Fatal shooting in New Mexico park casts pall over Legislature and its ability to contain crime
Turkish prosecutors demand Istanbul mayor Imamoglu to be jailed pending trial
Australia budget to dole out energy bill relief as general election looms
Piastri seeking to capitalize on breakthrough F1 pole at Chinese Grand Prix
UK's Reeves to set out 2 billion pounds civil service spending cuts
US FAA pilot safety messaging system resumes operations after outage
Roddy Gayle's second-half surge leads Michigan past Texas A&M 91-79 in March Madness turnaround
Around 100 firefighters responded to a fire Thursday at the site of Pacific Dining Car, a historic Westlake steakhouse which operated from 1921 to 2020. The building sustained damage, but was not destroyed, with most destruction located in its attic and on its roof.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, no occupants were found in the building, and no injuries were reported.
Pacific Dining Car was notable for its all-night hours and lavish interior — meant to resemble a restaurant aboard a luxury train — as well as its celebrity clientele.
The restaurant was founded in 1921, and moved to the affected location two years later. In the 1960s, it became notable for its extensive wine list and high-end beef.
A favored haunt of Old Hollywood bigwigs, the restaurant continued to attract entertainers, including Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp, well into the 21st Century.
At the time of its closure, it was among L.A.’s oldest restaurants. In 2023, it was given historic-cultural monument status.
Restoration began on the site shortly thereafter. However, they came to a halt in August of 2024, when a separate fire dealt heavy damage to the interior.
The restaurant’s owners did not intend to keep it closed permanently. Pacific Dining Car’s Yelp page still lists a re-opening date of June 24, 2025.
It is unclear whether restoration efforts will continue in the wake of the second fire.
