Westside Restaurants Determine Whether to Open or Close During Skirball Fire

Another wildfire started in LA early morning Wednesday, December 6, this time close to the Getty Center. The Skirball Fire encompasses parts of Bel Air, Holmby Hills, and Brentwood, and is affecting the surrounding food-friendly neighborhoods, including Westwood. Some area restaurants chose to remain open amid the fire and smoke-filled skies, while others closed shop for the day.

According to Curbed LA, the fire began at 4 a.m. burning 150 acres. The 405 North freeway remains closed between the 10 and the 101 freeways, making it challenging to access some local businesses. Before the freeway closing, a morning commuter captured terrifying footage of fire surrounding the freeway. The Skirball Fire is in mostly residential areas causing evacuation, and UCLA students were given the option to go to class.

This is not an exhaustive list, but Eater called a number of restaurants to check their status. An obvious closures are the Getty Center’s Garden Terrace Cafe and full-service restaurant. The Skirball Center’s Zeidler’s Cafe is closed because of their close proximity to the fire, and the Hammer Museum’s cafe is closed as well.

In Westwood, the Napa Valley Grille is open for the moment, but experiencing problems with power. The Belwood Bakery, Lemonade, and Bardonna Bretwood did not pick up during the Wednesday lunch rush. There are a number of open eateries, along with Maria’s Italian Kitchen, Divino, and most restaurants in Brentwood. Eater will update this story as information becomes available.

• As many as six homes destroyed in Skirball Fire burning near 405 freeway in Bel Air [Curbed]
• Bars and Restaurants Close as Creek Fire Rages Across North LA [ELA]