The interior of The Draycott provided a lovely area for dining and conversation.
Photo: Instagram
Palisadian residents and restauranteurs Marissa and Matt Hermer’s European-inspired brasserie, The Draycott, has closed after serving a special Christmas dinner menu last week, December 24-26.
A resident, who was trying to book The Draycott for New Year’s Eve, sent this editor a screen shot of The Draycott website page that noted the restaurant was “Permanently closed.”
On Instagram, the owners wrote, “After six wonderful years in Palisades Village it is with a heavy heart that we will be closing our doors.
“We’ve loved every memory shared with our neighbors and friends and we are grateful to have become part of the fabric of our Palisades Community.
“With love, your friends at The Draycott.”
CTN reached out to the Hermer’s to see if there was a reason for closing, and to hopefully hear that they would remain in Pacific Palisades with their family. (If there is a response, the story will be updated.)
When Rick Caruso opened Palisades Village in September 2018, The Draycott was touted as the anchor restaurant. The 200-seat restaurant, with its charming interior, opened onto a patio next to the green space, which allowed children the freedom to play on the lawn, while parents could peacefully finish a meal.
On some evenings there was live entertainment one could enjoy while having a drink at the bar.
Marissa, who had grown up in Newport Beach and graduated from Middlebury College (Vermont), said in an interview prior to opening, “With our restaurant we wanted a place where we could sit and have a glass of wine with great food, as a family.”
As a child and a teen, she had stayed with her godmother Kim Clary in the Palisades. After college she moved to London and met Matt Hermer, a native of Wales. They married in 2010 and during Marissa’s third pregnancy, she nearly bled to death.
They made the move here in December 2016 because Marissa said Pacific Palisades felt familiar, not only from her childhood, but that she also liked how this community is centered on children.
Matt and Marissa Hermer with their daughter at The Draycott.
Photo: Instagram
While certainly sorry they weren’t able to continue, maybe a high end deli could be enticed here?!?
In the few times I ate at the Draycott, the owners were never there. It has been my experience after many years, popular restaurants usually have owners who spend many hours at their restaurant, and meet and greet customers and develop lasting friendships. For example Mort’s Deli was a restaurant where the owner’s were there almost 100% of the time, and they attracted customers from Brentwood, Santa Monica, and Malibu.
You can not run a service provider like a restaurant, and expect to be successful by remote control by the owners.
Chuck McGlothlin
I am heart sick. At every celebration our family has enjoyed the atmosphere, comfort and food at Draycott. We’ve never noticed poor patronage and the food has always been reliable. Where do we go now to celebrate with a variety of food choices…not just ethnic,
and not over priced. Someone give me some choices…without leaving the Palisades.
A Mort’s Deli would be a very well-received replacement for Draycott’s. I have missed our wonderful deli these past six years. Whatever happened to Swarthmore Avenue? It once was the heartbeat of our little village.