A tipster alerted us this morning that Arlequin Café, the 18-year-old casual eatery at 384 Hayes St. (at Gough), has abruptly closed.

In a statement sent to Hoodline via email, Absinthe Group owner and founder Bill Russell-Shapiro said that "we’re very grateful for the support and hard work of our wonderful employees over the years, and [we] are thankful for almost two decades of patronage from loyal guests."

Neighboring wine shop and wine bar Arlequin Wine Merchant will continue to operate, and its guests will be welcome to use the back patio area, a favorite spot for Arlequin Cafe visitors on sunny days.

Absinthe Group's other Hayes Valley restaurants, Absinthe (398 Hayes St.) and Barcino (399 Grove St.), will also remain in operation.

A farewell note posted on Arlequin's door.

While it's unclear why Arlequin closed, it appears that the Absinthe Group will continue to hang onto its space. A note posted on the café's website encourages customers to "be on the lookout for what we will be cooking up here later this year."

"We look forward to bringing a new experience to this space for the community to enjoy in the future, as they have Arlequin," Russell-Shapiro's statement noted.

In the meantime, neighbors seeking an alternative to Arlequin's sandwiches, soups, salads and homemade pastries are encouraged to drop into Absinthe for lunch.

See something interesting while you’re out and about? Text Hoodline and we’ll try to find out what's going on: (415) 200-3233.