when it happened.
Maybe that is something you should investigate tom since you seem to be such a good journalist, as we all know! Your next caption can be "What is wrong with Ch'ien men 23 power supply??"
tomomalley
Re: Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
Pijiu12 - seeing as you are perhaps "attached" to the restaurant in more than a casual way, why don't you or one of your colleagues take the time to talk to the city's restaurant listing magazines and websites directly to explain the closures? I think everyone would benefit. If customers go to Agua because of a listing on our site or in our magazines and find it to be closed, it reflects badly on everyone.
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Pijiu12
Re: Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
hahahahaha
you are funny!
so i take it that esperagus is also not a reader but a staff member of The Beijinger?
Or does he work for the restaurant too?
jetblack
Re: Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
BS - I just called and they are still closed.
I asked until when: the response "I dont have that information right now."
I asked why: "Our equipment doesnt work. But I don't really know."
Full disclosure: I am associated with a restaurant. Yes power goes down. It takes less than 24 hours to restore power - in ANY circumstance (including complete rewiring and reconnection to a commercial premises). Honestly.
admin
Re: Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
just called them, at dinner time: no one answers the phone.
wo kao, I've been on this board 5 years now
admin
Re: Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
plug pulled
http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2009/12/18/Legation-Quarter-Closures-Ag...
wo kao, I've been on this board 5 years now