Tartare Galway to close after 5 years in business

 The popular cafe and wine bar will close its doors at the start of next month.

The Tartare team have announced that they’ll be closing, citing an upcoming rent review for the premises as a “catalyst for us to refocus our attention”.

In a statement, owners JP McMahon and Drigin Gaffey said:

It is with sadness we must announce the closure of our café and wine bar, Tartare, on Dominick Street in Galway. Over the last five years Tartare has been an outlet for our culinary creativity by being a younger sister to Aniar and being awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand, a hub of social connections through the hospitality our team are known for and a promoter of local arts communities through our Theatre Talks and Wine and Design series.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Chev4kkMTtI/

Owner of Tartare JP McMahon has been vocal in recent months about the issues facing the hospitality industry post-pandemic.

In a Twitter thread, the chef and restauranteur wrote: “14 years in business and this is definitely worse than recession or covid… is it time for an exit strategy?”, adding in the comments that anyone who believes independent restaurants are profiteering “is an idiot”.

He highlighted these issues again upon announcing the closure of Tartare, saying:

Running our three restaurants has been difficult since COVID-19, and I particularly found the shortage of good quality chefs challenging. Energy and labour costs have spiralled in 2022 and the sustainability of our business is challenging.

The groups other two restaurants, Aniar and Cava Bodega remain open in Galway.

Tartare will close officially on 4th September.

Header image via Instagram/mistereatgalway

READ NEXT: Kildare café warns they won’t accept ‘physical or verbal abuse’ from customers