Bougie Santa Monica Restaurant Blames Homeless Shelter Next Door for Vermin Infestation

Elephante restaurant, where steaks cost up to $120, was temporarily shut down for health code violations.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After a swanky Santa Monica restaurant called Elephante was temporarily closed for a vermin infestation, a prominent critic is pointing the finger at a nearby taxpayer-funded homeless shelter. Dr. Houman David Hemmati, an ophthalmologist and vocal critic of California policies, claims the pest problem at the fancy steakhouse isn't the restaurant's fault, but rather due to the "stench" and "flies everywhere" from the homeless shelter next door.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between high-end businesses and the homelessness crisis in affluent California neighborhoods. It raises questions about the placement of social services and the responsibility of restaurants to maintain health standards, even when facing external challenges.

The details

Health officials closed Elephante over a vermin infestation on January 20, forcing the restaurant - where steaks can cost upwards of $120 - to temporarily shut its doors. Officials identified seven violations during a routine inspection, including 'major' breaches for the presence of rodents or bugs, leading to the restaurant receiving a 'B' rating. They were allowed to reopen two days later.

  • Elephante was temporarily closed on January 20, 2026 due to the vermin infestation.
  • The restaurant was allowed to reopen two days later, on January 22, 2026.

The players

Elephante

A high-end steakhouse restaurant in Santa Monica, California.

Dr. Houman David Hemmati

An ophthalmologist and vocal critic of California politics who is blaming the nearby homeless shelter for Elephante's pest problem.

Step Up on Second

A taxpayer-funded homeless shelter located next door to Elephante restaurant in Santa Monica.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is called Step Up on Second, a city taxpayer funded homeless shelter. Dozens of homeless people here at our expense, located right in the heart of downtown Santa Monica, a block from the beach, right by the ocean, and they're housed right here. Stench all the time, flies everywhere ... Put a homeless shelter right by the nicest restaurants, and you're going to get rats and roaches.”

— Dr. Houman David Hemmati, Ophthalmologist and critic of California policies (X)

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between high-end businesses and the homelessness crisis in affluent California neighborhoods. It raises questions about the responsibility of restaurants to maintain health standards even when facing external challenges like the proximity of social services.