Another Hyde Park staple, Dutch's, officially closed its doors on Jan. 2.
The establishment opened in 1947 as a pony keg and expanded with a bar and kitchen over the past decade. The artisan larder/bar/eatery was well-known for their weekly Burger Night on Thursdays, which offered over-the-top burger creations ranging from the Cordon Bleu (with crispy chicken skin, house-smoked ham, housemade dijonaise and grated Gruyere cheese) to a burger topped with shaved asparagus salad, manchego cheese and clam dip. They also had a cozy, string-lit patio with bocce ball.
According to one of Dutch's owners, Jay Ashmore, the closure came after professional and personal changes among the three partners.
"The current ownership structure is no longer sustainable, and Dutch’s will be closed indefinitely," Ashmore said in an email. "We are forever grateful to our loyal employees and patrons who have shared in our vision and made it so enjoyable."
Ashmore mentioned that there have been conversations about a new life for Dutch's, but no agreements have been made.
The announcement came after several recent closings in the Hyde Park area, including Teller's of Hyde Park, Keystone Bar & Grill, Cock & Bull (which has sinced reopened as Mesa Loca) and, most recently, the Hyde Park Hitching Post.
