What was once a very quiet section of Downtown Santa Monica is quickly transforming into a restaurant destination. Just to the right of Cava and the upcoming HiHo, at 1320 2nd St. Suite A, a brand new handmade pasta joint calling itself Uovo Pasta will soon be joining the list. And it looks like they’re fairly close to opening…
Santa Monica Yacht Club closed its doors at 820 Santa Monica Blvd. a bit ago so Andrew Kirschner could focus his attention on Tar & Roses, his other restaurant a block away, at least according to the notice taped to the front door. Recently however, an ABC ownership change application has appeared and names the new restaurant as… Santa Monica Yacht Club. If you examine the application online, you can see that a familiar name is listed as an officer: Nyesha Arrington, who left Leona in Venice back in February to pursue other projects.
In a push to make banking more friendly, financial giant Capital One has been opening community cafés across the country. And now Santa Monica looks like their next target. Going into a brand new building on the corner of 4th and Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica, on what used to be an unsightly parking lot, the new Capital One Café will offer Peet’s beverages and “local pastry” in addition to internet and banking services.
“Modern Organic Mexican” restaurant Tocaya Organica continues its inexorable march toward world domination. The latest evidence? The rapidly expanding chain has landed a spot at 1140 Gayley Ave. in Westwood.
Late last year, Eater gave us information about Artisanal Brewers Collective’s take over the iconic Yamato space at 1099 Westwood Blvd. It appears that plans are going forward, as late last week, an ABC license application was pasted to the front confirming just that. And the name of the new craft beer establishment? It is listed on the application as Broxton.
Sadly, it appears that quotidian sandwich shop Capriotti’s has quietly slipped out of their Golden Triangle location at 9683 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Signs have come down and the space is gutted. I’ll keep watching to see what might move in.
Hey, I get it… A great many of you are riveted by the transformation of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center and are constantly checking for updates. I’m eagerly watching as well. This is what the food court looks like right now…
In oenophile news… You could be forgiven if you didn’t expect to see an ABC license application posted to the front of one of the big flashy storefronts on tony Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills. Yet there one is taped to the door at 408 Rodeo, a cavernous space that used to house luxury porcelain maker Lladró . The location has sat empty for a while, but according to the application, it will soon be the SoCal home of Napa Valley’s St. Supery Winery. The license application is a “02 Winegrower“, which means a non-retail type, so I’m not certain what’s going on here. I guess we’ll just have to keep watching…
Ever since the tragic demise of Santa Monica’s beloved branch of Border Grill, I’ve kept a careful watch on the space at 1445 4th St. I’ve been hearing whispers, and a design review mentioned something called Publique, but I couldn’t get confirmation. But then late last week the for lease signs came down, and an ABC application was posted on the front informing us the Le Zinc Bar (Zinqué) will be opening a restaurant called Publique. You can check out the design review, including plans for an open air patio, and an artist’s rendering here.
Back in February, I told you about the closure of Romano’s Macaroni Grill at 2321 Rosecrans Ave. in El Segundo. Since then, construction has been fast and furious on a brand new restaurant. According to the ABC license posted out front, something called Kona Sushi will soon inhabit the cavernous space.
It takes a brave eatery to give it a go in the sputtering food scene that is Santa Monica Place. Apparently Westside Pavilion’s Z Pastabar believes it has what it takes. They are moving into the last open space in the food court. But that’s not all: The courageous carb purveyor is moving into the new Westfield Century City Shopping Center, and is opening locations across LA according to their website. As a grand opening promotion, the upcoming Santa Monica location is giving away free food if you download their app.
Sadly, “contemporary macrobiotic” food source The Market at M Café has quietly closed down its location at 11678 San Vicente Blvd. in competitive Brentwood. But all is not lost: The notice on the door lets us know that they have a new location at 1800 Highland in addition to their other two locations and are looking to expand further. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what develops…
Edouardo Baldi, Chef/owner of popular Industry power spot e. baldi in Beverly Hills has quietly launched a new take away joint directly behind his eponymous restaurant on Canon Dr. Simply titled Edo, the coffee bar recently slipped into the unassuming space at 9406 Brighton Way. On offer are an array of pizzette, focaccine, crostine, desserts, and other Italian faves.
I’ve been watching the space that used to house Orchard Flats Juicery at 705 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica to see what would move in. Signs are now up confirming that branch of Burbank’s Rawkin Juice will be moving in. Rawkin Juice was recently purchased by Miami’s Hip Cuisine, which intends on expanding the mini chain. If you check out their Facebook page, you can see they’ve had designs on the Santa Monica location for a while. Popular with the studio/star set, look for a menu of raw/vegan/cold-pressed/organic/you get the picture…
Toddrickallen 