Author Archives: toddrickallen

The Juicy Bird Flies The Coop In Century City

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With all of the upcoming changes to the notoriously capricious food scene of the new Westfield Century Shopping Center currently under construction, I’ve been watching the extant restaurants very closely.  Even with the promise of the new and glam 2.0 version of the popular shopping and dining destination, expected some time next year, the mall is still bleeding eateries.  Recently, Seiki-Shi Sushi bit the dust.  And now it looks like longtime food court poultry purveyor The Juicy Bird has vacated their space.  I’ll continue to keep watching the changes…

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Bobaritto Gets A Brick And Mortar In The Third Street Promenade

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With food trucks in LA, OC, and NY, it appears that sushi burrito, poke, and boba tea specialists Bobaritto is getting a brick and mortar.  Paper has gone up on the space that used to house longtime Santa Monica fixture George’s Bistro at 1321 Third Street Promenade announcing the impending arrival.  No word on an opening date, but until then, check out their menu (and secret menu) and learn more about what exactly a sushi burrito is here.

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Gelson’s Santa Monica Raises The Bar…

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The sparkling brand new Gelson’s that took over the old Haggen (Albertson’s) space on the corner of Ocean Park and Lincoln in Santa Monica is just about to make grocery shopping a whole lot more interesting.  According to signs posted in the store, they will soon be adding a wine and craft beer bar, thereby considerably increasing their chances of higher revenue due to impulse spending.  No word on when the drunk shopping will commence, but believe me, I’m watching this one closely…

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Moo Greek Yogurt Takes Over Sweet Crush In Brentwood

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The Greek yogurt craze seems to be building momentum…  After a nearly four-year run at 11753 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, Asian shaved ice shop Sweet Crush abruptly closed its doors back in March.  Wasting no time whatsoever, it appears a new treat shop is taking over.  Signs are up announcing that the space will soon be inhabited by Moo Greek Yogurt.  Not a lot of information out there, just a job listing describing Moo as an “upscale yogurt shop” and “ice cream café”.

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Chez Tex Brings Coffee, Food, And Wine Soon To Main St. In Venice

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So, I’ve been watching the tiny space at 218 Main St. in Venice (Santa Monica adjacent) ever since I noticed a small notice pasted on the front that indicated the storefront was being outfitted as a restaurant.  But I couldn’t get any info until this week…  Paper covering the side of the plywood tells us that the new eatery will be something called Chez Tex.  A quick search directed me to the still-developing website, informing us that Chez Tex will be an “all-day eatery” serving coffee, food, and wine.  I’ll keep my eye out for more information.

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Teavana Bites The Dust In BH

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It was about two years ago that I noticed that the corner space at Santa Monica Blvd. and Wilshire in Beverly Hills was about to get a branch of tea purveyor Teavana.  Sadly, it appears that they have closed and vacated the space, as evidenced by the large for lease sign affixed to the front.  I’ll keep my eye on it and see what will move in…

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LDH Kitchen Takes Over The Cadet Space In SM

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Ambitious wood-fired restaurant Cadet closed earlier this year after a short run at 2518 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.  And now we have a  clue as to what may be replacing it.  An ABC license application went up on the space on Friday informing us that something called LDH Kitchen will be taking over.  Hard to find much information about what kind of establishment this will be.  The man behind LDH is someone named Eugene Nomura according to the ABC app.  I’ll keep watching for further developments…

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Da Kikokiko Bringing Poke To Playa Vista

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I recently noticed that the windows are papered over on the small space just to the left of Hopdoddy in the fast-developing The Runway Playa Vista announcing the impending arrival of something called Da Kikokiko.  After digging around a bit, I discovered on What’s Up Playa Vista that Da Kikokiko is a brand new poke spot brought to you by restaurant team Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts (Playa Provisions).  No word on an opening date and they appear to have a way to go, but until then, you can follow their progress on Instagram here.

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Wellfed Opens In Playa Vista

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Every once in a while, I’m astonished by the amount of interest in one of my blogs.  It appears that a great many of you have been carefully tracking the story about a new eatery opening in Playa Vista that I first told you about back in October of last year when I noticed a sign announcing the impending arrival of Good Food to the space at 13020 W. Pacific Promenade #7.  Well, since then we learned what the name of the new restaurant was, and to all those who have been watching its progress comes this happy news:  Wellfed is now open (as of Tuesday) in Playa Vista.  Check out my original report for more details, and yes they do indeed have that snazzy  monkeypod wood wrap-around countertop.  We wish them the best of luck.

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Burgers N Brews Brings A New Sports Bar To SM

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I’ve been watching the space at 3021 Lincoln Blvd. in Santa Monica that used to house tapas place Santino’s, after a reader sent me an inquiry asking about all the recent activity.  Somebody was hard at work for the last few months doing a complete renovation.  Signs have recently gone up informing us all exactly what the new restaurant will be: Burgers N Brews.  Except for their very recent ABC application, I can find very little information about this new establishment.  According to their awning, we can expect craft beer and wine, grass-fed burgers, and pizza in a sports bar atmosphere.

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H.O.M.E. Finally Gives Up The Ghost In BH… This Time For Good?

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House of Music & Entertainment has certainly had its share of the blues.  I first noticed that H.O.M.E. was taking over the cavernous old Camden House space at 430 N. Camden Dr. in Beverly back in February of 2012.  But after a kerfuffle involving their liquor license, the plucky supper club reopened with new owners and management in December of last year.  Well it appears that H.O.M.E. is finally gone for good.  While there’s no official notice, the place is completely gutted and locksmiths were changing the keys to the doors on Thursday, so I’m calling this one. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see if any other brave soul gives the difficult location a try…

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Jamba Juice Gets Swallowed Up In Century City

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We’ve known for a couple of weeks now that Danny Meyer’s wildly popular N.Y.-based Shake Shack was coming to the Westfield Century City Shopping Center.  But apparently, the burger stand will be bigger than originally thought.  The first plywood went up over the space on the second deck that housed Solstice Sunglasses.  But recently, the plywood has crept closer to Obica, swallowing up the mall’s outlet of smoothie chain Jamba Juice in the process.  No word on Shake Shack’s opening date, but I’ll keep watching.

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Rawvolution Runs Into A Spot Of Trouble…

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Champions of uncooked cuisine Rawvolution, at 2301 Main St. in Santa Monica was closed yesterday due to a violation of the Health and Safety Code, or at least that’s what the official notice, dated 3/31 and posted on the front door says.  A much less formal, handwritten note accompanying the notice attempts to explain that the issue appears to be a plumbing problem.  As of Friday, they were very busy remedying the situation and the sign suggests that they may possibly reopen by Saturday, but as you can see, an official health officer must reopen it.  We wish them the best of luck.

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The Garden Bringing Beer Soon To Santa Barbara Public Market

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Every now and again, I like to get out of the Westside and explore farther afield.  One of the places that I occasionally check in on is the ambitious Santa Barbara Public Market.  Recently things have gone the route of The Market in Santa Monica Place, with many of the original vendors closing down.  Now only a smattering of shops remain open.  But one courageous newcomer is attempting to buck that trend.  Signs have gone up announcing that a new restaurant The Garden will be trying their luck in the old Forager’s Pantry space.  According to the signs, we can expect “casual bar fare”, a large selection of craft beers, and many television screens airing global sports events.

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Couscous A Gogo Set To Bring Mediterranean To The Golden Triangle

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In other Beverly Hills news, I recently noticed a sign taped to the front window of the space at 9533 S. Santa Monica Blvd. that used to house Frankie & Johnnie’s Pizza indicating a new eatery is on the way.  According to the sign, we can soon expect Mediterranean food from a cleverly named Couscous A Gogo.  Not much information out there, just a Facebook page that you can check out here.  

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Mr. B Coffee.Bread Coming Soon To BH

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I just noticed that signs have gone up on the space at 9667 1/2 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills indicating that a new coffee shop, Mr. B Coffee.Bread will soon be opening.  I can’t seem to locate information about the new eatery, only just a Facebook page with not much on it, and a Yelp listing with one review raving about “Asian style cookies”.  I’ll keep my eye on this one…

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Simplethings Disappears In SM

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It was only just back in July of last year that I told you about the opening of Simplethings on the corner of Wilshire and Lincoln in Santa Monica.  Sadly, after a few months of pushing pies, it appears that they have quietly slipped out of their location at 808 Wilshire Blvd.  There’s no official indication, but the restaurant has been gutted and all signage has been removed.  I’ll keep my eye on the space to see if anything else is moving in anytime soon.

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Vito’s Pizza Expands Into Santa Monica

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McCabe’s Bar has sat empty for a while now, and Eater has been wondering what would be moving in since August of last year.  Well now we know.  An ABC application posted high in a window indicates that a branch of West Hollywood’s Vito’s Pizza will soon inhabit the space at 2455 Santa Monica Blvd.  I had a chance to speak with the very enthusiastic and passionate owner of the eponymous restaurant, Vito DiDonato who explained that McCabe’s had left everything in poor shape.  He was looking at a fairly extensive remodel to replace virtually everything.  He optimistically projected an opening roughly in about four months.  We wish him the best of luck…

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