Dizz's As Is, the low-slung, antique-filled restaurant on South Coast Highway, served its final meals last Friday after a 48-year run. Regulars packed the bar, raised glasses to late nights gone by and tried to snag a final piece of the place at an estate sale that doubled as a farewell party.
The eatery officially closed last Friday (March 13), and owners followed it up with a March 15 closing bash that featured a silent auction of artwork, framed celebrity photos and kitchen gear. The scene, with longtime patrons bidding and reminiscing, was captured by the Los Angeles Times, which also gathered memories from customers who came back to say goodbye.
The restaurant traces its roots to Marcel Pitz, who opened the cottage-style spot in 1977. Dizz's official site still lists the address as 2794 S. Coast Highway and shows the old menu and interior photos that regulars know by heart.
What diners will miss
Fans say they will miss the intimate dining room, the live music and the lineup of international comfort dishes that turned Dizz's into a destination spot. The menu leaned classic and indulgent, with favorites like beef Wellington, filet Oscar and Belgian whipped-cream pie.
The Los Angeles Times also photographed owner and operator Dominic Pitz at the March 15 auction and noted customers posting tributes online as they returned for one last meal.
What happens next
Owners announced in December that they planned to put the building up for lease, saying the post-pandemic period had been especially tough on the business. As reported by Patch, Dizz's kept limited hours through the winter while waiting for a new tenant.
Locals have already turned to neighborhood forums to speculate about what comes next. A Reddit thread suggests a burger spot called Smalls Smash Club may be moving in, although that possibility has not been confirmed by the owners or the city. The future of the space now depends on the lease and whoever signs on to take over.
For decades, Dizz's As Is was the kind of spot where families marked engagements, anniversaries and small personal victories. The owners signed off with a social media thank-you that drew dozens of shared memories. As the antiques and framed photos are carried out the door, South Laguna says goodbye to another stubborn piece of its old-time character.
