16-Year Cuban Fine Dining Staple Xiomara Has Closed Along Melrose

It looks like the lights are off and the tables are gone from Xiomara on Melrose, the 16-year-old upscale Cuban dining destination on Melrose, not far from Providence. Writer James Bartlett tips in to say that the restaurant has been completely cleaned out, and won’t be coming back.

Xiomara made waves when it first opened back in 2002, establishing a standard of Cuban dining that went beyond the classic casual spots like Versailles. Namesake owner Xiomara Ardolina had presided over other restaurants around town before — including an Old Pasadena version of Xiomara that skewed slightly more French — but truly found her groove on Melrose. The restaurant even earned a positive review from the LA Times in 2010 under S. Irene Virbila, who discussed at length the kitchen’s move towards a more modern California cuisine, albeit one with plenty of Cuban heart.

So far the restaurant’s website, Yelp page, and social media have not been updated with a closure announcement, but phone calls to the restaurant ring through to a dead end and its OpenTable page is no longer accepting reservations. Eater has reached out to ownership directly several times, but so far has yet to hear back.

• Seven Essential Cuban Restaurants to Try in Los Angeles [ELA]