St. Pete Norwegian-Asian restaurant Lingr will close this weekend

After three years of dishing out exciting fusion cuisine and picture-perfect cocktails, a mainstay in St. Pete's dining scene is closing its doors.

According to a statement on Lingr’ s website and social media, the upscale Norwegian-Asian restaurant at 400 6th St. S will serve its last customers on Saturday, April 27.

“After almost 3 years of Lingr serving the St. Petersburg community and its visitors, I have made the difficult decision to close. During illness and family emergencies, I have always counseled my employees that their health and family are more important than Lingr,” Chef and owner Jeffrey Jew writes on Lingr’s Instagram. “Now, I am in the position that I must take my own advice and spend time with my Mother as we navigate her Lewy body dementia."

Chef Jew encourages his customers to donate to the Alzheimer's Association as an act of support for him and his family during this difficult time.

Lingr made its highly-anticipated debut in the spring of 2021 showcasing a contemporary blend of Jew’s Nordic and Asian heritage with unique dishes like pumpkin and mushroom dumplings, smoked lions mane and trumpet mushrooms with  Brunost cheese, and fried fish with fermented black beans and chili oil.

The St. Pete restaurant also boasts an exciting beverage program of mocktails, seasonal drinks and a core cocktail menu inspired by the five elements of nature.

The restaurant’s name even references an Old Norse word meaning both “belonging to” and “descending from,” according to its website.

Jew—who is also known for his time as a “Top Chef” contestant, in addition to winning Food Network’s popular “Guy’s Grocery Games"— helmed the kitchens at St. Pete’s BellaBrava and Stillwaters Tavern before pivoting to open Lingr. [content-2] While COVID-19-related obstacles delayed the opening of Lingr in 2021, Jew added dining measures like an expanded outdoor patio and various sanitation devices to help ensure the safety of his new diners.

There’s still a few more days to indulge in Lingr’s chili oil shrimp dumplings, sweet and sour calamari or wok-fried fish before its final service. Lingr is open from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and 5 p.m.-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, although it might be hard to find a table.

“Thank you to everyone—our amazing staff and fabulous customers who have made this journey possible,” Jew tells his patrons. “While we prepare to say goodbye to our space on 6th Street South, we look forward to keeping the spirit of Lingr alive through our continued connection with all of you in the community.” [location-1] Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

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