A well-known restaurant in Solana Beach was forced to shut its doors before the busy holiday season after a fire damaged their kitchen on Wednesday morning.
The fire was reported at around 10:43 a.m. at Pamplemousse Grille near Villa de Valle Road.
“I walked down, and I saw black smoke coming out from the top of the building where Pamplemousse is,” said Quinn Weixel, who works at Calvary Lutheran Church.
The restaurant is located on the bottom of a three story building next to different office spaces.
“There was a fire in the kitchen, and it did extend a little bit outside the kitchen area and the walls,” said Robert Ford, Deputy Chief for the Solana Beach Fire Department.
NBC 7 spoke to the owner who said several of his cooks were prepping the oven to start making some holiday meals when smoke started coming out.
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All businesses in the entire building were evacuated but no injuries were reported.
“I was worried, and you know it’s the beginning of Thanksgiving weekend for many people, so you hate to see something like this happen and my family and I love Pamplemousse, we come here a lot for special occasions,” Weixel said.
The restaurant did sustain damage to their kitchen and roof, said officials.
The owner told NBC 7 that he was devastated this happened. Customers who ordered from Pamplemousse Grill to cater their Thanksgiving meal are not unsure what is going to happen.
"I am kind of wondering if the food I ordered is going to be ready. It is a bummer for him that is a really busy time for him," said Saul Dourgherty who works nearby.
A total of 12 fire engines, and 35 firefighters from Solana Beach, Del Mar, San Diego, Encinitas and Rancho Santa Fe responded.
Villa de Valle Road was closed while firefighters worked to put out the fire.
Firefighters are investigating the cause of the fire. No information on when the restaurant is set to reopen.
