Sid’s Steakhouse closes abruptly

Sue Doyle

NEWPORT BEACH -- The doors to Sid’s Steakhouse closed abruptly Tuesday

for reasons that had nothing to do with the 27 health code violations

filed earlier this month against the popular restaurant.

The closure had everything to do with staffing problems, said

owner-turned-fugitive Sid Soffer, who manages the restaurant from Las

Vegas. During a phone interview Tuesday, Soffer said he shut down the

restaurant because it had become too difficult to manage employees from

so far away.

He even accused some of his workers of driving his business into the

ground.

“They just do what they please. I don’t need this headache,” Soffer said.

His latest headache, Soffer said, was the result of a recent altercation

between a Sid’s employee and a concierge from a nearby hotel.

That and other incidents prompted Soffer to close shop -- at least for a

while.

Soffer recalled important dates, such as Mother’s Day, when customers

with reservations stood dumbfounded in the parking lot after they arrived

to find the restaurant closed. Some employees had simply decided not to

work that day, Soffer said.

“If they don’t care then I don’t care. That’s not the kind of business I

want to run. But that’s my name on it. And that’s all I’ve got,” he said.

Soffer said he has received some offers on the restaurant, but has yet to

decide if he will sell the steakhouse -- not to be confused with the

still-open Blue Beat, which was once called Sid’s.

Soffer fled to Las Vegas five years ago to avoid an arrest warrant filed

against him for failing to appear in court to face charges of building

code violations at several of his Costa Mesa properties.

He said he may reopen the restaurant, but county health officials said if

he does, Soffer will have to address the list of health code violations

brought against the establishment.

County officials revoked the restaurant’s permit April 17, but Soffer

refused to close the doors at the time, saying that health inspectors

improperly investigated Sid’s.

Pat Markley, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Health Care Agency,

described the sudden closing of Sid’s Steakhouse as a “surprise” and

“unfortunate.”

County officials will not take any further action against the restaurant

as long as it is closed. If the restaurant opens again, Markley said

officials will try to work with Soffer in an attempt to fix the health

code violations.

“Our food protection program makes every effort to work with and educate

restaurant personnel, so they can protect the health of the public along

with running their business,” Markley said.