I got word Saturday night via Greg Cox, our restaurant critic, that Frazier's has closed.

Kevin and Stacey Jennings, owners of Urban Food Group, a local restaurant company, sent a note to Cox late Saturday night. The note from Kevin Jennings' phone read: "I'm going down to Frazier's to close it for good.We will miss that place terribly."

Frazier's was the Jennings' first restaurant in Raleigh. As a young couple, they created a dining destination on Raleigh's Hillsborough Street when there wasn't much else there for grown-ups. It was a favorite among the people who lived in the neighborhoods close to N.C. State University. The couple's flagship restaurant had faltered in recent years as the city's dining scene exploded on Glenwood South and in downtown Raleigh. Most recently, the couple had transformed Frazier's into a wine bar.

The Jennings also own Porter's Tavern, Coquette, Chow and two locations of Vivace, one in Charlotte and the other in Raleigh. 

UPDATE: I got Kevin Jennings on the phone this afternoon. After 14 years, he said, business was down and they decided to put the restaurant up for sale six months ago. Jennings says the owners of Klara's, a Czech restaurant in Cary, have bought the business. (No word yet on their plans.)

Jennings explained that they plan to focus on opening locations of Vivace in Denver, Washington, D.C. and Durham. For the Durham location, they have had "initial talks" with the folks behind Diamond View III, at the Durham Bulls ballpark and American Tobacco.

Vivace at North Hills will offer "La Vigilia," a seven-course seafood menu with optional wine pairings, at dinner during the week leading up to Christmas. It's the restaurant's observation of an Italian Christmas Eve tradition in which diners await the midnight birth of Jesus. The number of courses varies from city to city in Southern Italy. Details and reservations: http://www.vivaceraleigh.com/

Like Groupon and Twongo, Living Social offers discount deals on everything from spa packages to Nascar racing experiences. Today's deal is $36 to dine and drink during a three-hour food tour of Urban Food Group restaurants: Vivace, Porter's and Frazier's.

Go HERE for the details.

Vivace, Urban Food Group's Italian restaurant at North Hills in Raleigh, is offering the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes meal tonight through Christmas Eve.

Seven courses cost $65 per person. With optional wine pairings, it's an additional $30.

Call 787-7747 to make a reservation.

Also if you are an Urban Food Group fan (they own Coquette, Porter's, Frazier's and Chow as well as a Vivace in Charlotte), they are offering a deal now on gift cards. Spend $100 and get a $20 gift card for free.

Remember to dine out Saturday to help the family whose 6-year-old daughter was killed last week after being run over by an elderly motorist.

If you would like to help the family whose 6-year-old daughter was killed last week after being run over by an elderly motorist, you can dine out Saturday.

The girl's parents, Alfonzo and Elena, along with several other family members, have been long-time employees of Urban Food Group's restaurants, according to a company press release. On Saturday, the company’s service staff has agreed to donate some or all of their tips and wages to the family.