Les Sablons in Harvard Square closed Thursday, according to a statement on behalf of partners Jeremy Sewall, Garrett Harker, Shore Gregory, and Skip Bennett. It’s a surprising turn of events for this power quartet, known for high-visibility ventures including Island Creek Oyster Bar and Row 34. Harker, in particular, is also known for Branch Line in Watertown and Eastern Standard in Boston.
“Partners Jeremy Sewall, Garrett Harker, Shore Gregory and Skip Bennett will continue to move forward, focusing their efforts on what they do best: creating distinct moments of hospitality around the table and celebrating New England’s rich seafood traditions. They have profound gratitude for the entire Les Sablons team and the work they put into making every dining experience special. The team will continue to operate Island Creek Oyster Bar in Kenmore Square and Burlington, in addition to Row 34 in Fort Point and Portsmouth, N.H.,” reads a statement from the team.
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Les Sablons opened just over a year ago, in April 2017. Critic Devra First awarded it three stars not long after, praising the “sort of French, sort of not” two-story restaurant inside the Conductor’s Building.
“This isn’t comfort food. But it is nurturing. That’s what it feels like people are looking for right now,” she wrote.
The restaurant reworked its approach a bit in May, launching a casual oyster bar on the ground level and introducing a “brinner” (breakfast for dinner) menu on Sundays.
Kara Baskin can be reached at kara.baskin@globe.com.