KINGSTON, N.S. – Rhonda Shee says it was nothing for her to drive from her home in Porters Lake to Kingston to enjoy a helping of carrot soup at The Crossing, her favourite restaurant.
Shee was one of many customers who shared their dismay on social media after hearing the restaurant was closing.
“[It was] the most amazing carrot soup that I have ever had in my entire life. Something I thought I would never like. …I hope [the owner] is inspired to make it again and continue to cook,” says Shee.
The restaurant closed Jan. 27. The closure followed a Facebook announcement promising that any outstanding gift certificates will be refunded.
Restaurant owner and chef Adam Langille says the biggest thing his restaurant got from the Kingston community was its “single-greatest, and most-cherished asset – our staff.”
“You’ve never met a more passionate or hilarious bunch of swashbuckling, east-coast food-pirates. Such great people. Small restaurants are like tight little families, and I’ll miss working with them like crazy,” he says.
Shee says the business’ departure “is going to be a great loss” not just for Kingston, but the restaurant community across the province.
Village of Kingston clerk treasurer Mike McCleave says he also feels the closure is a loss for the western end of Kings County as a whole, since Wolfville would be the “next step for fine dining” for people visiting or living in the western end of the Annapolis Valley.
“We don’t have very much fine dining around the Kingston and Greenwood area, so it’s really a loss for everybody I think. This was a much more local attraction for the Wilmot, Kingston, Greenwood and Aylesford areas.”
Other customers like Kingston resident Mary Wredenhagen have also expressed sadness following the restaurant’s announcement. She says she and her husband enjoyed going to the restaurant, where she says, “the food, the atmosphere and the staff were great.”
“I enjoyed that the chef changed out selections on the menu every few months – the menu did not get boring. It was also nice to have an alternative place to go from all the fast food,” she says.
Berwick resident Gloria Armstrong says she and her husband “enjoyed many meals” at the restaurant and “always made a point of asking if Chef Adam was on when making reservations.”
“Our personal favourites were his chowder and incredible steaks. If you had dietary limitations, [Adam] was knowledgeable of those restrictions and always was able to accommodate. We will miss their fine service,” she says.
Shee says she hopes the restaurant’s owner and chef perseveres despite this closure, and that he will always have a loyal customer in her should he set up shop any time, or anywhere, else in the future.
“I will most definitely miss this place and if he is on to other endeavors with cooking, ...I want to know where it is,” she says.
Langille says such feedback was what the restaurant “predominantly” received while it was open, and that it was an experience he will always look back on fondly.
“It was just so much fun, and really rewarding…. Everyone learned a ton – especially me,” he says.
