So many new Italian restaurants have opened in Houston recently that some sort of shakeup seemed inevitable, and that day has come. One of last year’s most promising newcomers has come to an abrupt end.

Pastore Italian Kitchen announced it will close after service on Saturday, March 23. Located next to Georgia James in the Regent Square mixed-use development, the Italian-inspired seafood restaurant opened at the end of June and served a menu of pastas, small plates, pizzas, and entrees such as porchetta and roast fish.

Underbelly Hospitality released a statement about the decision to close Pastore. It reads in part:

Closing a restaurant is never easy. We exasperated several options and ultimately this was the path we had to take. Despite this closure, we are confident in our Company and want to focus our efforts on what we do best – delivering an elevated dining experience with high-quality food and exceptional service. We sincerely appreciate the support of the community and look forward to seeing patrons – existing and new – in our dining rooms at Georgia James, Wild Oats, Comalito and Underbelly Burger.

The statement added that Pastore’s current employees have been offered other positions in the company. Underbelly will maintain the lease on the space and use it for private events. “We are exploring various options [for the space], including developing a sustainable concept in the future,” it adds.

Pastore’s closure comes as a surprise. After a turbulent period that saw the departure of founder Chris Shepherd and the closure of concepts such as GJ Tavern and UB Preserv, Underbelly Hospitality appeared to be on an upswing. Not only had it successfully opened its first new concepts since Shepherd’s departure — including a Spring Branch location of Texas comfort food restaurant Wild Oats and Comalito, a Mexico City-inspired taqueria from chefs Luis Robledo Richards and Atzin Santos — Pastore had earned positive media attention, such as a nomination for Best New Restaurant in the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards and a positive review from Houston Chronicle food critic Alison Cook.

This year has gotten off to a rocky start, with a number of restaurant closures. They include Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company, acclaimed seafood restaurant Golfstrommen, Harold’s in the Heights, and Dozier’s BBQ.