Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Food

Kitchen Nightmares Restaurant Sebastian's Reputedly Closing

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

According to WhatWouldRamsayDo.com, this email was sent out to everyone on the mailing list of Sebastian's, a Burbank restaurant that was featured on the TV show Kitchen Nightmares:

As of January 20th Sebastian's will be closing the doors. We are moving back to Boston for family reasons. We are grateful and appreciative of all of you for not only your business support but the lifetime friendships we have made with a lot of you. For those of you who know Nichole and I this is not an easy thing for us to do because this was our everything, but without family you've got nothing and they need us right now. We are keeping the same email address so if you need to contact us please do so at eatrelaxenjoy@aol.com . C'mon in and see us before it's too late! We'd love the privilege to say goodbye in person.

Truly from our hearts to all of yours, thank you.

/Sebastian Di Modica IV, Owner, Chef/
/Nichole Di Modica, Owner/
/Sebastiano Di Modica V, Future CEO/
Sebastian's Restaurant

At this time, the news of Sebastian's closing is unverified. But it would not be a surprise. Anyone can speculate as to the reason, although Sebastian told us himself last November that he was under contract to do a reality show:
"No. We're not interested in a review. We're interested in your experience with the show." ...He said, "I might not be able to say much because of my contract."

I asked, "Ramsay made you sign a contract?"

"Sort of, see, I'm gonna have my own show."

"Like Rocco DiSpirito?"

"No, well, like..."

"Like a cooking show at the cooking network?"

"Well, I can't say...the contract."

-Kiki Maraschino

All YouTube footage of Sebastian's show has mysteriously been taken down, although all of the other episodes of Kitchen Nightmares are still up. The videos have also been taken down from fox.com. The only clip I could find of Sebastian was in the montage above.

(Note: Lela's in Pomona, the other restaurant Ramsay attempted to save has also closed its doors.)

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist