Ehren Ryan’s culinary journey has taken him across the globe. The Australia native cooked in India, the Philippines, Canada, Hong Kong and London before he came to New Jersey. He and his wife, Nadine Ryan, opened New American eatery Common Lot in Millburn back in 2016 and it quickly became one of the most revered restaurants in the state. Common Lot had its last day of business last Friday, Ryan announced on social media this weekend. He’s closed the restaurant and his family is moving back to Australia. “Nadine and I have made the difficult decision to relocate back to Australia. We had always believed we would stay in the US indefinitely given we have built businesses, had a family and rescued a dog here,” Ryan wrote in the Instagram post. “But circumstances have changed, and we feel it is now the right decision for us to raise our children in Australia, especially our daughter.” Common Lot’s closure comes less than two months after Byrd, Ryan’s other restaurant in Hoboken, abruptly closed its doors as well. A 2017 NJ.com review of Common Lot praised the restaurant’s “certain rustic beauty” and a menu that didn’t offer bread service or pasta in a carb-obsessed state, but rather more ambitious dishes like 12-hour braised lamb shoulder, fried chicken skins topped with chicken liver and bison tartare. Ryan had long championed liquor license reform in New Jersey. He was supportive of a 2020 bill sponsored by state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-11th District) which proposed a new type of liquor license that would allow restaurants to serve beer, wine and cider for a fraction of the price of a full license. When the bill was introduced, he told NJ Advance Media back that “for an additional revenue stream to come in, just for us to survive, is crucial.” While there has been some liquor license reform in New Jersey, the proposed system was not implemented. Ryan told New Jersey Digest this weekend that it was a factor in the closure. “We hope that Common Lot has left a lasting and meaningful impression on everyone who has walked through its doors,” Ryan wrote, “and we are confident that the innovation, dedication, and passion of our team over the years will continue to inspire and enrich the culinary scene in New Jersey for years to come.” Related coverage: • N.J. restaurant with elite chef pedigree abruptly closes after less than a year • Popular N.J. pizzeria closing for good after more than 60 years • Common Lot serves sophisticated international cuisine • Cheaper liquor licenses could save N.J. restaurants. New bills aims at reform. • Top N.J. chef stumbles as new restaurant fails to thrill | Review Looking for more New Jersey food coverage? Subscribe to the free Jersey Eats newsletter here! Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com and followed on Twitter at @J_Schneider and on Instagram at @JeremyIsHungryAgain.