Chef Frank Ruta and Pastry Chef Aggie Chin make their culinary moves in tandem. This time, they will leave Mirabelle, an upscale French-American restaurant that opened in March 2017 near the White House. 

Ruta confirmed their departure this morning, but was unable to provide any specific details on why they split from what seemed to be a passion project.

Mirabelle is owned by restaurateur Hakan Ilhan, but Ruta and Chin shaped the cuisine. To prepare for the opening, Chin and Ruta traveled to France and New York to get a sense of how French restaurants are being reinterpreted in America in 2017. In Paris they visited one and two-star Michelin restaurants, and found exceptional service.

Ilhan did not respond to a request for comment. 

The restaurant opened to rave reviews from Washington Post critic Tom Sietsema, but his favorable opinion of the restaurant slipped as the restaurant settled in. It was the number one restaurant in Sietsema’s 2017 Spring Dining Guide but later that year, it received a 2.5-star review. 

Before Mirabelle, Ruta and Chin worked together at Palena in Cleveland Park.

Mirabelle, 900 16th St. NW; (202) 506-3833; mirabelledc.com