Chef Angelo Romano OUT at The Pines in Gowanus

Chef Angelo Romano has announced that he will leave his position at The Pines next week in order to pursue other projects. The chef tells Eater: "While the staff and investors at The Pines have become like family and will always have my support, I have made the choice to find other outlets for the food/wine and service I am trying to maintain." He is currently looking in both Manhattan and in Greenpoint for a space that "can provide a more polished level of dining and infrastructure," and says he plans to do something "very soon" with people who share his "theory as to what makes restaurants truly special."

Romano's last day in the kitchen at The Pines will be September 13, after which he says the food will stay "on a similar track...with a very young and ambitious kitchen." Eater has reached out to the management at The Pines for comment and for more on what's next, but the restaurant has not yet responded. It may be worth noting that Pete Wells awarded The Pines one star just a few weeks ago, writing that "the restaurant has been growing up" after some issues with service early on.

Update 9/9/13: Owner Carver Farrell comments: "I cannot say enough nice things about Angelo, he is an incredibly talented chef and one of the most creative and inventive people I have ever worked with. He is excited to pursue a new project and we happily support him in his new endeavor, I know that he will bring the same excitement and passion that he brought to the Pines." He also tells Eater that sous chef John Poiarkoff, a vet of the Modern and a recent Eater Young Guns semi-finalist, will take Romano's place as head chef.

· All Coverage of Angelo Romano [~ENY~]
· All Coverage of The Pines [~ENY~]