Los Angeles is bidding farewell to one of its most beloved seafood spots, as Son of a Gun announces its doors will close next month after a 13-year run. The restaurant, known for its shrimp toast and lobster rolls, made the announcement via its Instagram account, calling the decision to shut down "bittersweet" but did not specify the reason for the closure. In the post, the team expressed its gratitude to their staff and customers, reflecting on the memories made and the ambition to make the restaurant feel like home.
Co-owner Jon Shook described the restaurant's endurance in a statement obtained by Eater, "Thirteen years in the restaurant world is like 100 years. We definitely consider Son of a Gun a huge success." He expressed pride in what they've accomplished and appreciation for their supportive team, and customer base. Son of a Gun, opened in February 2011, made a name for itself with distinctive sandwiches, nautical decor, and a free-wheeling seafood menu that contributed to LA's dynamic dining scene.
Critics have been fond of Son of a Gun over the years, with former Los Angeles Times restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila giving it a one-and-a-half star review in 2011 and describing it as a provider of "beach shack food, tasty and inexpensive, dosed with hot sauce or vinegar, messy to eat." Then-LA Weekly restaurant critic Jonathan Gold had high praises for dishes like the "smoked steelhead roe with dots of maple-flavored cream and razor-thin shards of pumpernickel toast," calling the establishment "a kick-ass Florida fish house."
The closure represents an end of an era for Shook, and his partner Vinny Dotolo, who have other successful ventures, including the Jon & Vinny’s restaurants and a wine store named Helen's Wines. The chefs, who have left an indelible mark on the city's gastronomic tapestry, own the Beverly Grove property where Son of a Gun is located and, as of now, have no immediate plans to set another venture in its stead.
