The iconic Palm Steakhouse, which has held a special place in Hollywood's power lunch scene, has now shut down in Beverly Hills, signaling the end of an era for this esteemed establishment, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The Palm, born in 1975 in West Hollywood, shifted to its location on Canon Drive near Dayton Way in 2014. It was recognized not only for the caricatures decorating its walls but also for the magnetic ambiance that drew in tycoons and celebrities.
Bruce Bozzi, the fourth-generation to own The Palm, shared with Eater LA his nostalgia about the restaurant's bygone glory and its attraction for Hollywood's A-listers.
The Palm's recent journey has not been without hurdles, as a heated legal dispute to prominently led to the selling of the business in 2020 to hospitality firm Landry's, who owns other renowned restaurant brands including Del Frisco's, Mastro's, and Morton's. Bozzi believes that changes made post-acquisition by Landry's, such as tweaks to age-old recipes and a reduction in portion sizes, could have stripped The Palm of its unique allure.
Tim Whitlock, COO of The Palm Restaurants reacted to Bruce Bozzi's grievances regarding alterations made after the takeover. He stated to Eater LA that the company "took over Palm restaurants from a place of bankruptcy and never tampered with recipes or portion sizes," rather blaming the closure on the financial fallout of the COVID pandemic and increasing competition.
