A German coffee concept is making its debut in Santa Monica. There’s window paper and a sign on the diminutive space at 2665#B Main St announcing the arrival of Codos Coffee Roastery. Codos began in 2014 in Hamburg and has since spread across Germany. Their focus is on “exceptional coffee” served in a “warm and welcoming space where every guest feels at home”. Willkommen!
Everyone’s favorite breakfast staple, the humble bagel, appears to be having a resurgence after a dark period of carb avoidance. There are lines out the door at the hip outpost of New York’s H&H Bagels, also Layla Bagels, Pop’s Bagels, Sam’s Bagels, and others. Now a new contender is throwing its hat into the ring. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Blair!) noticed window decals up on the space that used to be the home of Yu Cake, at 11725 Barrington Ct in Brentwood, announcing the arrival of a branch of Hank’s Bagels. Hank’s Bagels has locations in Burbank and Sherman Oaks and offers a menu of a variety of handmade bagels, spreads, and sandwiches that you can read more about here.
From my Inbox:
I have it on good authority that popular chicken finger restaurant Raising Cane’s is coming to Westwood Village. What you are looking at in the photo is the build-out for the beloved poultry purveyor at 10948 Weyburn in Westwood Village. Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s is (thankfully) expanding in California, with yet another location planned for nearby Third Street Promenade.
Congratulations Santa Monica, cartoon-themed pizza is heading your way! People are writing to tell me about the plywood on the space at 1444 3rd Street Promenade announcing the arrival of the first official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizzeria. This location was once home to Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria, which closed nearly 10 years ago. And what can we expect? This announcement promises a “classic New York-style cheesy slice… worthy of the sewer squad”. Hmmm…
While I’ve known this for months, I’ve held off on telling you as I didn’t have concrete proof. But now, so many people have written to tell me, I’m just passing it on as fact. If you’re tired of waiting in the perpetual line at Montana Avenue’s branch of crazy-popular La La Land Kind Cafe, a second nearby location may bring some relief. It appears that La La Land is moving into the old Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 11698 San Vicente Blvd in Brentwood. La La Land has six other locations across LA, with more in Texas, and offers “valuable support and opportunities for fostering youth and individuals in need“, as well as an excellent French Toast Latte.
I recently noticed a new sign up on the shuttered Jonah’s Kitchen + Bar space at 2518 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica. According to their Instagram page, the new business, Big Sur Grill, is a rebranding of Jonah’s. While I don’t have much more information, it appears Big Sur Grill will be a “brand new fresh dining concept” with a focus on “live fire cuisine by Chef Philip Wojtowicz“.
I recently noticed window paper on a ground floor space facing La Cienega in Beverly Center. It appears that Little Sister is moving in. With three extant locations and more on the way, Little Sister offers a unique take on cuisine resulting from “rich collisions of food and culture that was borne out of the European colonization of Southeast Asia”. They are aiming to open this year. In the meantime, check out their menu here.
This is surprising news… Readers are writing to tell me that classic white tablecloth destination restaurant Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse has closed up shop in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. The signs have been pulled down and the space has been boarded over. This leaves a cavernous hole in the fine dining scene at the tony mall. I’ll keep watching to see what may develop.
Something new is coming to the glacial redevelopment of The Now shopping center (formerly Granville Plaza) at 11819 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles. There’s window paper up on space #103 announcing the arrival of Lotus Indian Cafe. Lotus‘ menu offers an interesting fusion of Indian and Chinese, Mexican, Italian, and American food. Look for such things as butter chicken pizza, chicken tikka quesadilla, and gobi Manchurian. Lotus doesn’t have a big footprint yet, but you can explore more about them here.
Toddrickallen 