Bar Chuzo, Bay Ridge’s newest restaurant, is the best of both worlds.
The Latin bistro from Brooklyn restaurateurs Ronny Jaramillo and Dana Morrissey officially opened its doors on April 14, celebrating both Jaramillo’s Ecuadorian heritage and the husband-and-wife duo’s background in hospitality.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the beginning of a new chapter for the couple, who previously ran Bar Crudo, a seafood-focused restaurant in Park Slope.
“We started out with Bar Crudo in Park Slope back in January 2020, and then the world ended,” Morrissey told Brooklyn Paper. “It was an oyster bar and seafood restaurant, so the pandemic was definitely a challenge. We adapted but what we found was folks felt like it was a seasonal restaurant — they wanted to eat there in the summer, outside. We had sidewalk seating and roadway dining, but our space was not serving up.”
And so, the space became Chuzo Culture, with a focus on Ecuadorian food Jaramillo — who immigrated to the United States when he was 17 — grew up on.
The pair intended to reopen Bar Crudo elsewhere, but lease issues and rising rent prices led them to reimagine their concept entirely. When they heard a restaurant at the corner of 94th Street and Third Avenues would soon be up for grabs — Oishi Noodle Bar closed earlier this year — they thought, why not merge the two?
“We thought it was the perfect Bar Crudo space,” Morrissey said. “The wraparound windows, the French doors — it’s exactly where you want to eat seafood, but when we went to renew our lease at Chuzo Culture, the terms just made no sense. It’s the age-old story of getting priced out.”
Though they couldn’t make it work, the pair said, they couldn’t let Chuzo Culture die either.
“We couldn’t let it go,” Morrissey said. “So we had the idea to merge the two — the best parts of Bar Crudo and Chuzo Culture — into something entirely new.”
Soon, Bar Chuzo was born — “and it just all made sense,” Jaramillo said.
The Latin seafood bistro blends the best of South American flavors with Ecuadorian cuisine. Dishes like paella, ceviche, oysters, and lobster rolls highlight the diverse influences on the menu, giving diners a taste of both Ecuadorian street food and the coastal flavors that have defined Jaramillo’s career.
The opening has been met with rave reviews from the local community, which Jaramillo and Morrissey have come to know and love.
“The reception has been fantastic. People are a little confused at first, but they leave saying, ‘Wow, this is something different — and so delicious,’” Jaramillo said. “The feedback has been nothing but positive. It warms my heart like you have no idea.”
The pair and their two children, ages 4 and 6, have called Bay Ridge home for more than three years. Bar Chuzo’s soft opening reflected that, Morrissey said.
“Our youngest son, all of his teachers came,” she laughed. “It was very cute. We’re really into the community in Bay Ridge, and [opening a business here] has been a dream of ours.”
Council Member Justin Brannan, who attended Monday’s ribbon-cutting, said the new eatery has “something for everyone.”
“I’m so excited to welcome Bar Chuzo to Bay Ridge,” he told Brooklyn Paper. “Not only are they family-owned and operated, but their food is delicious. Yes, even for a vegetarian like me! They’ve really got something for everyone. We need to support our local restaurants and small businesses – they are the backbone of our economy.”
In addition to their new restaurant, Jaramillo and Morrissey continue to own and operate several other businesses in Park Slope, including 390 Social, a high-mixology bar, and Chella, a Mexican restaurant focused on regional gastronomy.
As they await their liquor license (which Jaramillo was excited to say is coming soon), owners teased a new happy hour menu that will draw inspiration from the famous oyster happy hour at Bar Crudo.
“We were named one of the best happy hours in New York City,” Jaramillo said. “We want to bring that back.”
As they continue to transform and grow, the couple hope to bring some of the family-friendly events their other venues have become known for — like brunches with Santa and the Easter Bunny — to the new Bar Chuzo. And above all, they want the new space to reflect on both their past and their future.
“It was a very sad day for us when we realized we needed to close Chuzo Culture,” Morrissey said, “but we’re so happy about the transformation.”
