Palisades and Eaton fires devastate the Los Angeles restaurant community

This article was written by Restaurant Hospitality. Click here to read the original article

Wildfires raging in the Palisades and Eaton areas of Los Angeles since Tuesday morning have already scorched over 27 square miles, claimed at least five lives, forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents, and destroyed several local restaurants. 

By Thursday morning, as wind gusts subsided, emergency services were able to make more progress in extinguishing the fires, even as another smaller fire started in Hollywood Hills. Displaced residents and business owners are beginning to assess the damage and learning that several local restaurants, including Reel Inn, Cholada Thai Cuisine, Rosenthal Wine Bar and Patio, and a McDonald’s location, had  been destroyed.

Reel Inn, a seafood shack that has been operating for 36 years in Malibu, confirmed on Instagram that the restaurant was hit by the fires, stating that although its staff was safe, “we are heartbroken and unsure what will be left.” The restaurant owners also set up a GoFundMe to provide three months of wages and benefits for staff members. Neighboring restaurant Cholada Thai was also destroyed by the fires, as confirmed by the restaurant’s Instagram account of its second location in Long Beach.

Other restaurants affected by the fires include seaside wine bar, Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio, with a representative for the tasting room telling the Los Angeles Times that the “wine bar didn’t survive the fires last night.”

A running list of closed (temporarily and permanently) restaurants can be found on Eater, and included Rancho Bar, Side Pie, and Fox’s in Altadena; and Moonshadows in Malibu. Nobu Malibu is closed, but according to reports, had survived the fires so far.

A McDonald’s restaurant in the path of the Eaton fire had also been destroyed, as reported by Reuters. Nation’s Restaurant News reached out to McDonald’s for more information but did not get a response in time for publication.

Many restaurants in the surrounding Los Angeles communities have stepped in to offer free meals to fire evacuees and first responders, including Dog Haus, Yeastie Boys Bagels,  and Fiorelli Wood Fired Pizza, which also set up a Zelle account for food and supplies donations.

In addition to the restaurants donating food to affected personnel, José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen has been distributing sandwiches and water to displaced residents and mobilized a network of food trucks Wednesday to serve hot meals to first responders and affected residents.

“These men and women, the firefighters, they are the best of the best,” Andres said in a video posted to social media. “Every time you see a firefighter — clap at them, give them a hug.”

The Palisades fire is now considered the most deadly in Los Angeles history. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told ABC News that he expects the death toll will rise.

Contact Joanna at [email protected]