Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris Originally published December 17, 2007 Chef May Show Up At Harrah's Casino Asian-Cajun Bistro Closes I don't like reporting closings, I'll tell you. Especially not of good restaurants. Chef Philip Chan, the namesake of Philip Chan's Asian-Cajun Bistro, called me on the air yesterday to say that Saturday was the last day for the restaurant on Oak Street. He said that business was half of what it had been last year. Of course, he knows better than I do. But there's something about this that makes me cock one eyebrow and scratch my head. The restaurant seemed to be doing very well. I certainly got lots of calls and e-mails about it, almost all favorable.  The Oak Street commercial district has become a veritable restaurant row, as many people discovered during the recent Po-Boy Festival there. So I look to other causes. One could be the cursed-location issue. How many restaurants have not made it long-term there? Constantine's, Zachary's, Margaux's, and others I can't remember. Looks like a great location. Is it the perception (and recent reality) of crime? Some bad stuff went down a few blocks away last week. Unconscionable (paging the mayor! paging the mayor!) as that is, it's nothing new. Whatever it is, even the knowledge that we've had very, very few restaurant failures around town in the post-storm world (far fewer than in most other cities), this hurts. It was a unique menu. Chef Chan says a friend has invited him to join the staff of a restaurant in Harrah's Casino. Sorry to hear that. It means I won't have his food for the foreseeable future. © 2007 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com