Popular Pittsburgh Restaurant Suddenly Closes

PITTSBURGH, PA — With its owner facing serious legal issues, a popular Pittsburgh restaurant has permanently shut its doors.

Fish nor Fowl, on Penn Avenue, has closed. The announcement was made on the restaurant website.

"After nearly eight years on Penn Avenue, we've served our last plate. Thank you to everyone who joined us for pasta, cocktails and long dinners upstairs,” a message on the website stated. “Thank you to our team, who made every night what it was. It’s been an honor to cook for you.”

The closure comes as the restaurant's principal owner, Richard DeShantz, 55, who runs the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group, faces charges of simple assault and strangulation.

DeShantz last month was accused of punching a woman in her face, slamming her against the steering wheel and choking her while she was driving DeShantz and his brother home from a Strip District bar.

DeShantz also allegedly choked the woman and threw her to the ground outside of his home.

DeShantz subsequently stepped away from his restaurant group to deal with those legal issues.

DeShantz's holdings include Meat & Potatoes, Butcher & The Rye, and Sally Ann's, all Downtown; Poulet Bleu in Lawrenceville; Coop De Ville, Sea Monkey, and Vieux Carre, all in the Strip District; Golden Gai in Bakery Square; and Pre Amp Coffee Studio in Squirrel Hill.