How will the tariffs impact LA restaurants and diners? Plus, RIP middle class restaurants, wagyu beef heaven in Brentwood, and Glen Powell’s BLT boo-boo.

Tariffs, tariffs, tariffs. It’s the word on everybody’s lips this week and, as you’d expect, every food media outlet in the country published some sort of breakdown of what this means for restaurants and the food industry at large. Father Sal and I sift through the noise to distill what this means for LA restaurateurs and diners alike. 

Also on this episode, we issue a correction from last episode, we recap a beefy meal at the newly opened Matu Kai in Brentwood, and we dive deep on Meghan McCarron’s piece for the New York Times’ tracking how the decline of middle class restaurants - think Red Lobster, Chili’s, Outback Steakhouse and the like - speaks to a worrying trend in American dining. 

In Chef’s Kiss Big Miss, there’s the closure of an iconic Greek restaurant, the launch of a questionable celebrity (Glen Powell) sauce brand, and the announcement of a brand new Vince Vaughn flick that hit a little too close to home for yours truly.

 

Helpful links:

Jaya Saxena and Bettina Makalintal on tariffs https://www.eater.com/24401316/trump-tariffs-effects-on-food-spices-explained-burlap-barrel-natoora-tuk-tuk-snack-shop-interview

The LA Times’ Patrick Comiskey on tariffs and wine https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2025-04-07/will-tariffs-kill-mid-priced-wines

The NY Times’ Eric Asimov on tariffs and wine https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/dining/drinks/wine-tariffs.html

Matu Kai https://www.matusteak.com/

Meghan McCarron on the decline of casual dining chains https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/dining/middle-class-restaurant.html

Papa Cristos closing https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2025-04-06/papa-cristos-closing-dupars-chili-johns-struggling-la-old-restaurants-in-trouble

Glen Powell BLT https://www.delish.com/food-news/a64410917/glen-powell-blt-recipe/

Molly Baz vegan burgers https://pdx.eater.com/2025/4/3/24398516/portland-oregon-vegan-fast-food-restaurant-face-plant-open-molly-baz

Scott McTominay and tomatoes https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6234877/2025/04/03/scott-mctominay-man-united-napoli-italy-tomatoes/

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