“For the past five years, we have been honored to be a part of UC Berkeley’s campus and student body, providing sustainably and locally sourced food that we’ve been proud of,” read the post. “Unfortunately, with the current economic climate, it has become increasingly difficult for us to continue the business.”
Rice & Bones first opened in UC Berkeley’s architecture building in 2017. The restaurant was a very personal project for Phan, who had studied architecture there before opening the Slanted Door. Rice & Bones serves rice plates, pho, steamed buns, spring rolls and coffee.
“Ever since we came back from the pandemic, it’s been a challenge of course to get back to pre-pandemic times,” Slanted Door press representative Anh Duong told SFGATE.
Students disappearing from Berkeley during the pandemic, as well as more recently over school breaks, made it difficult for the business to survive in the on-campus location, she explained.
“People have been really kind in that they’re sad to see us go,” Duong said. “They were so excited when they first heard the Slanted Door family was coming to Berkeley and to have healthy Vietnamese food. There’s been a lot of memories there over the last couple of years.”
Phan’s original Slanted Door restaurant in San Francisco has been temporarily closed since 2020 for renovation. His upcoming Marin noodle shop, Moonset, and his new Napa location of the Slanted Door are still in the construction process, with no official opening date yet, said Duong.
Two of Phan’s other restaurants, Out the Door and Hard Water, closed in recent years. However, his San Francisco sandwich shop, Chuck’s Takeaway, and the Slanted Door in San Ramon are open.