
No more extravagant shellfish towers that reminded diners of a French grande brasserie. No more grand décor that reminded us of dining aboard an ocean liner. No more Oceanaire Seafood Room, period.
Oceanaire's parent company just announced it is filing for bankruptcy protection. Its overstuffed, overstaffed decor showed off a terrific oyster bar and an extensive wine list. It was the chain's pride and joy, even if its location, at 7th and Olive, was neither close to hotels nor overlooking the ocean. And Oceanaire is keeping a dozen other stores, in Houston, Denver, etc., open during the "reorganization."
"The restairamt didn't fail, the economy failed the restaurant," is how Oceanaire's spokesman put it, but that's disingenuous. (If that's the case, the economy isn't just failingone place, it's failing the entire industry.)