Restaurant Owner Tells The Truth About Rob Reiner's Quiet Dinner Before Tragedy Struck

Less than two days before violence shattered their lives, Rob Reiner and his wife Michele shared an unassuming dinner close to home.

The evening passed quietly among friends, staff, and familiar dishes.

Now, as investigators piece together what followed, the restaurant owner who served them is revealing what he witnessed before the unforgettable night that forever changed everything for them.

Rob Reiner’s Final Evening Felt Comfortingly Normal

On Friday, December 12, Rob and Michele walked into their familiar Brentwood restaurant with longtime friend Maria Shriver. Nothing about the visit hinted at the brutality that would soon follow.

According to the restaurant owner, the couple behaved exactly as they always had during their regular visits, relaxed and gracious with staff who knew them well.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, owner Tancredi DeLuca described a pair who seemed grounded and warm, despite their public profiles.

“They were very good people, always very approachable and so very kind to the entire staff,” he said.

DeLuca added, “We are all in complete shock. We are all saddened about what happened. They are very good people, very down to earth and always treated everyone here very well.”

The Reiners ordered comfortably, selecting familiar favorites alongside the restaurant’s winter special. There was conversation, laughter, and the quiet rhythm of a normal night out.

A Regular Table And Familiar Comforts

For staff, the Reiners were not novelty guests but part of the restaurant’s fabric. They often returned to the same dishes, especially their favorite artichoke salad, and were known for warmly engaging with servers. That consistency made the tragedy harder to process.

The trio enjoyed Sogliola Alla Mugnaia, an imported Dover sole served with lemon-caper sauce, broccolini, and roasted potatoes, along with pasta. It was a seasonal indulgence shared without ceremony. Employees recalled nothing unusual in the couple’s demeanor, no visible tension, no sense of urgency.

What made the evening especially haunting was its proximity to events that unfolded just across the street. The restaurant sits near a Sinclair gas station that would later become part of the investigation timeline.

Surveillance footage would eventually capture Nick Reiner nearby late Saturday night, only hours before his parents were found dead.

Rob Reiner And The Shadow Nearby

While the dinner itself was calm, staff at the neighboring gas station had noticed subtle but troubling changes in Nick’s behavior in the days leading up to the killings. Employees described him as “drained” and “abnormal,” a stark contrast to the friendly, talkative presence they remembered from earlier months. The difference was unsettling precisely because it was unexpected.

Nick had previously lingered to chat during visits, creating an easy familiarity. In the days before the murders, that warmth appeared to vanish. Still, workers emphasized that he did not appear impaired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Just hours after the dinner, Rob and Michele attended a holiday party hosted by Conan O’Brien, bringing Nick with them. Guests later reported that the couple expressed fear, saying they were “scared” of what he might do if left alone.

The party ended abruptly after an argument between father and son escalated.

Public Hope And Private Fears

Only months earlier, Rob had spoken publicly about his confidence in his son’s recovery. During a September interview on NPR’s "Fresh Air," he offered reassurance, saying, “He’s been great,” and adding that Nick hadn’t “been doing drugs for over six years.” He concluded optimistically, “He’s in a really good place.”

Those words now echo painfully against what followed. Investigators believe the killings occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning. Rob and Michele were discovered later that afternoon in their Brentwood mansion, their bodies already in rigor mortis.

Nick, who lived in the guesthouse on the property and had a long history of addiction, was arrested within hours. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and is being held without bail on suicide watch.

Investigation Closes In On Rob Reiner’s Family After Tragedy

Authorities quickly focused on Nick after the bodies were discovered by Rob and Michele’s daughter, Romy Reiner. She reportedly told police her brother was “dangerous” and “should be a suspect.”

Law enforcement sources later revealed that the couple may have been asleep in bed when they were attacked.

As the case unfolds, the quiet dinner at Amici has taken on devastating significance. What was once a routine evening now stands as a final snapshot of calm before unimaginable violence.