Photo by Sarah Shmerling
Palisades Garden Café, Caffé Delfini and Others Are Now Serving
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Several restaurants within the community have reopened following closures due to the fire, including Palisades Garden Café and Caffé Delfini.
“Located in the heart of Pacific Palisades, the Palisades Garden Café is a local eatery with great food and greater friends,” read its website. “We take pride in providing a variety of delicious foods and drinks using only the freshest ingredients from our kitchen and drink bar.”
The eatery—owned by James Kwon—has a menu that includes breakfast items, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, sides and more. It is currently open with a temporary menu.
“The support has been truly overwhelming, and I want to express my deepest gratitude from the bottom of my heart,” Kwon said to the Palisadian-Post.
Over its years in operation, Palisades Garden Café has served as a sponsor for community events and organizations, including Pacific Palisades Baseball Association, the Fourth of July Patriotic Home Contest and the holiday-time Palisades Ho!Ho!Ho!
Palisades Garden Café is located at 15231 La Cruz Drive in the Village area, which, at press time, is still in a zone that is currently only open to residents, contractors and essential businesses. Its current hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
“I’m heartbroken by what has happened to our beautiful community,” Kwon said. “My thoughts are with everyone, and I truly hope we can reconnect soon.”
Italian eatery Caffé Delfini in Santa Monica Canyon also reopened, effective Tuesday, March 4, accepting reservations and walk-ins at 147 W Channel Road.
“Our hearts are with everyone affected by the Palisades fire, and we’re deeply grateful for this community’s support and resilience,” read a post on Instagram. “We’re happy to share that Caffé Delfini will reopen on Tuesday, March 4, and we can’t wait to welcome you back.”
The restaurant, though undamaged in the Palisades fire, was in the mandatory evacuation zone. Toward the beginning of its multi-week closure, the owners said the space has “been a place of connection” for 35 years, and that they were “determined to rebuild that warmth when the time” came.
“The first day was amazing,” Co-Owner Riccardo Menichetti described to the Post. “We were fully booked … we’re optimistic because we’ve been there so many years.”
Menichetti estimated that 60 to 70% of customers are regulars—they are not sure how many have been displaced by the fire, but on March 4, they welcomed “several customers” who had lost their homes and made the trip from hotels or temporary living spaces to visit the restaurant.
Caffé Delfini’s current hours of operation are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant’s full menu—which spans from soup and salad to pasta, risotto, zinguine, meats and poultry, and weekly specials—is now available.
Menichetti gave a “special thanks” to customers who have supported the restaurant over the years, including through COVID-19 restrictions.
“We really thank them all,” he said. “We consider ourselves lucky to be able to serve the community.”
Additional restaurants that have reopened in the Santa Monica Canyon area include The Golden Bull, Giorgio Baldi and MUSE Santa Monica.
The Golden Bull at 170 W Channel Road is currently open Wednesday to Saturday. It is open from 4:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday (with the kitchen closing at 10 p.m.). Golden Hour takes place between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.
“Thank you for your support,” read the restaurant’s website. “We hope to resume normal business days and hours soon. We look forward to serving you plenty of TLC and nourishing the community we love.”
Giorgio Baldi is currently open from Tuesday to Sunday between 6 to 10 p.m. at 114 W Channel Road.
MUSE Santa Monica, a French restaurant that opened in 2024 at 108 W Channel Road, is currently open Wednesday to Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m.
“We’re donating 100% of proceeds to the Foundation to fund equipment for visual and performing arts classes from February 19 through March 23,” read a post on social media. “The Palisades wildfires have severely impacted local schools, including Palisades Charter High School, which has yet to return to in-person learning. As LAUSD sets up temporary classrooms, funding is needed to ensure students and teachers have the necessary resources to resume their studies. Since arts programs are often underfunded, we are directing these funds toward fine art, dance, film and media, music, and photography classes.”
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