Santa Monica’s Milo SRO Pizzeria to Close in October Due of Lack of Staff

Restaurant staffing was a struggle well before 2020 but only became more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case of Milo SRO in Santa Monica, Milo and Olive’s two-year-old sister restaurant, finding key kitchen staff to keep the pizzeria running has been so challenging that its final day will be on October 10.

According to Milo SRO’s Instagram page, the decision to close was complicated. It’s not just about finding enough employees, but combating burnout while keeping employees healthy and safe. “In order to run this place in the thoughtful way we desired and at its full capacity, we truthfully needed more staff. This is also an industry where burnout is common, and our employees’ physical and mental well-being is so incredibly important to us. We’ll be moving all of our dedicated staff over to Milo and Olive, which offers some much-needed relief.”

In other news:

• Architect Gulla Jónsdótti designed Manhattan Beach’s Esperanza, and Forbes describes it as “the prettiest new restaurant in Los Angeles.”
• There’s been plenty of chatter around the food at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and LA Times staffer Jenn Harris assessed which dishes are worth getting while watching the Rams or Chargers play.
• Forbes “interviewed” Piero Selvaggio, founder of Valentino and managing partner of Drago Centro.
• Urban Daddy’s story about Zaca Creek will make you want to hop in the car and drive to Buellton right now.
• For a trip down LA’s restaurant memory lane, pick up George Geary’s new book, Made In California: The California-Born Diners, Burger Joints, Restaurants & Fast Food that Changed America. LAist’s interview is a snapshot with familiar names that are long gone or still standing.
• Where are the most stylish and delicious restaurants in the world? Architectural Digest searched through the fashion capitals of New York, Paris, London, and Milan, only to find a few Los Angeles spots that made the list.
• For the gluten-challenged, Santa Monica’s Breadblok bakery introduced some new menu items: coffee and chocolate eclairs.