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There have been plenty of rumors swirling around about Andrew Kirschner's Tar & Roses. People thought the place was never coming back after a successful multi-year run was punctuated by a kitchen fire that nearly destroyed the place. Thanks (not really) to Santa Monica's lengthy permit system, they've finally gotten the plans approved to rehabilitate the place. That means construction will commence shortly, with a planned re-opening around early January if everything sticks according to schedule.
Tar & Roses closed down in mid-June after a fire took out the wood-powered oven. The eatery had initially anticipated a short closure period and encouraged regulars to check out their newer sister restaurant Santa Monica Yacht Club around the corner. No one was injured in the fire and initial reports called the damage minimal. Why did it take nearly six months for the restaurant to get their new construction permits?
Now with the go-ahead from the city, Tar & Roses should be back online for the new year, which is good news for Santa Monica denizens craving that eclectic, market-driven fare.