The West Hollywood Seafood Icon Closes After 13 Years This June
After 13 years of serving some of the best seafood in Los Angeles, Connie & Ted’s is closing its doors. The West Hollywood restaurant will host One Last Cast, a farewell dinner on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
James Beard Award-winning chef-owner Michael Cimarusti and Executive Chef Sam Baxter will lead the evening. Cimarusti, whose 2019 James Beard Award for Best Chef: West and three-Michelin-star Providence have made him one of the most respected names in Los Angeles dining, opened Connie & Ted’s in 2013 to honor the Rhode Island seafood traditions of his grandparents, Constance and Edward Pointon. The restaurant became a neighborhood anchor at 8171 Santa Monica Blvd.
The farewell dinner celebrates more than a decade of hospitality and sustainable seafood sourcing. Connie & Ted’s built its reputation on iconic lobster rolls, New England clam chowder, fried clams and fresh oysters. Every dish reflected Cimarusti’s commitment to responsible sourcing from local fishermen and farmers.
One Last Cast offers a multi-course seafood menu highlighting the restaurant’s greatest hits. Guests can expect a tuna unmelt with tuna tartare, pickled green beans and Gruyere crisp. Angels on horseback feature grilled bacon-wrapped oysters with beurre blanc. Grilled live scallops and truffled New England clam chowder served with a clam cake follow. The main course features grilled striped bass with nori brown butter potatoes and Sauce American with lobster chunks. Indian pudding closes the meal.
The restaurant’s scratch-made approach became a signature. Every sauce, dressing, garnish, crouton and baked good is made in-house. The only exception? Ketchup. Cimarusti insists Heinz just does it better.
One Last Cast is more than a farewell dinner.
Named after a familiar ritual among fishermen, the evening honors the fishermen, farmers, oyster growers, team members, longtime guests and the greater Los Angeles community whose support transformed a neighborhood seafood shack into one of the city’s defining culinary landmarks. It also serves as a toast to the independent restaurants that have helped shape Los Angeles dining for generations, at a time when rising costs, shifting dining habits and mounting operational pressures continue to reshape the city’s restaurant landscape.
Seatings run from 5 to 7:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $175 per guest. Reservations are available exclusively through OpenTable, and capacity is limited.
Connie & Ted’s will permanently close on July 1, 2026. For 13 years, the restaurant delivered Rhode Island traditions to West Hollywood with style and integrity, setting a standard for responsible seafood sourcing and scratch-made excellence that leaves a lasting mark on the Los Angeles dining scene.
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