After beginning life in a truck, I noticed back in November that popular boba purveyors Koala Tapioca was moving into a brick and mortar at 10965 Weyburn Ave. in Westwood. Well they long since have opened but according to a notice posted on their papered-over window, their popularity is requiring them to close so they can upgrade with a new menu and “enhanced services”. Whatever those enhanced services are, we’ll just have to wait and see but in the meantime, check out more here.
There are a great many of you who read this blog that appear to be very excited about the arrival of the big shopping/dining development The Point, situated on the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda in El Segundo (Manhattan Beach adjacent). Much of your attention is focused on the True Food Kitchen (that according to their website is now open), but as I’ve told you before, there are many other eateries on the way as well. I can’t exactly say when all of those restaurants will open (although it looks like most will be open very soon), I can tell you that The Point officially opens this Thursday with a 9:30am complimentary continental breakfast followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony and other activities over the weekend that you can read more about here.
Fanaticism-inspiring CA chain In-N-Out Burger continues its slow and steady expansion. The old derelict Sizzler that used to inhabit the corner of Sepulveda and E. Mariposa in El Segundo has been torn down and construction is underway on the building that will house the new restaurant. No word on an opening date, but I’m sure the hungry aerospace crowds are chomping at the bit…
I’m not entirely sure what’s going on here, but I’ve noticed a lot of recent activity at the site that used to house Caffe Bello at 1912 Broadway Suite 100 in a quiet residential neighborhood of Santa Monica. Caffe Bello apparently closed earlier in the year. But signs have recently gone up (as well as a giant wall photo of Marcello Mastroianni in an homage to Federico Fellini’s famous film) announcing that the new lunch spot will be called Caffe 8 1/2. The door promises a menu of classic Italian faves including panini, focacce, tiramisu, and espresso. Let me know if you have more info, but in the mean time, I’ll keep my eye on it…
Is popular doughy treat shop Wetzel’s Pretzels pulling out of the Westside? Back in December of last year, I noticed that the branch at Santa Monica Place had disappeared. And now, the Wetzel’s in the Century City Shopping Center has quietly slipped out of its first floor location. Not sure what’s going on, but I’ll keep watching. If you find that life holds no meaning without their signature salty Bavarian-inspired snacks, locate another branch here.
I had high hopes for Café Rockenwagner when I first noticed back in 2013 that it was coming to a new development in Brentwood: It had a bright, mod interior; a fantastic location on the corner of Barrington and Wilshire; and the pleasing Germanic/Californian comfort food of longtime LA chef Hans Röckenwagner. But slowly over the subsequent months, you could see fewer and fewer people sitting at its tables. Sadly, the Café has served its last pretzel burger. The signs are covered over and the place is deserted. No word on what may be replacing it, but until then, Rockenwagner still maintains a few other places around town that you can locate here.
While we’re on the subject of closures… I recently noticed that longtime neighborhood sandwich shop Papa Jake’s Sub Shop at 9527 Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills has closed its doors. And it looks like they haven’t lined up a new tenant yet as evidenced by the “for rent” signs posted in the window. I’ll keep my eye on it.
Back in December of 2012, I told you about a new healthy café that had just arrived at 1426 Montana Ave. #5 in Santa Monica. Since then, Pulse Café had made quite a sensation among the yoga crowd with its signature hot smoothies and organic boba. Sadly however, it appears that Pulse Café has given up the ghost, possibly due to stiff competition from nearby Beaming, Kye’s, and any number of other juice joints that crowd the street. The space has been cleared out and there are prominent “for lease” signs in the window. I’ll keep my eye out for replacements…
Looks like the Westside is getting a new restaurant of some sort. Not much to go on here except an ABC license and a smattering of city applications, but it appears that the derelict Blockbuster Video store at 12112 Santa Monica Blvd. (corner of Bundy) will soon be home to Gray Dog Tavern (…or Grey Dog Tavern, or simply Gray Dog: it’s spelled various ways on different applications). And of course, this could just be a working name and not the actual name. As always, I’ll keep watching…
Malibu’s ne plus ultra stylish charmer Nobu will begin serving breakfast today (Friday July 10th) according to their website and confirmed by a company spokesperson. One can only imagine what culinary magic the perpetually popular restaurant intends on bestowing on the good people of Malibu, but the brekkie blessings will be flowing only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9am to 12pm. Does this mean we’re getting closer to the highly anticipated opening of the nearby Nobu Ryokan?
I recently noticed that yet another juice joint has popped up in Marina del Rey. Nancy’s Raw Juices & Milk Tea has moved into the space that used to house an old convenience market at 105 W. Washington Blvd. Nancy’s offers a menu of cold-pressed juices, smoothies, soups, and milk teas and doesn’t yet have a big online presence, just a Facebook page that you can check out here.
Back in December of last year, we learned from Eater that simplethings, the cozy sandwich shop well-known for their amazing pies, was intending to open a branch in Santa Monica. Simplethings has quietly slipped into the space at 800 Wilshire Blvd., right smack dab on the corner of Lincoln and is now up and running. With three other locations across LA, they offer a menu of sandwiches, breakfasts, salads, and of course pie that you can read more about here.
I didn’t see this coming… But it appears that my go-to place for last-minute holiday gifts has given up the ghost. Vosges Haut-Chocolat is now closed at 311 N. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. No word on if they plan on opening elsewhere or what will replace the chocolatier, but I’ll keep watching…
Toddrickallen 