Tag: restaurants

SANTA MONICA—On March 20, the city of Santa Monica disclosed in a news release that the city temporarily suspended several restaurant regulations to support local economic recovery and assist businesses impacted from the January wildfires.

Interim City Manager Elaine Polachek, serving as the director of emergency services signed a second supplement to the Emergency Order issued by the City Council declaring a local emergency on January 10 in response to the Palisades Fire. The supplement lays out several updates to foster recovery efforts and support continued regional recovery.

“While we didn’t see physical fire damage in Santa Monica, our small businesses and local restaurants continue to feel the impacts of decreased economic activity, on top of inflation and other economic realities,” said Community Development Director Arminé Chaparyan. “As a city, we are committed to continuing to ease the burden as much as possible and ensure our local economy can recover and grow.”

In an effort to help restaurants attract more patrons during the March Madness college basketball tournament, the order suspends restrictions on restaurants already licensed to serve alcohol.

Suspended regulations include:

-Limitations on hours of operation and hours of alcohol service

-Prohibitions against serving alcohol in any disposable container

-Limitations on percentage of total gross revenues per year from alcohol sales

-Restrictions of the number of television screens and screen size

-Prohibitions on pool tables, video or amusement games, bowling, darts and other similar entertainment activities

-Prohibitions on bottle service and requirement that food be served with alcohol purchases

-Prohibitions on “pub crawl” events

-Requirements that outdoor dining areas must be used primarily for seated meal service

-Limitations on the number of outdoor and indoor seats

-Requirements that meal service be provided with any entertainment

These suspensions will be in place through April 30, unless extended by the director of emergency services.

In addition, the supplemental emergency order:

-Allows hotels to request an extension on Transient Occupancy Tax payments to the city

-Permits Santa Monica schools to expand enrollment to support displaced Palisades students

-Reinstates enforcement of the city’s prohibition on short-term rentals effective April 19

To read the full emergency order, click here.

By Trevor

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood announced that Eat + Drink West Hollywood is returning. Eat + Drink West Hollywood, features restaurants, lounges, and clubs throughout the region this March. It celebrates culinary artistry, innovation, and the diverse flavors that have long defined West Hollywood as a premier food and beverage destination and those newly emerging to make their impact.

In 2025, Eat + Drink West Hollywood has been extended from one week to more than three weeks. It kicked off on March 7 and will run through Monday, March 31. Participants can expect creative cuisines and innovative craft cocktails to delight foodie tastebuds. All participating restaurants and bars are within the municipal boundaries of West Hollywood.

Locals and visitors are encouraged to dine in West Hollywood through March to support hospitality workers hard hit by the LA wildfires. Visit West Hollywood will donate $1 to Restaurants Care for any dine-in reservation made in the city during the celebration in March (up to $10,000) to provide aid for food and beverage workers affected by recent wildfires.

From the Sunset Strip to Santa Monica Boulevard to the Design District, West Hollywood is home to Michelin-rated hot spots, bars offering world-class mixology, and various other hidden gems.

During Eat + Drink West Hollywood businesses will provide unique culinary creations and libations.

Due to the popularity of Eat + Drink West Hollywood, reservations are strongly encouraged. Walk-ins are welcome but are not guaranteed. Find out more and make reservations by visiting eatdrinkweho.com.

For more details contact West Hollywood’s Business Development Division at (323) 848-6429 or at business@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

By Trevor

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Friday, January 24, the city of West Hollywood announced the return of Dine La which will run through February 7.

The public can visit cafes and fine-dining eaters while donating to a cause. For each reservation made, LA Tourism will donate $5 to the American Red Cross (matched by Banc of California up to $100,000).

Restaurants in the city participating in the event include:

• Amour WeHo, 8715 Beverly Boulevard
• Arden, 8289 Santa Monica Boulevard
• Ardor at The West Hollywood Edition, 9040 Sunset Boulevard
• BOA Steakhouse, 9200 Sunset Boulevard
• Boxwood Café at The London West Hollywood, 1020 N. San Vicente Boulevard
• Connie and Ted’s, 8171 Santa Monica Boulevard
• Crazy Rock’n Sushi, 7100 Santa Monica Boulevard
• Dtown Pizzeria, 8424 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite D
• Gracias Madre, 8905 Melrose Avenue
• Granville West Hollywood, 8701 Beverly Boulevard
• Izakaya Tora, 8908 Santa Monica Boulevard
• Jinpachi, 8711 Santa Monica Boulevard
• Katana, 8439 Sunset Boulevard
• La Bohème, 8400 Santa Monica Boulevard
• Ladyhawk at Kimpton La Peer Hotel, 627 N. La Peer Drive
• LAVO Los Angeles, 9201 Sunset Boulevard
• Merois at Pendry West Hollywood, 8430 Sunset Boulevard
• Puzzle, 8947 Sunset Boulevard
• Rosaline, 8479 Melrose Avenue
• SUR Restaurant & Lounge, 606 N. Robertson Boulevard
• The Roof at The West Hollywood Edition, 9040 Sunset Boulevard
• Toku Unagi & Sushi, 1106 N. La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 201
• Uchi, 9001 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 101
• Zinc Café & Bar, 8607 Melrose Avenue
• Zinqué, 8684 Melrose Avenue

Participating restaurants for Dine LA will offer specially priced prix fixe menus for brunch, lunch and/or dinner; no tickets or passes are required. Prices and meal periods will vary by restaurant and exclude beverages, tax, and gratuity.

For more details, contact West Hollywood’s Business Development Division, at (323) 848-6856 or at business@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance. To view the full list of participating restaurants and their specially priced menus at www.discoverlosangeles.com/dineLA.

By Trevor

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Saturday, November 16, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported that a fast-moving fire in Hollywood consumed an automotive parts store and seriously damaged a pair of adjacent restaurants.

The LAFD received the first of several 9-1-1 calls at 4:21 p.m. on November 16, reporting a fire at 1306 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood.

Firefighters arrived quickly at the northeast corner of Highland Avenue and Fountain Avenue to find heavy smoke showing from AutoZone, an automotive parts retailer anchoring a 10,100 square foot one-story L-shaped strip mall that shared a roof and attic with an adjoining delicatessen and sushi restaurant.

Assuring all occupants safely evacuated AutoZone, first arriving firefighters, bolstered by additional responders, commenced an unwavering attack with handlines on ever-growing flames deep within the auto parts store for a half-hour, until conditions became untenable due to visible structural compromise.

The flames were fed by contents of the auto parts store that spread within the attic to heavily impact the northern section of Fat Sal’s Deli and the adjacent Sushi Ajito, a well-coordinated transition was made to defensive operations as 124 LAFD responders under the command of Assistant Chief Douglas Lewis worked tirelessly for an additional 90 minutes to fully extinguish the major emergency blaze before any off premises buildings could be affected. There were no injuries were reported.

Though 9-1-1 callers initially reported an “explosive fire” involving a “battery” within the auto parts store that employees sought unsuccessfully to control with fire extinguishers, the specific cause of the fire remains under active investigation.

By Trevor

WEST HOLLYWOOD—Restaurants throughout West Hollywood will be highlighted during Dine LA that begins on Friday, July 12 and runs through Friday, July 26.

Diners can discover new culinary delights or enjoy restaurants in the region that include:

-Amour Weho, 8715 Beverly Boulevard
-Ardor at The West Hollywood Edition, 9040 Sunset Boulevard
-BOA Steakhouse, 9200 Sunset Boulevard
-Connie and Ted’s, 8171 Santa Monica Boulevard
-Crazy Rock’n Sushi, 7100 Santa Monica Boulevard
-Gracias Madre, 8905 Melrose Avenue
-Granville West Hollywood, 8701 Beverly Boulevard
-Izakaya Tora, 8908 Santa Monica Boulevard
-Katana, 8439 Sunset Boulevard
-La Bohème, 8400 Santa Monica Boulevard
-Ladyhawk at Kimpton La Peer Hotel, 623 N. La Peer Drive
-LAVO Ristorante, 9201 Sunset Boulevard
-Norma, 631 N. La Cienega Boulevard
-Pink Taco – Sunset, 8225 Sunset Boulevard
-Soulmate., 631 N. Robertson Boulevard
-Tesse, 8500 Sunset Boulevard
-The Roof at The West Hollywood Edition, 9040 Sunset Boulevard
-Toku Unagi & Sushi, 1106 N. La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 201
-Zinque, 8684 Melrose Avenue

Participating restaurants for Dine LA will offer specially priced prix fixed menus for brunch, lunch and/or dinner; no tickets or passes are required.

A complete list of participating restaurants and their Dine LA menus are viewable online at www.discoverlosangeles.com/dineLA. Prices and meal periods will vary by restaurant and exclude beverages, tax, and gratuity.

For more details, contact West Hollywood’s Business Development Division, at (323) 848-6856 or at business@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing call TTY (323) 848-6496.

By Trevor