Space-Age-theme LAX eatery, Encounter, reopens after fixes

After an eight-month hiatus, the landmark Encounter restaurant at Los Angeles International Airport will begin serving lunch today.

But the official opening “with all the hoopla” won’t be until Thursday, said Connie Bass, marketing director of the eatery in the iconic Theme Building.

The restaurant in the center of the airport was closed in March after workers discovered that the Space-Age arches above the establishment were unstable. A 1,000-pound chunk of stucco fell off the underside of an upper arch in February, but no one was injured.

Bass said the eatery had been upgraded -- new carpet, chairs and lava lamps -- and “looks wonderful and smells great.”

Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Dinner hours are 4 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant will start taking reservations today at (310) 215-5151 or www.encounterrestaurant.com.