Oliver’s Osteria in Laguna Beach Temporarily Closes After Two Small Fires

Two small fires broke out at Oliver’s Osteria, 853 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach — once on Jan. 29 and again on Feb. 15 — and both incidents were quickly contained with no injuries reported, the Laguna Beach Fire Department said. The owner has paused operations at the Canyon location while repairs are made and safety inspections are completed.

The restaurant posted a statement that attributed the most recent incident to an electrical fault, saying in full: “Due to an unexpected fire incident caused by an electrical short, our location will be temporarily closed until further notice. At this time, our top priority is ensuring the safety of our guests and staff. We are actively working with the appropriate authorities and inspectors and hope to reopen as soon as all required safety inspections have been fully completed. Our team is currently making every effort to reach out to guests with upcoming reservations. If you wish, we would be happy to assist with an alternative reservation at our Irvine location: Oliver’s Trattoria – Irvine 6511 Quail Hill Pkwy Irvine, CA 92603 (949) 418-8107 info@olivers-trattoria.com”

Owners also posted on social media that “Oliver's Osteria recently experienced a small fire. We are grateful to share that no one was harmed, and the situation was quickly contained,” and added, “Out of an abundance of caution and in full cooperation with the City of Laguna Beach, we are temporarily closed.”

Not every account has the same phrasing about cause: one local report noted that the cause was “not known,” while the restaurant and some local summaries attributed the Feb. 15 incident to an “unexpected electrical short.” The Laguna Beach Fire Department’s timeline — Jan. 29 and Feb. 15 — and its note that both fires were contained and resulted in no injuries are the consistent official elements reported to date.

Manager Giovanni Labile said the Laguna Canyon dining room will return in a reduced footprint, noting that when it reopens Oliver’s Osteria will be a “slightly smaller space.” Labile added that the restaurant’s owners are “doing their due diligence to make sure the space is safe and ready.” The team has given customers only an estimated reopening window — late March or toward the end of March — and no firm reopening date has been posted.

Chef-owner Erik De Marchi built Oliver’s Osteria from a background that began at the IAL Culinary Academy of Emilia-Romagna in Imola, Italy and includes a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2021. De Marchi opened the Laguna Beach restaurant six years ago, settled in Laguna Beach in November 2018, expanded to tented outdoor seating during the pandemic, and opened a second, larger location in early 2024 in the Quail Hill Shopping Center.

For now, management is contacting guests with upcoming reservations and offering to rebook parties at Oliver’s Trattoria in Irvine while the Laguna Canyon site completes repairs, permitting and the required safety inspections. The restaurant has not provided detailed estimates of damage, insurance claims, staffing plans, or final permit timelines as it works with city inspectors.