Altadena Dining Icon Fox’s Flips Into the 21st Century Thanks to New Owners

Altadena restaurant legend Fox’s Dining Room is set to undergo a bit of a facelift soon, thanks to some well-known new owners. Prior to this new handover, Fox’s dutifully spent 60 years serving the neighborhood from its perch on Lake Avenue.

Fox’s was far from a must-eat dining destination for the whole of Los Angeles County, but that’s hardly the point for Altadena locals who regularly find themselves without a wealth of eating options to choose from. The place kept reliable morning and lunch hours every day except Monday, opening up at 6:30 a.m. for the early birds and sticking it out through lunch until 2 p.m., serving big-plate breakfasts, sandwiches, and the like.

After some 62 years, a final goodbye was given to the place by family owners Ken and Lorraine Bertonneau this past Sunday. The event was billed as a retirement party for the pair, who had owned the restaurant since 1967.

As for what’s next, the Fox’s space has been purchased by none other than Monique King and Paul Rosenbluh, owners of Cindy’s diner in Eagle Rock. The pair snatched up Cindy’s when it was a rather downtrodden diner back in early 2014 and have since given the restaurant a thorough overhaul while keeping the throwback charm — even after a car crashed through the front door. Reached for comment on what’s next, Rosenbluh tells Eater that the intent is to keep the Fox’s name, and much of the rustic look and feel of the place, while offering a few upgrades.

What’s more, Rosenbluh says the menu will offer a chance to move beyond traditional diner fare into some more fun food, but nothing too highly conceptual or unfitting for the neighborhood. Mostly, he says, Fox’s will remain Fox’s, for a very long time. Expect a transition period over the next few months, with a full reveal to come by early 2018.

• LA's Oldest Restaurant Keeps a 130-Year Diner Tradition Alive [ELA]