Taavo Somer Takes Isa Fishing and Throws Chef Ignacio Mattos Out to Sea
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 1:38PM 
Eric Asimov paid a visit to Isa while he was the Times' interim restaurant critic. He awarded the restaurant one star and the attention brought Isa to new heights. The James Beard Foundation nominated Isa for Best New Restaurant. Things were looking up and much of this was due to the culinary mind of chef Ignacio Mattos, who was making very interesting, "quirky" food.
The kitchen staff were pioneers leading Isa down the path of culinary reinvention. That's why it was such a suprise Monday when the Gone Fishin' sign went up and it was announced Taavo Somer let go of Mattos. Sous chef Jose Ramirez and pastry chef Pam Yung jumped ship shortly after. A post on Craigslist confirms the newly available kitchen spots at 348 Wythe Street in Williamsburg.
It seems the forward thinking of Mattos and his gastronomic visionaries clashed with the direction Somer wished to take Isa. The restaurant plans to reopen tomorrow with back of the house help from restaurants Freemans and Peels, both owned by Somer. Isa 2.0 will include lunch, delivery, and kid-friendly menu items.