Taste of Asia Closes

After 23 years on Elm St., Sandy and Wayne Chan closed Taste of Asia, Sunday, barely two weeks after on Feb. 5. Wayne Chan said Chef Brian Lewis, who worked with Richard Gere to create Bedford Post in Westchester, will be taking over the space.

Lewis told Patch he and his partners, who are all from New Canaan, will be in early fall 2011, but he would not confirm where the restaurant will be located. He praised the Chans for the longevity and success they've enjoyed.

"The Chans have run a restaurant for 23 years -- that's no small feat," he said. 

A sign on the front of Taste of Asia tells the Chans' story: “It has been a pleasure serving you, our friends, and the town of New Canaan for the past 23 years. We appreciate your patronage and value your friendship.

“We will be closing the restaurant and look forward to spending the next 23 years enjoying (and serving) our children and grandchildren.

“We also want to thank our landlord and trustee for their years of support.”

Boxes of dishes, bowls and teapots were lined up on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant Monday, with a sign offering the serving pieces for 25-cents each.  The Chans’ sons and extended family members were helping dismantle the restaurant, as disbelieving diners expressed their dismay at the news.

“Oh, no! This can’t be happening,” Andrew Gottlieb said when he saw the sign. “Where’s Wayne? I need a hug.”

The Chans’ New Canaan roots are deep. Wayne Chan worked at the YMCA beginning in 1975, their son, Mel, said. In 1988, they opened “Magic Wok,” a 20-seat restaurant in the space now occupied by “Taste of Asia,” in 1988. They expanded to 80-seats and changed the name in 1991, Sandy Chan said.

Sandy is the chef and runs the “back” of the restaurant, and Wayne has been the front man.

“One customer comes every Sunday. Sunday at 7:10 he comes here, “Wayne said. “He orders the same thing every week.”

“Some customers are like family,” Sandy said. “One customer eats here twice a week. He said if anything ever happens to us, we can come live at his house.”

Arnold Karp and his partner Paul Stone were heading to Taste of Asia for broccoli and chicken when they saw the sign.

“What am I going to do?” Karp asked. “It’s sort of like home here. We could bring our kids when they were young and they (the Chans) were always patient. Now that the kids are older, this is one of their favorite restaurants.”

Karp, who owns a number of buildings in town said he, too, had heard Brian Lewis is taking over the space. He said New Canaan’s demographics make it a desirable location for restaurants and other personal services.

“This is a town that likes to walk into a restaurant and be known. “Look at Chef Luis, naming dishes after people. That’s what works here.”