We can't attribute it to anything but a curse.
Sabetta Café and Wine Bar had delicious, well-made Italian food, a central location, a chef/owner with Houston cred and glowing reviews. But these weren't enough to keep the restaurant open past the summer. Sabetta officially closed Tuesday, after having only been open since early May.
"It is with great sadness that I share with you that Sabetta was not able to overcome the summer and the economy," owners Riccardo and Donna Palazzo-Giorgio wrote in a e-mail. "Although the response to our food and hospitality was overwhelmingly positive and we were developing a great guest base, we weren't able to overcome the hurdles quickly enough.
"The reviews we received were incredible and we are thankful for the opportunity to have been able to share our passion for Italian food with Houston, however short that time may have been."
To be sure the economy must be a factor, but I prefer to blame the building, on S. Shepherd between Westheimer and Fairview. In the past few years, restaurants including Crostini and Cafe Zol have tried and failed to last in the same space.
