Quirky French-Japanese Fine Dining Spot Maru Shutters Less Than One Year In

Looks like a sudden shutter for Maru in West LA, the French-Japanese hybrid concept brought to life by Jason Park.

It seems Park's concept had some trouble finding its footing with the local crowd, though the busy stretch out front along Wilshire Boulevard couldn't have helped things much. The restaurant hits the skids a month shy of its one-year anniversary, leaving a large empty void to potentially be filled by some other dining concept down the line.

It's a sad, quiet end for Maru, which had turned off the phones and notified staff of the immediate closure late last week. Fans looking to dine on the restaurant's massive chops and sushi rolls will have to look elsewhere now, though nearby strip mall favorite Kato could offer a nice, lighter tasting menu alternative for those willing to branch into Japanese-Taiwanese flavors.

• Maru Brings French-Japanese Balance to the West LA Sushi Scene [ELA]