Word comes today that executive chef/owner Rich Sweeney has decided to shutter his R Gang Eatery in Hillcrest. The well-liked chef, who was a contestant on season five of Top Chef, first opened the 5th Avenue restaurant that specialized in "contemporary Retro-American" food in 2010. Last June, he helped to launch Florent Restaurant & Lounge in the Gaslamp, where he remains a partner and the executive chef.
Sweeney says that R Gang's last day of service will be Mother's Day, May 10. Until then, the restaurant will continue to serve dinner Tuesday through Saturday and brunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As R Gang was Sweeney's first solo project, the chef told Eater that this closure is bittersweet but says that he's closing one chapter to start writing the next; Sweeney, who lives in Hillcrest, hinted that he may be working on a new project in the neighborhood.