Daniel Patterson Closes Ume, Expands Plum Bar

San Francisco chef Daniel Patterson has announced the decision to close Ume, the short-lived, less expensive iteration of his original and then-faltering restaurant, Plum, reports East Bay Express.

Ume, which means plum in Japanese, lasted only four months with a Japanese-inspired menu meant to be more accessible to the neighborhood. Next door, Plum Bar continued to thrive as a creative cocktail lounge.

 "I don't think the concept of fine dining is right for the area," Patterson told Inside Scoop at the time. "The chef hasn't made any difference ... I had an idea. I tried it and it didn't work."

Now, chef Patterson has decided to scrap Ume, which he recently characterized as a conceptual "pop-up," for an even more approachable option, which he intends to deliver with an expanded version of Plum Bar, which will become Plum Bar + Restaurant. The expanded space will offer a larger menu of "Americana flavors," soft-serve from Malted, and more seating.

The revitalized restaurant opens for lunch and dinner Wednesday, September 10.

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Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.