LAist: Off Vine Restaurant 'Heavily Damaged in Aggressive Firefight'

StayonTarget

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:57:11 -0800

Hi, this is in response to bysander's post above. I was a waiter at Off Vine the night of the fire. I personally told the cooks to turn off the stoves and get out of the restaurant, even before telling the guests that there was a fire. Three waiters and the owner were the last people out of the building. You shouldn't make such a rash and irresponsible statement without knowing what was going on inside the building - which you obviously did not. You did a real disservice to the Off Vine owners and their employees.

JayChan

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:36:32 -0800

So sorry to see this! I'm glad no one was injured including the firefighters. I hope they recover from this quickly. I really love this little gem!

brainylagirl

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:27:51 -0800

third guy in from the left w/ the backpack is my friend, tom, who is a waiter at the restaurant. so glad no one got hurt. best wishes to the owner on re-opening, though the loss of the old craftsman is a shame.

Will Campbell

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:01:48 -0800

Very sad. My wife's company Christmas party was held there in 2006. Great place. Glad no one was injured.

ropo

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:24:03 -0800

How sad for Off Vine. I hope they reopen. I'm glad to hear everyone made it out safely, though.

Donna Lethal

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:48:29 -0800

What a shame. I love this restaurant and the house that it is in is so beautiful.

bystander

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:39:39 -0800

I was eating here with my family and friends for the first time after attending the play Wicked. The waiter had cleared our plates and we heard commotion on in the kitchen. I asked what was happening and was told there was a fire upstairs. We were seated in the table closest to the kitchen in the back and as we looked up towards the stairway which was beside us, we could see that it was totally engulfed in flames. You could feel the heat taking over. It was scary how fast the fire engulfed the upstairs. The saddest thing about this was that no one warned the cooks about the fire. The waiters all ran out and had time to get their backpacks but not to tell the cooks to get out!! Sheeesh! The parking valet next to the restaurant had to run in the back to get them out!!!!!