WEB THREADS

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following are comments that include the best of readers’ online feedback on the death of Sid Soffer. To respond on the Pilot’s website, go to www.dailypilot.com, click on any story and scroll to the bottom to find the comments field.

former eastsider wrote on Feb. 02 at 8:12 a.m.:

it’s sad to hear about this mans passing but it sounds like he did nithing but break rules and city codes,then the heat got to hot in the kitchen and he runs to las vegas,real model citizen.....”

M.R. East side gang wrote on Feb. 02 at 8 a.m.:

I once called Zid’s and asked where he was located, he said didn’t your friends tell you? I said no, he said then I’m sorry but I can’t tell you. Great times at his place on old Newport , great food, drinks and entertainment during the 90’s . When everyone else in the business was hurting Zid’s had them standing to get in . No sign , no advertisments for the place , all word of mouth and only locals . Will miss him.

Chris Wright wrote on Feb. 01 at 11:52 p.m.:

In the 80’s I dined in Sid’s In the late 90’s I came to know Sid as a friend and mentor. I cooked with him and learned about life from him. I helped him and grew to know him ,he was a fair and wonderful man. Sid treated my daughter as his own, and was a true friend to me. Few men have touched my life as he did, I loved him, and will miss him. Go in peace my brother and “Don’t tell no one” Always Chris

Bob Simonson wrote on Feb. 01 at 8:10 p.m.: Sid, you will be sorely missed by all the simple people left here in this world of social complexity and civic insanity. But Heaven needs you now. You see, there are no lawyers there.

jr wrote on Feb. 01, 2007 at 6:50 p.m.:

sid was a a true original he ran his kitchens his way and no other way. i was fortunate to work in both of his restaurants and i dont think i would be were i am today without that incledible crash cource in cooking. i now own my own restaurant and still use techniques i picked up at his place. I am truly grateful for that. I hope sid finaly finds peace of mind.

Robert Walker wrote on Feb. 01, 2007 at 2:40 p.m:

I met Sid at a time that his physical health was failing, but mentally, he was “sharp as a tack”. We spent hours on the phone discussing such myriad topics as the closing of the Craz Horse, and whether or not we should be in Iraq, and it was difficult to win an argument with him 2 days before he entered the hospital.

Gary E Wilson wrote on Feb. 01, 2007 at 2:37 p.m.:

Lets set the record straight on one of many “Sofferisms”....Worked for Sid in the early 1960’s, met my wife of 44 years at the Blue Beet while tending bar,and have remained close friends over the years...When someone requested katsup or salt and pepper Sid would personally deliver requested condiment to table..BUT.Insisted on knowing “where or if he failed in the preperation or was it a personal preference.The folks he tossed out were always the result of a drunken obnoxious reply and/or a threat.Many people stayed and enjoyed their meal with salt, pepper or katsup.I will miss our lunch buffet’s”

Jennifer Bryant wrote on Jan. 31, 2007 8:59 p.m.:

We’ve missed Sid for such a long while now! I’d love to see the restaurant revived! R.I.P.

Karla Wilson...Las Vegas,NV wrote on Jan. 31at 7:06 p.m.:

A controversial man who was deeply loved by many. Sid may have been an outspoken eccentric millionaire but he believed in what he was doing and was passionate about the battles he choose to fight. His desire to “Stir the pot” made life more interesting and he spoke what others were afraid to say. He will forever be our closest family friend and will forever be in our hearts. May his spirit keep talking and his memory light up the lives of others. ...RIP my dear..

Eric Bever wrote on Jan. 31 at 7:01 p.m.:

As smart as Sid was, we always outsmarted him... we took our own salt and surreptitiously sprinkled our steaks. Was he superstitious about spilling salt? or just cheap? we may never know. (Do you know Buffa? c’mon, spill the beans pal!) While the world will be a different place without Sid, I will not miss the quarterly letter from the fugitive threatening to sue and imprison me for something that my predecessors did back in the days of the dinosaurs. (Buffa, what DID you do?) Sid is surely giving someone heck, somewhere, even now.

Terry Shaw wrote on Jan. 31 at 4:52 p.m.:Before I ever heard about Sid, I knew about his cars in the front yard. I never met Sid in person but I have a sense of who he was from the articles I’ve read over the years, his letters to the Pilot and his supporters’ comments at city council meetings. Perhaps he was a nuisance to some, but you know what? Society needs those types to keep us from becoming complacent. May be they’ll make a movie about his life and call it “Leaving Costa Mesa”.

Steve Mitchell wrote on Jan. 31 at 3:06 p.m.:

It’s all about compromise. In the case of Sid and his penchant for not allowing patrons to salt their $2.75 T-bone steaks, the solution was to 1) order a margarita and sprinkle the salt from the top of the glass onto the meat or 2) walk to the fancy restaurant next door, ask a customer if you could borrow the salt, then carry it back to the Beet.

J. Scott wrote on Jan. 31 at 1:42 p.m.:

All of my friends loved Sid’s and would always show up with 20 people to celebrate something. We were always accomdated. They had the best steaks, fun atmosphere, and “friendly” staff. On top of everything....it was THE cool local restaurant. “Shhhh...don’t tell anyone.” My deepest condolences go out to you Shima. R.I.P. Sid

Gary Mucho wrote on Jan. 31 at 6:24 a.m.:

I lived in Costa Mesa during the heyday of the Sid Soffer vs city hall days. He was a breath of fresh air. They don’t make ‘em like Sid anymore. Oh, by the way, Pete, is calling Sid a “worthy opponent” that same as saying he always spanked your butt? No offense.

SteakHouse wrote on Jan. 31 at 12:36 a.m.:

Sid was the best. Non-conformist, city-hall opponent, radical, and unpredictable. But the steaks were always great. It is a weird deal when a well known opponent of city hall dies. The powers that be want to say “We loved him” enen though they hated him. Everyone else, including me, want raise him to a place of honor. In the case of Sid, I wonder how many City Hall types are now proud of what they did to him? Chasing him to Las Vegas. Ridiculous.

Sids Steakhouse was a real treat and so was Sid, RIP SID.......

Don Marshall wrote on Jan. 30 at 11:39 p.m.: