Bistro Duet: Arlington's New French Restaurant Abruptly Closes

ARLINGTON, MA — Award winning Bistro Duet in Capitol Suare is closed, according to a message posted in the restaurant's window on Mass Ave, and in an answering machine message there.

"Despite so many personal successes we have had many challenges as well," said a woman in the message who sounded like Carla Dorato assistant manager. The woman cited opening delays and rising costs in the restaurant business among the reasons that forced the restaurant to close.

Bistro Duet opened on December 31, 2016 at 190 Massachusetts Avenue, replacing Flora, which had been there for about two decades. The space was actually built in 1920 for the Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank.

The restaurant was voted Best French restaurant in 2017, by the Boston A-List, had attention from the Boston Globe over the past year, and was recognized earlier this month by the Globe Magazine as one of the area's top 40 new restaurants.

Dorato thanked customers for their public reviews in the answering machine message and encouraged customers to continue to support local Arlington establishments.

The message did not indicate what day the restaurant shuttered, nor did it indicate next steps for the space or the co-owners Chef Cyrille Couet or Wayne Duprey and their team, but the note posted to the window of the restaurant was dated Jan. 25. Patch reached out to Duprey but he did not immediately return request for comment.

A Facebook post from the still relatively new French restaurant with original barrel-vaulted ceilings, oversized oval windows and much of the original woodwork announced it was closed on Jan. 24 due to a maintenance issue. "We look forward to seeing you again soon and we thank you for your patronage," said the post.

Couet, a native of France previously worked all over, including Europe, the West Indies, Miel brasserie at the InterContinental Boston and, just before Bistro Duet, was Executive Chef of the Questrom School of Business at Boston University. Co-owner Duprey of Dracut was the eatery's general manager. Dorato, an Arlington resident, was the former catering manager of Flora and anchor for Arlington Community Media.

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Photos courtesy Patch reader Maz