Yazawa Meat Now Open In BH

Posted on October 30, 2015 by toddrickallen

Stop the presses, this just in… While we’re on the subject of new buzz-worthy Japanese restaurants on the Westside, a great deal of you were extremely excited by the news I told you back in May that Yazawa Meat was going into the old BierBeisl space at 9669 Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Well, you’ll be ecstatic to learn that straight from Japan, our own local branch of the ultra-exclusive chain Yazawa Meat soft opened last night (October 29th) after a brief run of invite only, with an expected grand opening of December 1st. What took so long? According to a spokesperson, permits from LA County held them up. But all that’s behind us now. Expect the absolute end-all of routinely flown in Japanese wagu expertly cut (the name Yazawa refers to a legendary Japanese butcher) (and yes, I’m assured there are vegetarian options). But with all this attention, good luck getting a seat in the dark, intimate, diminutive dining room. In the mean time, check out their website and explore the menus at one of their other glitzy outposts in Milan, Tokyo, and Singapore here.

Musashiya Udon Noodle Opens Today In Westwood

Posted on October 28, 2015 by toddrickallen

Every once in a while, a story surprises me by how much interest it garners. It was back in mid-August that I told you about papers in the window of the old Top N One Ramen Ex space at 1049 Gayley Ave. in Westwood announcing that a new Japanese noodle shop, Musashiya Udon Noodle was moving in. And since then, the buzz on this place has been, well, crazy. So to all those people who have been following this story with cult-like rapt attention comes this exciting news: Musashiya opens today (October 28th) at 11:00am according to the paper in the window. Check out their website and read more about what they’re billing as the “Best Udon In America” here.

Golden Door Now Offering Packaged Foods In Century City

Posted on October 27, 2015 by toddrickallen

Create your own exclusive spa experience at home… Voted Travel + Leisure’s #1 destination spa for 2015, Golden Door has long been the choice for celebs and those in the know to get a bit of Zen back in their lives. You may not be able to visit this famous Shrine of Hygeia in Escondido, but now you don’t have to go that far… at least to try some of their proprietary packaged foods, spices, and condiments. A new kiosk has opened in the currently-ravaged Westfield Century City Shopping Center that offers an array of foods from the iconic spa, as well as skin products and other items that you can check out here.

Great Food Heading To Playa Vista…

Posted on October 23, 2015 by toddrickallen

With all the focus on the flashy new lineup of restaurants further up the road in the new Runway Playa Vista, less attention is paid to the slightly older area of the colossal development closer to Lincoln Blvd. Signs recently went up announcing that a new restaurant is coming to the space at 13020 W. Pacific Promenade #7 that used to house a hair salon. The mysterious banner announces only that “Great Food” will be coming soon. I’ve no idea if Great Food is the name of the new restaurant, or merely a description of what to expect so we’ll simply have to wait and see…

Azabu Sushi Bar & Grill Replacing Mosto Enoteca In MDR

Posted on October 22, 2015 by toddrickallen

Signs have recently gone up in the upper deck space that used to house Mosto Enoteca at 517 Washington Blvd. announcing that a brand new entity, Azabu Sushi Bar & Grill is taking over. While the windows are papered over so I can’t get a glimpse of the progress, the red banner hanging outside informs us that they will be opening soon. I can’t seem to locate too much information on this new restaurant, but I’ll keep looking…

Trimana Expands Into Santa Monica

Posted on October 19, 2015 by toddrickallen

With locations peppered across Southern California, popular office lunch spot Trimana is expanding into Santa Monica. You may recall that earlier this month I told you about the departure of Japanese convenience store Famima!! from the space at 1348 3rd St Promenade. Wasting no time whatsoever, Trimana Fresh Food Market has posted notices in the window announcing their impending arrival. No word on when they’ll open, but until they do, check out their menu and read more here.

Bo Nuage Throws Open Its Doors In BH

Posted on October 16, 2015 by toddrickallen

Back in February, I told you about a second location of Melrose’s glamourous purveyor of meringues and cakes, Bo Nuage, that was under construction in the old Shoe Wiz space at 9523 Santa Monica Blvd (near Rodeo) in Beverly Hills. Bo Nuage is now open and set to charm your knickers off with its adorable French pâtisserie themed décor and delightfully darling desserts on display. Pop by for a sample of their lighter than air confections and read more about this little slice of heaven here.

BoNuage2

Starbucks Coming Soon To SMP

Posted on October 15, 2015 by toddrickallen

You could be forgiven for not noticing that The Beach’s preeminent shopping complex, Santa Monica Place did not have a branch of a large chain coffee shop. There has always been an outpost of the Italianesque mini-chain Ugo Café, and a now departed Groundwork made a valiant effort, but the big name ubiquitous coffee joints have been kept out… until now. Construction is underway on a free-standing brand spanking new Starbucks on the ground floor, near CB2, directly beneath the upcoming Arclight Cinemas.

Rori’s Artisanal Creamery Set To Open This Saturday In SM

Posted on October 13, 2015 by toddrickallen

Well that didn’t take long… It was only back in mid-August that I first noticed that the LA area was about to get its first branch of Santa Barbara’s popular ice cream shop Rori’s Artisanal Creamery. And now, only about two months later (a miracle in Santa Monica), they appear ready to throw open their doors at 910 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Rori’s Artisanal Creamery will have its grand opening this Saturday, October 17th at 11:00am according to their Facebook page and the flyers that have blanketed the city.

The Hummus Republic Expanding Into El Segundo

Posted on October 9, 2015 by toddrickallen

With all eyes on swankier developments lately (I’m looking at you, The Point), other more plebeian developments are off the radar… except here. One giant multi-use development going into a less glamorous part of El Segundo is the massive Elevon, complete with retail, dining, offices, and hotels. And the area around appears to be benefitting as well. Right next door is another, smaller complex, The Edge, located on the corner of N. Douglas St. and E. Maple Dr. With a couple of outlets across The Valley and one in Downtown LA, it appears that The Hummus Republic is expanding into The Edge complex, right next to Elevon. Read more about their “Where Healthy Meets Tasty” Mediterranean menu and find out more here.

Sol Cocina Apparently Still Landing In Playa Vista

Posted on October 8, 2015 by toddrickallen

With all the new eateries pouring into Playa Vista, here’s one that I apparently overlooked: Sol Mexican Cocina. Even though the Playa Vista blog, What’s Up Playa Vista reported its impending arrival late last year, and the restaurant’s website still states that they had hoped for a Spring 2015 opening, there have been no signs of it. But as you can see, the posters have remained up and job postings only just recently went up on Craiglist so I think it’s safe to assume that they’re still planning on opening. We’ll have to wait and see what develops, but until then check out the chain’s Baja-inspired menu here.

Espresso Cielo Expanding In Santa Monica

Posted on October 6, 2015 by toddrickallen

With one location already in Santa Monica on Main Street and another location in Palm Springs, little charmer Espresso Cielo is expanding into Downtown Santa Monica. Notices recently went up on the new space at 1431 C on 2nd Street announcing the imminent arrival. According to the window display, the coffee, tea, and patisserie shop will throw open its doors sometime this Fall.

Daniele Pizzeria To Take Over Adoteca Space In Brentwood

Posted on October 2, 2015 by toddrickallen

Well that sure didn’t take long. I know that this is Brentwood and all, but this space doesn’t sit idle for long… You may recall that back in late 2013, Adoteca replaced Osteria Latini in a matter of weeks. Then only two weeks ago, I told you and Eater confirmed that Adoteca had bitten the dust. And now, an ABC application is up in the window announcing that a new venture, Daniele Pizzeria will be taking over the busy space at 11712 San Vicente Blvd. I don’t know much about this business yet, but I’ll keep you posted.

Famima!! Closes In Santa Monica… And All Of Southern California

Posted on October 1, 2015 by toddrickallen

Japanese convenience chain Famima!! appears to be abandoning its experimental foray into Southern California. The purveyor of prepared foods and sundries has closed its doors in the Third Street Promenade as of last week. According to the Wikipedia page, all stores in SoCal will be closed as of this month. Too soon to tell what might replace it, but I’ll keep watching.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Monthly Archives: October 2015