I’d like to take this moment to thank all my dedicated readers and everyone who visits this site and wish all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I’m very grateful to you for giving me the inspiration and support to keep exploring the excitement of the LA food scene. May your Holiday be filled with great food, family and friends, fun, and all manner of deliciousness!
Happ
When a promising and plucky new French restaurant burst onto the scene early last year, I was hopeful that Air Food would be a new neighborhood favorite. But Downtown Santa Monica can be a tricky neighborhood. By all appearances, it looks like they have abandoned their location at 109 Broadway. Yelp is reporting them as temporarily closed, but the place is nearly gutted and… we’ve seen this before.
It looks like a small vegan café with a previous footprint in the neighborhood is moving into the diminutive space at 306 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica that once housed Lifefood Organic. A reader pointed out a note taped to the front door indicates this will be the future home of vegan eatery Avo Café. It looks like they’re not too far from opening, but in the mean time check out their menu of breakfasts, bowls, Panini, and pizza here.
Remember back in May when a reader sent me to the empty space at 2212 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica to check out an recently posted ABC application? At the time, I couldn’t find out much information on the business listed as “Miracle Scoops”. But a small now hiring notice taped to the front door spills the beans. It appears that this location will be a branch of expanding minichain Kanpai Japanese Sushi Bar and Grill.
Please remember our neighbors who have been affected by the Woolsey fire, and throughout California, by supporting the important work of the American Red Cross. Consider making a donation to help those who are struggling in the wake of fire’s devastation. Click here to help, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make an automatic $10 donation.
One of the last remaining spaces in the food court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center is getting a new resident. Plywood covering the space lets us know that Sunset Blvd. burger joint Rock House Sliders will soon be landing in the tony mall. Not sure when they will be opening, but you can look for a straight forward menu of diminutive burgers, fries, and shakes.
Back in May, I told you about the demise of Rawkin Juice from the location at 705 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. And now it looks like there’s a new tenant moving in. Window signage is up informing us that this will be a branch of meal delivery service Fresh n’ Lean. Promising healthy food that is “Fresh as F*#!” (their slogan painted on the wall inside), Fresh n’ Lean has locations throughout the U.S.
A mysterious ABC application has appeared on the front of a former hair salon at 345 N. Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills. The application lists the applicant and the business name as a rather inscrutable and unlikely “Le Wall Paint Parlor“. While these names are often prototypes and eventually discarded, it’s hard to ignore this one. The application also promises a “beer and wine eating place” and construction is underway. As I can’t find much information (or any), I guess we’ll have to keep watching…
I’ve been watching the space at 252 N Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills for a while now. It used to be the home of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar until March of 2017, when Fleming’s quit the location. It has sat empty ever since, but that’s about to end. On a tip from a reader (Thanks Mike!), I went to check out the recently posted ABC application declaring that ever-popular Frida Mexican Cuisine is moving in.
This is a bit mysterious… What was formerly a short-lived Bobarrito at 1321 Third St. Promenade in Santa Monica has morphed into something called Pink Sushi. I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
It seems like you can’t swing a dead cat in Santa Monica without hitting a branch of ubiquitous sandwich chain Subway. That’s why it’s surprising the one located at 3023 Wilshire Blvd. closed down. And the replacement? Competitor Jimmy John’s is about to give Santa Monica its first branch.
I’ve been carefully watching the space at 9527 S Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills that used to house ill-fated B H Poke. I knew something was moving in, but I couldn’t confirm what. The new tenants left cryptic messages here and there, and had a daisy painted on the front at one point. But a note taped to the window finally lets the cat out of the bag. It appears that this location will be the future home of The Kind Ones. While there’s not a ton of information out there, this article in Fitt LA explains that The Kind Ones has its roots in Kuwait, and specializes in breakfast sandwiches and bowls, the former being served in open-top boxes on proprietary brioche buns that purportedly require the baker to sign a “non-disclosure agreement “. Their Yelp page lists the opening as November 2nd.
And while we’re on the subject of closures… I’m not sure when this happened, but I only recently noticed that Santa Monica’s popular sushi restaurant and after work bar scene Wokcano has quietly disappeared from its location at 1413 5th St. in Downtown Santa Monica. I’ll keep watching to see what hopeful contender may vie for the cavernous space.
Well, this was a bit of a shocker… The other day, when I popped in for a green lemonade to M Café Beverly Hills, I was greeted with a note on the front informing me that after 10 years they had “officially closed”. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep my eye on their space at 9433 Brighton Way to see what develops.
Remember back in January when I first told you about the impending arrival of a cult fave bakery to the space at 225 Main St. in Downtown El Segundo? Well, after what seemed like an eternity, Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery throws open their doors for their grand opening at 5pm today, with festivities and freebies the entire weekend. With over 200 locations, and appearances on Cupcake Wars, The View, and in USA Today, the confectionary treat shop is sure to become destination.
I’m passing this along… PS Science is an excellent cause that I personally support. I’ll see you there!
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Thanks to a tip from eagle-eyed reader Frank, who’s been keeping watch on the erstwhile home of O + O Sicilian Kitchen in Santa Monica, I went by to check things out. Easy to miss, a new ABC Application has gone up on the front door. It appears that a branch of Rakkan Ramen will soon be moving into the space 1705 Ocean Ave. Suite 111 (Behind the former Joan’s on Third). The Japanese chain has two other locations around LA, and is known for its plant-based dashi that is easily customized to accommodate vegans.
For all you who lament RFD’s club sandwich’s disappearance from Santa Monica, have hope! I have it on good authority that Real Food Daily will be triumphantly returning to Santa Monica sometime next year. Although I don’t have an actual address yet, look for a location somewhere along Ocean Ave. I’ll keep my eyes open…
So what’s the deal with the diminutive Biobar space at 11966 Wilshire in Brentwood? They haven’t opened in a while, recently the windows have been blacked out with blinds, and they are not answering their phone. For all intents and purposes, they appear closed even though they’ve left no clues. But a peek through the blinds (No, I’m not above such things) reveals a beehive of activity. Something is happening at Biobar, I just can’t figure out what. Let me know if you have more information…
Icy treat fave Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt has abandoned its conspicuous corner position at 3851 Main St. in Culver City. No idea what happened, but the for lease signs in the window confirm the departure. I’ll keep watching to see what may land in the prominent space.
Toddrickallen 