Restaurant closings: Baril and Meltkraft

Although the region is experiencing a huge growth in restaurants, closings are inevitable.

Among the recent shutdowns:

Baril (267 S. 19th St.), the French bistro just off Rittenhouse Square that a year ago changed its name from Crow & Pitcher, closed over Christmas. The rebranding was to rid itself of an ignoble link — its chef, Alex Capasso, was arrested in April 2015 and accused of child porn. The case was otherwise unrelated to the restaurant. MPN Realty is marketing the space, which has a liquor license.

Meltkraft, the grilled-cheese offshoot of Valley Shepherd Creamery, has closed its location at 46 S. 17th St., across from Liberty Place. The stand at Reading Terminal Market remains.

Union Taco at 4161 Main St. in Manayunk is indeed closed. It had been operating at odd hours recently and management even had planned to reopen, but a sale is supposedly pending.

Also noted of late:

Ambler Feedstore in Ambler, the sandwich specialist

Gryphon Cafe's Rosemont location. Kensington and Wayne remain.

Llama Tooth at 1033 Spring Garden St. is done. Avram Hornik (Morgan's Pier, et al.) is planning an outdoor Mediterranean in the spring.

Matt & Marie's locations at 1107 Walnut St. and 118 S. 18th St. are done. The 2 Logan Square original (on 18th Street just north of Arch) is still open.

Porto at 11th and Wharton Streets that succeeded the landmark Carman's Country Kitchen has gone dark. Owner Christine Liskowicz has not returned calls seeking elaboration. Note: Unrelated to the Italian restaurant Porta that just opened at 1214 Chestnut St.

Snap Kitchen's Spring Garden and Washington Square West locations are done,  leaving seven in the region. My theory: The 1109 Walnut location could not survive competition from nearby Mom's Organic Market and the 1901 Callowhill shop was done in by the nearby Whole Foods Market..

Throwbacks, the chicken-and-rib joint in the storefront next to Tiffin at 712 W. Girard Ave., is gone.

West Ave Grill's Dresher location is buttoned up.