Gladstone’s Restaurant in Malibu has an undeniably fantastic setting, directly on the beach in Paradise Cove. Regarding the food that they are dishing out, the annoying, seagulls swallow it and seem to like it, but I will steer clear of this subject without remarking on it, as it is indeed as terrible as has been chronicled over the years by most Los Angeles food critics.
Is it possible that there may finally be something edible at Gladstone’s at Paradise Cove?
If the rumor that SBE (Katsuya, XIV, Foxtail etc.) will be taking over management of Gladstone’s then it is a resounding, Yes!
Paradise Cove is one of the most lovely settings on the Southern California coast nestled behind the southern side of Point Dume in a beautiful cove, I used to skin-dive in the kelp beds when I was a teen and later on when I had a boat we used to anchor there for days and catch fish that we placed on the grill in the fireplace below. Occasionally, when friends from Japan visited we usually trolled on the way up from Marina del Rey, and caught bonito, which they would instantly turn into sashimi.
Paradise Cove has always been a sought-after site for filming Southern California beach movies and some famous ones have been shot there including Gidget.
A $25 parking fee for each car and $5 for walk-Ins is levied as you enter, although the parking fee will be refunded if you dine at the restaurant. However, there is a 3 hour limit on parking, although if you parked on the highway and walked the mile or so on foot I suppose you can stay as long as you wish.
Several years ago, when the wine list contained a few decent, albeit overpriced, French selections, at least, you could drink your lunch, but I sampled almost everything on the menu, trying to find anything that was edible to accompany the wine, unfortunately, it was utterly hopeless. Today, even that is impossible, considering the current ordinary wine list.
