BREAKING: CampO is Closed

This afternoon Escape Hatch Dallas broke the story that CampO Modern Country Bistro is now closed. Minutes later Eater received a call from owners Miguel Vicens and John Paul Valverde (who also co-owns The Bowery) confirming that what was arguably Oak Cliff's most adventurous dining destination is indeed closed as of today.

The restaurant's kitchen was originally manned by Dallas darling Matt McCallister when it opened last November, and it received critical acclaim for its rustic seasonal cuisine that made frequent use of the so-called nasty bits with dishes like venison heart tartare and sweetbread tortellini. McCallister soon left to focus on his upcoming FT33, though, and his replacement, Josh Black (who now cooks at The People's Last Stand), was only there for a short time before Michael Ehlert was appointed in his place.

But the chef turmoil is not the reason for the closing, say Valverde and Vicens. They emphasize the fact that they are a design firm (Coeval Studio) first and foremost, and they simply want to do something new. CampO was never meant to be a permanent fixture in the Oak Cliff dining scene, they say, and the partners decided about three weeks ago that they were ready to rehash the North Beckley space. "We're doing a whole new menu, new exterior, new interior, a brand new concept in the space," says Valverde. The new spot will be "more approachable" and "more neighborhood-friendly". Look for the new restaurant to open in about a month and a half.

· CampO Has Closed, Owners Plan to Reconcept [Escape Hatch Dallas]
· Restaurant review: Campo Modern Country Bistro [D Magazine]
· All previous CampO coverage on Eater Dallas [-EDFW-]