Pacific Dining Car in Santa Monica Closes Permanently Due to the Pandemic

Santa Monica’s 30-year-old Pacific Dining Car joins the ranks of LA’s permanent restaurant closures this week. The classic SoCal restaurant announced the closing by way of Instagram, and ended service this month. The original Downtown location turns 100 next year and remains open for takeout and delivery, but the Santa Monica outpost is down for the count, and currently selling kitchen equipment, decor, memorabilia, and furniture in an online auction.

Though PDC Santa Monica opened in 1990 and was one of Southern California’s longest running institutions, COVID-19 was the final straw for the Westside steakhouse. It’s been brutal throughout the industry, but particularly challenging over the last few weeks. It began with officials permitting the reopening of allowing LA County dining rooms on June 5, which coincided with police brutality protests and a stream of nightly curfews.

Add up the recent confusion and unrest with minimal revenue, and a 24-hour business like Pacific Dining Car — which relies heavily on dine-in service — was forced to make the difficult decision to close permanently. With a reputation for baseball steaks, lobster, and martinis, PDC held down the Westside’s late-night crown for decades.

Management is not only auctioning kitchen equipment, but furniture, table settings, artwork, and memorabilia. Bids start at $1 and the auction runs until June 22. Pacific Dining Car provided the following statement:

“Our Santa Monica location is a casualty of the coronavirus crisis, and the contents of the restaurant are available via our ONLINE AUCTION. Additional memorabilia is available in our shop. We’re deeply grateful to our staff and customers for nearly 30 years in business on the Westside. We are working to reopen our downtown Los Angeles location, with consideration to the city mandates, as well as your optimal enjoyment. We’ll be sure to update you with any changes in restaurant hours of operation.”

• LA’s Fancy All-Night Restaurant Pacific Dining Car Will Serve Anyone [ELA]
• A Running List of LA Restaurants That Have Permanently Closed During the COVID-19 Crisis [ELA]