Neptune’s Frozen Treats Joining The Icy Line-Up On Montana Ave.

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I’m used to hearing rumors about new restaurants coming to The Westside, but I try not to pass on information until there is concrete evidence. This rumor now appears to be fact: According to their FB page, Neptune’s Frozen Treats is joining the lengthening list of icy treat establishments along Montana Ave in Santa Monica by settling into the courtyard of the recently redeveloped shopping center on the corner of 11th and Montana. Neptune’s Frozen Treats has one location in Palos Verdes Estates and specializes in customizable frozen yogurt, gelato, custard, and sorbet served with long list of premium toppings. I still haven’t confirmed the exciting rumor about what’s moving into the next block, so keep watching this space.

Blank Street Coffee Coming To Beverly Hills

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Signs are now up on the space at 9659 S Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills announcing the arrival of Blank Street Coffee. Blank Street began in 2020 in Williamsburg and has since spread to over 100 locations across the US and the UK, including one other LA location in Studio City. The offer a signature menu of coffee and matcha with an emphasis on “quality, design, and experience”.

(Thanks Barry!)

310 Caffe Coming To Downtown Santa Monica

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Lemonade slipped out of its location at 310 Arizona, just off the Third Street Promenade, a while ago. Since then, the space has sat empty, but there are new signs of life. With the revitalization of Downtown Santa Monica, many new eateries are moving in. According to recently erected signs, the one at this address is named 310 Caffe. What Now has the skinny on this new restaurant, which it describes as, “simple food, quality ingredients, and coffee as part of the daily routine”.

Heisei Japanese American Restaurant Coming To Culver City

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It appears a new Japanese American concept is moving into the space at 11028 Washington Blvd in Culver City. There’s a banner in the window declaring the new eatery’s name is Heisei. I can’t find much information on this new business, only this still-developing Instagram page.

JIAN CHA Bringing Fruit Tea To Culver City

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A new drinks shop is taking over the space at 3851 Main St. (corner of Washington) in Culver City, most recently home to Latea and Menchie’s before that. By the time you read this, Thai brand JIAN CHA should be open at this location (according to their Instagram). JIAN CHA specializes in fruit teas and has multiple branches in Thailand. This is their first US location.

(Thanks M!)

Bacio Di Latte Blessing Culver City Soon…

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Congratulations Good People of Culver City, delicious frozen treats are heading your way! There’s window paper up on the space at 3849 Main St, formerly home to Monty’s Good Burger, announcing the arrival of Italian-born brand Bacio di Latte. The crazy/popular chain, known for its luscious gelato, is in major expansion mode with a new Montana Ave shop poised to open any day now.

(Thanks M!)

Boichik Bagels Coming To Westwood Village

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Yet more evidence of Westwood Village’s revival…. Apparently, the NY Times declared that “The best bagels are in California”, and squarely on that list was The Bay Area’s Boichik Bagels. Now Boichik Bagels is expanding into LA. While they already have two locations (Los Feliz and DTLA), and it looks like their third is moving into the space at 911 Westwood Blvd in Westwood Village. Boichik also has 10 locations in the Bay Area, and is the passion project of New Jerseyan Emily Winston, who’s story you can read here.

(Thanks Barry!)

LARACLETTE Bringing Melty Cheese To Westwood Village

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After years of sputtering, the dining scene in Westwood Village appears to be roaring back to life. A sharp-eyed reader wrote to tell me about the recent ABC application that went up on the front of the space at 1061 Broxton Ave, most recently home to Happy Panda Kitchen Chinese Hot Pot. The new restaurant, LARACLETTE, is reported to be an Alpine concept with a focus on the famous Swiss melty cheese raclette. The restaurateur behind the project is Domenico Frasca, and you can read more about this exciting venture in this informative article on hoodline.

(Thanks Barry!)

Pura Vida Miami Coming To Century City

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A new, healthy lifestyle choice is landing on the first floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. Plywood is up announcing the arrival of Pura Vida Miami. With 57 locations, including 5 in California, Pura Vida Miami is a stylish “premier wellness and lifestyle brand” with a chic and breezy vibe that focuses on high-quality ingredients and sustainability.

HomeState Bringing Breakfast Tacos To El Segundo

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A new taco joint is coming to The Point, the shopping complex on the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda in El Segundo. Plywood is up announcing the arrival of “Texas Kitchen” HomeState. HomeState has eight other locations around SoCal and is known for breakfast tacos, migas, Frito pie, house-made flour tortillas, and margaritas. They are planning on opening next month.

New India’s Oven Set To Move Locations In MDR

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Marina del Rey’s beloved New India’s Oven is set to move locations. A Rep confirmed that they will be vacating their longtime location at 13444 Maxella Ave (in the Villa Marina Marketplace shopping center) and moving to a new space in the Marina Collection shopping center at 13400 Washington Blvd. Expect the same extensive and authentic menu that has long served as a local favorite for lunch and take-away.

LUNA Bistro & Cafe Coming To MDR

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There’s a large banner hanging on the front of the space at 1181 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey, once home to legendary Jerry’s Deli, and most recently Kalaveras. The banner lets us know that LUNA Bistro & Cafe are setting up housekeeping at the once illustrious address. LUNA Bistro & Cafe hails from Bakersfield, and according to What Now, who has the whole skinny here, we are promised a “fusion menu [that] features pasta, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, coffee, and Mexican classics such as carnitas”.

Ghost Sando Shop Replacing Pret A Manger In Westwood

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It looks like Westwood Village is getting a new sandwich shop. There’s window paper up at 901 Westwood Blvd in Westwood Village, formerly home to the UK grab-and-go sandwich chain Pret A Manger, announcing the arrival of Ghost Sando Shop. Ghost Sando Shop has a smattering of locations around LA (and one in Idaho) and offers a menu of proprietary sandwiches made with house-made specialty sauces.

(Photo credit: Barry Nelson Brams)

Hey Tea Coming To Century City

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Yet another addition to the Westfield Century City Shopping Center food scene. There’s plywood up on a second floor space announcing the arrival of Hey Tea. Hey Tea began life in 2012 in Guangdong, China and offers a proprietary “New Style” of tea that uses “real milk, real fruits, real premium tea, and real cane sugar” with intriguing flavors such as “Longjing cheese milk tea“, “crisp grape boom“, and “supreme brown sugar bobo milk tea“.

BROT Doner Cafe Bakery Coming To Downtown Santa Monica

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There’s new window paper up on the space at 1348 3rd Street Promenade, previously home to a convenience store and Trimana before that. The new resident is BROT Doner Cafe Bakery. While I don’t yet have confirmation, there is another BROT in LA, on Hollywood Blvd., and I’m assuming that the two are related. The Hollywood BROT prides itself on the “authentic taste of Berlin street food”, and you can check out their menu here. This should be a welcome addition to Downtown Santa Monica’s rapidly evolving entertainment zone.

Taco Bell Bringing Its Live Más Café To Century City

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A fresh new drinks concept is landing in The Westfield Century City Shopping Center, and it’s brought to you by everyone’s favorite craveable fast food provider Taco Bell. There’s plywood up on one of the spaces in the food court announcing arrival of Live Más Café. And what pray tell is that? According to their website, Live Más Café serves the full Taco Bell menu, with the addition of specialty drinks served up by a “Bellrista”. Look for “Crave-worthy coffee, creamy chillers, light and fruity refreshers, bold energy drinks, and seasonal creations“. They are shooting for a Fall opening.

Tak Bakery Expanding To Westwood

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It looks like Westwood is getting a new bakery. There’s a banner hanging on the front of the old La Table de Sophie space at 1386 Westwood Blvd announcing the arrival of Tak Bakery. Tak Bakery has a location on Ventura Blvd in Tarzana and specializes in traditional Persian cakes, sweets, and coffee.

(Thanks B!)

Sticky Rice Set To Bring “Bold Flavors With A Side Of Sunshine” To Venice

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If you’ve wondered about the construction at 523 Rose Avenue in Venice, most recently inhabited by Cinque Terre West, we now have answers. This will be the home of Sticky Rice according to their Instagram page. Billing itself as “your friendly neighborhood Thai kitchen”, Sticky Rice has four other LA-area locations and offers an extensive menu of classic curries, noodles, and rice dishes as well as signature dishes such as “crying tiger” (Grilled marinated skirt steak, papaya salad, sticky rice, and spicy jeaw sauce).