Clay Oven on back burner as owner looks at options

Here's the follow-up to my tweet on Monday about a Rochester eatery closing its doors.

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A northwest Rochester restaurant closed its doors Monday as its owner considers its future.

The Clay Oven , which served Chinese, Indian and Hakka ethnic dishes, put out the closed sign at 2711 Commerce Drive N.W., off of West Circle Drive.

Does that mean Clay Oven is gone for good?

Not necessarily, says owner Ken Dewan .

Dewan opened the ethnic eatery in April 2010. While the restaurant has found a core of fans, it just hasn't attracted the numbers of customers that he would like to see.

With the project at a crossroads, Dewan made the call to close it while he maps out his next move.

He says he basically has three options.

The Clay Oven could re-open with a different menu and possibly others changes.

In place of Clay Oven, Dewan could launch a different restaurant concept in the space, which is already set up with a kitchen and dining room.

A third choice would be to work with someone else who wants to open their own restaurant. Dewan says he is open to talking to people about that possibility.

While he ponders what to do, expect Clay Oven to remain closed at least this week and possibly next.

Dewan believes there has been confusion about the restaurant's name. Clay Oven is a reference to the traditional method of cooking used throughout southeastern Asia.

But that's not well known here, says Dewan. "Many people think it is pottery store or a pizza place."