Bestia Closed After Kitchen Fire Last Night

Bestia, one of LA’s most celebrated restaurants and perennial Eater 38 member, has been forced to close because of a kitchen fire yesterday evening. No one was hurt from the incident, and staff helped to successfully evacuated the restaurant, but reps tell Eater it’s unclear how long Bestia will be down for the count.

They’re currently in the process of notifying diners with reservations, as the place will remain closed for the weekend. Beyond that, they’re still accessing how much fire damage they’re dealing with, which means Bestia’s closure is indefinite but the team thinks that it could be around a week before they reopen.

The restaurant issued this statement today regarding the fire:

Bestia was open for dinner yesterday per usual, but a fire caught in the kitchen, causing us to close down the restaurant mid-way through service. No one was injured, but the restaurant has some aggressive damage that will need to be repaired. The team is working hard to make sure the restaurant is back up and running as soon as possible. We are very grateful to our local Arts District firefighters, as the health and safety of our guests and staff are most important. We really appreciate the community support and understanding during this unexpected time.

One of the busiest restaurants in LA, the bustling Arts District Italian spot hosts upwards of 500 diners a night, with reservations often booked out weeks in advance.

• Essential 38 [ELA]