'Top Chef' shut down: Ilan Hall's new restaurant temporarily closes due to an equipment violation

Ilan Hall and his reps notified us today that the Gorbals will have to shut down temporarily due to an equipment violation. This is particularly unfortunate since the highly anticipated restaurant from the Season 2 winner of "Top Chef" just opened Friday and was already generating quite a buzz. (The Times also ran a story about it in Monday's Calendar section.)

A rep for Hall says that the restaurant will start calling people already holding reservations to inform them of the news. A timeline for the reopening of the Gorbals is not yet known, but check back here for regular status updates.

Below is a statement from Hall's camp:

Due to an equipment violation per the L.A. County Department of Public Health The Gorbals will unfortunately, have to temporarily close.  The installation and maintenance of the boiler system has been an ongoing issue with our building managment and had previously delayed our initial opening date.  We are now submitting plans to reinstall and manage the system ourselves in an effort to effectively (and finally) correct the violation.  Our sincere apologies to our guests for any inconvenience this may cause.  We appreciate all of the support and enthusiasm The Gorbals has received and look forward to reopening as soon as the LA County Public Health Department verifies the boiler problem has been thoroughly addressed and cured.

-- Jessica Gelt

Photo: Stefano Paltera / For The Times

Comments

[juni reese]

Are you sure that the restaurant was closed just because of the boiler? Checked out the health department website and there is no listing for this restaurant being closed. And typically restaurants were closed due to rats and cockroaches? Is that the real reason why the restaurant was closed? BIG QUESTION!

[Stefan Richter]

Hi Ilan

Sorry about the Boiler thing. Your food is amazing and hope you get it fixed soon. If the Boiler Peeps can't get it fixed i know luigi and giovanni :-) or Hans And Franz ;-). I will be in to support you with anything you need. By the way i have a vacuum packing machine if you need it.

Mazeltov

Stefan

[Patrick Dougherty]

OOps!!

[Juan Williams]

OK WESLEE THANKS FOR THE SHOUT-OUT

[adomasin]

I was also there on opening night (as pictured in the photo above) but I for one CAN wait for them to re-open if it means getting their act together - our 4 dishes should have come out together but took two hours to serve with a 30 minute wait between each plate! With the place maybe one-third full. If the food had been great it might have been worth it but 2 of our plates were most definitely not. To make things worse the loud, annoying music killed any chance for comfortable conversation, the food portions and wine pours were tiny AT BEST and our waitress forgot our drink order AND our promised desserts. I live downtown and want to support local merchants but the area deserves better.

[Thomas]

Probably not a good idea to mention Health Department.

[WESLEE MATTISON]

I CAN WAIT FOR THE GORBALS TO OPEN BACK UP. I ATE THERE ON OPENING NIGHT AND THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. TRY THE LAMB.