Beloved restaurant Tar & Roses is closing its doors after 15 years on Santa Monica Boulevard, leaving loyal diners stunned.
The acclaimed eatery’s final service is set for Oct. 24, and customers are already sharing memories of the meals, milestones and relationships they celebrated there.
“What!! This place is so good and I thought it was very popular?? If they can’t make it, who can??”
Led by Chef Andrew Kirschner, Tar & Roses has earned a 4.7-star rating out of five on Google, drawing more than 1,100 reviews. But the response to its closure announcement has made clear that customers valued more than just the food, with commenters recalling first dates, marriage proposals and meals that became stories they would tell for years.
The restaurant announced the news in a social media farewell, thanking the employees and patrons who supported it throughout its run. The team also invited customers to stop by before the doors close for good.
Its message included a final expression of gratitude:
“We hope that over these final two weeks we’ll have the opportunity to see many familiar faces, welcome back old friends, share a few more meals, raise a glass together, and say thank you in person. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for an unforgettable 15 years. We will miss you, and we will always be grateful.”
Among the memories shared online, one customer recalled a meal featuring a whole red snapper — and an embarrassing side effect that became a running joke with his now-wife.
“Awesome whole red snapper. And fun memories of my girlfriend, now wife, being so uncomfortable and bloated after eating many sunchokes. We were both farting the whole walk back to our place. We still laugh about it 10 years later. Thanks for the memories, T&R.”
Another diner acknowledged the challenges of keeping a restaurant going.
“Had an extremely memorable meal there, both food and service. What a hard industry.”
