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Kay 'n Dave's are 3 Westside restaurants serving fresh Mexican food. It started in 1991 when Dave bought a run down cantina on P.C.H. in Malibu. Other locations followed: Pacific Palisades in 1992; 26th Street in 1995; and West L.A. in 2005. And another one is opening in Culver City in early 2009.

Before taking over the Malibu spot (which was sold in 1999), Dave was a lawyer who didn't see himself wearing suits and ties, or stuck behind a desk. Within a few months of starting the business, he ran out of money and maxed out his credit cards. He also quickly realized that he was a lousy waiter and not much better at managing staff.

Having no clue how to cook a bean or run a restaurant, Dave focused on his customers, listened to what they wanted, and assembled a staff that would help him give each and every customer a good time, a good meal, and a fair price every hour of every day.

About a year after starting, and right after the Palisades store opened, Kay 'n Dave's received it's first write up --- a three paragraph review by restaurant critic Merrill Shindler. In it, Merrill commented that Kay 'n Dave's was "serving really large portions of really good food at really reasonable prices." Merrill had it right. That's what Dave tried to do from day one --- and everyday since.

In the early years, Kay played a big hand in running the stores. In fact Dave says without her hard, smart efforts, he would have likely suffered the doomed fate of most other start up restaurant ventures. An artist at heart, Kay moved to Portland Oregon in 1999 to pursue her passion.

Today, Dave runs the business with his wife Jintana. Or better put, Jintana runs things and Dave does his best to stay out of the way.

Malibu October 1991 - Dave takes over the first store