The 25-Year-Old Chef-Owner Kept the Celebrity Hotspot Running Through Blackouts
While a string of unexpected power outages shuttered much of West Channel Road last week, one restaurant kept its doors open.
MUSE Santa Monica, a rising celebrity-favored dining spot, relied on backup generators and water tanks to continue serving guests as neighboring businesses went dark. The effort was led by the restaurant’s 25-year-old chef-owner, Fardad Khayami, a USC graduate who has quickly built a reputation for pairing inventive cuisine with a welcoming atmosphere.
Staff worked behind the scenes to maintain operations, ensuring diners were greeted with the restaurant’s hallmark hospitality despite the disruptions. From humming generators to improvised kitchen adjustments, MUSE carried on service without interruption.
“At MUSE, two priorities guide us every day: taking care of our guests and our staff. We’re fortunate to be a busy restaurant, and for many of our guests, dining with us is a special occasion they’ve planned weeks in advance. Whether they’re celebrating or simply escaping for a moment with loved ones, it’s our duty to be open and deliver the experience they’ve reserved.
The same commitment extends to our staff. Much of their income comes from gratuities, so staying open means they can continue to learn and support themselves. We do everything we can to create this stability for them.
That’s why, when obstacles arise, we find solutions. When city water was deemed unsafe during the fires, we convinced a certified potable water hauler- normally supplying Fort Irwin in the Mojave Desert to bring clean water to Santa Monica and fill the 2,000-gallon FDA-approved potable water tank that we purchased. When power shuts off, we bring in generators to keep the lights on.”
