It was almost a year ago when I noticed that Spazio Caffe had vacated its space at 1511A Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. After an extensive build-out, window paper is announcing a new tenant. With locations in SoCal farmer’s markets, it appears that Breadblok is looking to get a brick-and-mortar. Expect a menu of Provence-inspired artisan breads, pastries, and tartines that are “organic, gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, gum-free, [and] refined sugar-free”.
I’d been hearing whispers (Thanks T!) that Montana Avenue’s perennially-busy fave Italian joint Forma was expanding into the cavernous hole left by the abrupt closure of Chaya Venice at the corner of Navy and Main St, but I had no evidence. Now there’s proof. An ABC application recently went up in the window confirming that the good people of Venice will soon be getting a Forma of their very own.
This is sad news… It was only in January of last year that I noticed that a branch of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern mini-chain Grilliant was taking over the old Panini Café space at 10861 Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood. They opened shortly thereafter. And now, after a little more that a year, it appears that they have given up the ghost. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but a note in the window confirms the closure and extends their gratitude.
It looks like they’ve figured out what to do with the last remaining open stalls in The Gallery Food Hall at 1350 Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. With such high-profile tenants as Dialogue, STRFSH, and Paperboy Pizza, I’m sure they chose carefully. At any rate, the still-undeveloped part of the first floor is now under plywood proudly declaring that Social Eats is moving in. Social Eats is a K2 project (STRFSH, Paperboy, Nighthawk), and will be a collection of five different eateries, or so I’m told. As you can see, expect beer and wine as well.
Update: More on Social Eats here.
Update 2: Social Eats opens July 19th, 11am.
A reader (Thanks CK!) sent me to check out what was going on at the old Café Brentwood space, in the prominent corner location at 150 S Barrington Ave. in Brentwood Village. A new ABC application is posted in the window of the tricky space announcing the arrival of Sushi Miyagi. There is not much information out there on Sushi Miyagi, and a search of the name on the application reveals little as well, so let me know if you have more information…
This weekend, May 18 and 19, ARTsea returns to Mother’s Beach (4101 Admiralty Way) in Marina del Rey. Expect a varied itinerary of art, dance, music, beer and wine, and food, with 16 food trucks scheduled including Cousin’s Maine Lobster, Baby’s Badass Burgers, and Blast Ice Cream. “Marina del Rey’s party on the beach” is free and runs from 11am to 10pm Saturday and 11am to 6pm Sunday. Read more, including where to park and/or catch a shuttle, here.
Thanks to a sharp-eyed reader (Thanks ML!), I went to check out what was going on at 120 S. Linden Dr., a small freestanding hut in a parking lot behind a building on Wilshire. A while ago, it used to house a hidden locals-only restaurant, Cool Basil Thai Bistro, that folded in 2016. The space has sat empty since then. But there are indications of activity, and a large sign on Linden announces that this will soon be the home of Guisados. Originally from Boyle Heights, and with locations dotting the Southland, Guisados offers a menu of traditional Mexican homestyle braises served with handmade tortillas, beans, and rice.
I recently noticed a sign change at Santa Monica’s popular plant-based bastion Golden Mean Cafe, so I popped in to check out what was going on at their 1028 Wilshire Blvd space. New owners have taken over from Golden Mean and renamed it Viva Vegan. But besides the rebranding, I was assured that everything else will remain the same. And yes, you can still get the much-lauded “works” burger.
The Lord giveth French restaurants, and the Lord taketh away French restaurants… In sad news, it appears that after 25 years, quiet neighborhood charmer Le Petit Café will be closing their doors for good on May 11th. Here is their gracious good-bye note to their devoted fans:
“It is with sadness that we inform you that our last day of business will be Saturday, May 11th, 2109. After much deliberation, we have decided to close. This was not an easy decision by any means, as Le Petit Cafe is our second home, our loyal employees and customers are our second family. We have had the pleasure of serving you all for these last 25 years and they are 25 years we will forever hold close to our hearts. Thank you for your support.
Affectuesement.
Robert Bourget.”
We wish them the best of luck…
Thanks to a tip from a reader, I went to check out what was going on at the former La Scala space at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, after La Scala’s recent relocation to Wilshire Blvd. Sure enough, a new ABC application is posted on the front. While no business name is listed, the applicant tracks to a location in Culver City, which happens to be French charmer Meet In Paris. So I called Meet In Paris and spoke to a source who told me that the Brentwood space will soon be the home of a second branch of Larchmont Village’s Café Parisien, sister restaurant to Meet In Paris. I’m told that the menu will be similar to the Meet In Paris menu, but with a stronger emphasis on dinner, like Café Parisien. They’re shooting for an end of May opening, “fingers crossed”. We wish them the best of luck…
It looks like a new meal delivery shop is settling into the space at 2311 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica. Window displays are announcing the impending arrival of À La Couch to the diminutive spot. They describe themselves as a delivery restaurant group with “chef driven food concepts” which, if I understand, are separate restaurants with whom they partner such as MAC’D (a build-your-own macaroni and cheese restaurant with locations in San Francisco and Oregon), Holy Cluck (a specialty wing restaurant), and a bowl restaurant and a Keto Restaurant as well. Sounds interesting…
If you follow this blog, then you know what a tricky market S. Santa Monica Blvd. is in the Golden Triangle of Beverly Hills. Courageous contenders routinely come and go. The latest to go? It appears that high-end candy shop Sugarfina has pulled up stakes at their 9495 S. Santa Monica Blvd. location leaving a gaping cavity on the glittery street.
When you write a blog, you have to be prepared to face your fair share of criticism. But I was completely unprepared for the amount of emotion hurled my way when I posted about the signage of the Jerry’s Deli redo at 13181 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey. It seems that people were VERY eager to learn more about the prominent location and in particular the opening date, information I simply didn’t have. But thanks to a reader (Thanks AM!) who spotted a notice taped to the front door, I can now report that Stark’s will be open for lunch and dinner and “coffee, house-made pastries and grab & gos” on May 21. You’re welcome.
I first noticed that a new restaurant was coming to the erstwhile Cadet space at 2518 Wilshire Blvd. back in April of 2016. It took a while, but LDH Kitchen The Robata opened in the Summer of 2018. Known for their wild light displays, LDH Kitchen was a branch of massive Japanese lifestyle brand LDH (Love+Dream+Happiness). Sadly, in less than a year, it appears that the love may be gone. While I don’t have any confirmation that they’ve quit the location, I’ve noticed that the restaurant is dark in the evenings, and Yelp is listing as it as closed, so I think its safe to say that they have. I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
The local aerospace industries are having quite an effect on even the sleepiest parts of the South Bay. Case in point? Inglewood Ave. in Hawthorne already boasts an excellent French bakery (Le Pain du Jour), and excellent Chinese food (Chubby Rice), and now they’re about to add an upscale churro/coffee spot to the mix. A banner us up on a formerly abandoned building at 13307 Inglewood Ave. announcing the impending arrival of Azucanela Churreria. Read about their progress on their website here.
Poplar hip Venice caffeine joint Menotti’s Coffee Stop is continuing to expand. Recently they appeared on Sunset in Hollywood. Now, according to the new signs, it looks like that they are opening another location in an old hardware store at 12450 W Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles (Or is it Culver City? It’s confusingly written both ways on-line.) I’m not sure when the flat whites and cortados will start pouring, but it looks like they’re not too far off…
When the upscale Vintage Market recently vacated its space in the sparkling new Palisades Village in Pacific Palisades, it left a considerable hole at the front of the complex. But that’s about to change. According to window notices and the Palisades Village website, the space will soon be the home of posh natural foods grocer Erewhon.
It looks like Malibu is about to get another coffee option. Window paper is up on an erstwhile real estate agency space in the shopping center at 29575 Pacific Coast Hwy. announcing that something called Alessi Coffee Lab is intent on moving in. I don’t have much information about Alessi, nor do I have any knowledge if they are related to the famous Italian brand. But the window paper promises us all-natural, mineral-rich organic drinks.
The iconic sign that inspired Ed Ruscha is about to soar over Crenshaw Imperial Plaza. Bulldozers are clearing the way on the corner of Imperial and Crenshaw in Inglewood for what will be a branch of the ever-popular quintessential SoCal diner Norms Restaurant. According to the website, they’re planning on opening sometime this year.
Update: Norms opened on November 21st, 2019.
Honeycomb experts Honeymee are heading for Sherman Oaks. Signs are up on a freestanding kiosk on the second floor of the Westfield Fashion Square announcing the impending arrival. Look for a menu of milkshakes, waffles, coffee and tea, and ice cream.
Toddrickallen 