Bistro Invites Restaurants Affected by Sandy to 'Pop Up' in Madison

Rob's Bistro on Main Street in Madison is offering any chef or restaurateur affected by Superstorm Sandy the opportunity to use its place to create a "pop-up" restaurant of their concept on a Monday night, when Rob's is normally closed, the restaurant has announced.

Proceeds from the pop-up can be designated to the rebuild of the restaurant, the surrounding community, or to a charity of the chef's choice, Rob's said.

Rob's Bistro chef/owner Robert Ubhaus, a Chatham resident, learned to cook at The Green Gables in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island in the 1990s, and "wants to help the Jersey Shore come back better than before," he said in a news release.

Many restaurants flooded, including where he used to cook. Ubhaus' parents' house on the south end of Long Beach Island was damaged by the storm.

Rob's Bistro manager Danielle McLoughlin said the opportunity could be a way for restaurants to keep their name out there and raise funds while restaurants and communities are rebuilt.

If any restaurants do take Rob's up on the offer, McLoughlin said diners are ready.

McLoughlin said when one Rob's customer heard about the plan on Wednesday, the customer told her, "We'll have a 7 p.m. reservation every single day" a pop-up restaurant is there.

Vendors and other restaurants have expressed interest in supporting the effort, she said.

Chef/owners who are interested should contact Ubhaus directly at 973-377-0067 or info@robsbistro.com.