LAX Restaurant Reopens With New Look and Safer Arches

When a 1,000-pound piece of stucco fell off the iconic arches of LAX's Encounter restaurant and bar in March, it was forced to close for much-needed repairs. (Luckily, no one was hurt.) The Theme Building, where the restaurant is located, was built in the 1950s and had never been reinforced until this year; after eight months of renovations, Encounter reopened on November 15, still wrapped in scaffolding but open for business. In addition to making the building safer, the interior got a new coat of paint and the worn furniture was replaced as well. The scene is still straight out of The Jetsons, with its kitschy faux-futuristic setting, lava lamps, and wraparound windows looking out to one of the country's busiest airports. Encounter is open daily for lunch, and for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights only. It holds 165 for seated events, and the bar holds 55.