Air Food Set To Bring French To Downtown Santa Monica…

Posted on February 28, 2017 by toddrickallen

Walking around Downtown Santa Monica recently, I noticed plywood covering the front of the space at 109 Broadway that used to house defunct Middle Eastern restaurant Seaside Grill. I was lucky enough to catch one of the owners of the new establishment who informed me that the upcoming eatery will intriguingly be called Air Food, and the menu will be “French”, otherwise I don’t have any more information than that. They’re shooting for a mid-April opening, and this being Santa Monica I wish them the best of luck with that.

Tatel LA Taking Over Nic’s Beverly Hills

Posted on February 24, 2017 by toddrickallen

As you probably already know, legendary watering hole Nic’s Beverly Hills closed after a long run on Jan 31st. And what will be taking over its space at 453 N. Canon Dr? An ABC application appeared in the window this week announcing that something called Tatel LA will soon be moving in. Could this be a branch of the highly anticipated Spanish restaurant coming soon to Miami? We’ll have to wait and see…

Wellfed Closes In Playa Vista

Posted on February 23, 2017 by toddrickallen

Sadly, it appears that hopeful start-up Wellfed has disappeared from their space at 13020 W. Pacific Promenade #7. It was only just back in April of last year that I told you about their opening. Not sure what happened or what will become of that monkeypod wood wrap-around countertop, but I’ll keep my eye on it…

A New Organic Plant Based Deli & Juice Bar Is Coming To Venice

Posted on February 21, 2017 by toddrickallen

I don’t have much information on this… A notice is up on the small neighborhood market that used to be the location of Sal’s Deli at 2524 Pacific Ave. in Venice declaring that the space will soon house an “organic plant based deli” and “organic juice bar”. The telephone number on the banner connects to something called “Gold Coast Properties”. As always, I’ll keep watching.

Merci Clement Coming Soon To BH

Posted on February 17, 2017 by toddrickallen

Paper covering the windows at 9887 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills informs us that we can expect a new French café, Merci Clement to open soon. Not much out there yet, just an undeveloped website and Facebook page. According to the notices on the door, we can look for a menu of specialty coffee, salads, sandwiches, crepes, chocolates, “petit cakes”, and gelato. It looks like they’re planning on opening some time this year…

Romano’s Macaroni Grill Closed in El Segundo

Posted on February 15, 2017 by toddrickallen

It looks like red sauce pasta joint Romano’s Macaroni Grill has quit their location at 2321 Rosecrans Ave. in El Segundo. All signs have been taken down and the restaurant looks empty. Not sure what happened or what may be moving into the cavernous space, but I’ll keep watching…

Go Greek Yogurteria Now Open In Santa Monica

Posted on February 14, 2017 by toddrickallen

About a year ago, I told you about the expansion of a decadently rich yogurt shop to the tony space at 1431 Ocean Ave. (in the Pacific Plaza building) in Santa Monica. It took a while, but Go Greek Yogurteria recently opened and is dishing dairy to the good people of Santa Monica. Read more about their fresh yogurt bar and self-serve frozen yogurt here.

Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern Now Open In Santa Monica

Posted on February 10, 2017 by toddrickallen

Almost exactly one year ago, I told you about an ABC license posting on the old La Cachette Bistro space at 1733 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica announcing that a branch of popular West Coast watering hole Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern would soon inhabit the address. It took a while, but they are now up and serving lunch, dinner, and brunch. Check out their menu of “artisanal regional American classics” here.

Venokado Vacates SMP

Posted on February 9, 2017 by toddrickallen

It appears that wine and gift shop Venokado has given up the ghost in The Market at Santa Monica Place. And The Curious Palate will be jumping ship from its Market space to across the way, just to the right of the ArcLight. That means that soon, the only soldier left standing will be La Gourmandise School. But we’ve been promised that something new will be coming…

KC Chocolatier Now Open In Santa Monica

Posted on February 7, 2017 by toddrickallen

Back in December of 2015, I told you about the impending arrival of KC Chocolatier to 1431B 2nd St. in Downtown Santa Monica, right next to the new Espresso Cielo. After what seems like a very long time, they are now up and running, serving chocolates, ice cream, and hot chocolate flown in from Belgium. KC Chocolatier has a shop in Chicago, and is an offshoot of Kim’s Chocolates from Tienen, Belgium, which according to their website, is the “number 1 chocolate exporter to Canada and the United States”.

Beverly Hills Poke Set To Replace Beverly Hills Beignet

Posted on February 3, 2017 by toddrickallen

It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about Beverly Hills Beignet taking over the old Papa Jake’s Sub Shop at 9527 Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. They opened about six months ago, but closed recently after a bit of a kerfuffle. Wasting no time whatsoever, it appears that a newcomer is quickly taking over the vacant space. Beverly Hills Poke will soon be dishing raw fish to the good people of The Golden Triangle. According to a worker at the site, they are hoping to be up and running in about a week and a half. Not much out there on BHP, just a Craigslist ad, so I’ll keep watching…

What’s Going On At The Gallery Food Hall In The Promenade?

Posted on February 2, 2017 by toddrickallen

After an extensive renovation, the formerly dusty Gallery Food Hall, at 1315 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica, reopened with a fresh new design and look back in Spring of 2016. Subway was open, and previous occupant McDonald’s moved back in, and expectations rose… then began to sink. McDonald’s soon pulled up stakes. And recently, on a tip from a reader, I dropped by to discover that the last remaining eatery, Subway, had indeed vacated its second floor location. The Gallery now sits completely empty, without a single tenant or notice of a future occupant. I’m not quite sure what troubling events are going on here, but I’ll keep watching…

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Monthly Archives: February 2017