Clio Will Serve Its Last Meal on New Year's Eve

After almost two decades, Ken Oringer is closing Clio after service on New Year's Eve, the Back Bay French restaurant announced today. Until then, there will be an ongoing celebration of "throwback menu specials and guest chefs." Expect a la carte specials of classic dishes, pop-ups featuring Clio alum, and more.

The restaurant will be renovated, and it won't be long before it reopens as "an expanded Uni concept" in early 2016. Uni Sashimi Bar is Clio's 13-year-old, 23-seat, award-winning sibling and neighbor, which chef Tony Messina oversees. (Clio, too, has won plenty of accolades over the years, and many well-known chefs have passed through its kitchen.)

"Clio has seen so much success and I feel beyond blessed to have been able to grow and evolve alongside my flagship," said Oringer, via press release. "This transition for Clio represents our drive to always push boundaries. I’m really inspired by my travels throughout the world and the constant evolution of the food scene in New York, Paris, Tokyo and beyond — just as Clio was of a certain time & place, this new spot will showcase the best of today’s innovative dining culture and the style of food I like to eat now."

The expanded Uni that will result from Clio's closure "will reflect Japan's modern-day food philosophy," according to the release.

Meanwhile, Oringer is also working on opening a new Cambridge restaurant, Little Donkey, with Jamie Bissonnette. They're aiming for a spring 2016 opening.