Well, I didn’t see this coming… According to signs posted on the door, perpetually busy and cheekily-named Pink Taco has closed its doors on the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. I’ve no idea what will take over the space and popular outdoor patio facing Santa Monica Blvd. With all the new construction and upcoming promised eateries, the mall will be barely recognizable sometime next year. I’ll keep you posted…
After over 40 years at 11916 Wilshire Blvd. in West Los Angeles, dusty landmark pizzeria Divita’s has closed its ancient doors. Wasting now time whatsoever, it appears a new tenant is moving in. The windows are papered over with quotes about wine from famous people and posted on the door is this mysterious message, “Coming Soon: Your new local and independent restaurant and wine bar”. The note is signed Vincent & Chase. I’m not sure if that’s the name of the new establishment or just the names of the proprietors. I guess we’ll have to wait and see…
And the restaurants keep coming to Playa Vista… Sandwich chain Panini Café is now open in The Runway shopping area, right across the way from the recently unveiled Sol Cocina at 12751 W. Millennium. Read more and check out their Mediterranean/Italian menu here.
I guess we haven’t seen the end of the whole frozen yogurt thing quite yet… Shops continue to pop up like weeds. The latest? It looks like the newly remodeled shopping center on the southwest corner of Lincoln Blvd. and Pico in Santa Monica is about to get its very own Yogurtland soon.
Back in October, I did a little digging to find out what was going on with Sol Cocina, which had promised a Spring 2015 opening but was nowhere to be seen. A great many of you have been carefully following this story, so here’s welcome news: Playa Vista’s branch of mini-chain Sol Mexican Cocina finally threw open its doors yesterday (Tuesday January 19th) in a big and spacious location with a wrap-around patio on the corner of Millennium and Town Center Dr. in The Runway. Look for a menu of innovative classic Baja dishes designed by Sol’s Executive Chef and cookbook author Deborah Schnieder.
I recently noticed a lot of activity in the space that used to house Italian coffee shop Spazio Caffe at 245 S. Main St. in Venice. As it turns out, the store is being readied for its new inhabitant, none other than Kippy’s! ice cream shop. They’ll be closing their current location at 326 Lincoln Blvd. by Friday January 22nd. And it looks like they’re hoping to start peddling their organic, non-dairy “scoops of happiness” by the end of January or early February in their new location.
And while we’re on the subject of new restaurants coming to Westwood… Signs are up on the space that used to house Mongol BBQ at 1064 Gayley Ave. indicating that a new Asian eatery named Northern Café is taking over. I can’t find a great deal of information out there and in a phone call to a similarly named restaurant in Cerritos, a rep denied any connection between the two. (Or at least I think he denied it, the conversation was a bit unclear.) Anyway, the menu posted on the front indicates a varied selection of plates (mapo tofu, orange chicken), noodles (zha jiang, dan dan), fried rice, and handcrafted dumplings (kale and pork, fish and chives).
Keeping you abreast of the changes at the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, here’s the latest… It appears that the mall’s branch of international sandwich chain Subway has quietly ceased to be. Not sure what happened, but could it have had anything to do with the location which was set in the quiet corner near the children’s playground? (Did you even know that existed?) With all the glamorous new changes coming, I doubt we’ve seen the last of the utilitarian lunch spot, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Back in April of last year, Eater told us about the expansion of DC’s Cava Grill into LA. Well, one branch of the build-as-you-go Greek/Mediterranean restaurant has already opened in The Village at Topanga. But now we know where the second location will be… Westwood (1073 Broxton to be exact). No word on an opening date, but construction is fast and furious.
Back in mid-September, I told you about a new tenant coming to the old L’Amande space at 9530 S. Santa Monica Blvd in Beverly Hills. Turns out, the new restaurant was none other than Sushi Yu/Mi (or Sushi Yu-N-Mi) from just up the street at 9475 Santa Monica Blvd. Well, the move is complete and they are now dishing fish from their fresh new digs.
You already know that when it comes to the upcoming changes to the food scene at the Westfield Century City Shopping Center (and there will be many)… I got this. So here’s the latest: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf that inhabits the prominent location in the erstwhile center of the mall is closing. But a new branch will be reopening nearby. It is taking over the old space built for the long-gone Potato Corner near the recently new See’s Candies. It looks like the move will be complete sometime in February. We’ll have to see what takes over the old space…
While there’s no notice announcing it and their website is still up and running, it appears that longtime Santa Monica resident Bravo Cucina has abruptly closed down at 1319 Third Street Promenade. A peek inside reveals that the Italian restaurant long known for its hard-working hostesses who stood outside enticing tourists to eat there, has already essentially been gutted and Yelp users confirm the sad closure. There’s no indication of what may take its place, but I’ll keep my eye on it.
It was only back in July when I noticed that longtime Beverly Hills fixture Papa Jake’s Sub Shop had permanently closed its doors at 9527 Santa Monica Blvd. Wasting no time, it appears that a new resident is settling in. Signs are going up indicating that Beverly Hills Beignet will soon inhabit the space. There’s not a lot of information out there yet, and I’ve no idea when the pillowy doughy treats will commence, but until then read more at their Facebook page here.
At this time of year, I like to say a heart-felt thank you to all who read and support Toddrickallen. You are my inspiration. As we look to the New Year, expect a few changes to this site, as well as to the capricious Westside food scene. In the mean time, here’s wishing you all a delicious 2016!
Located just to the left of upcoming Espresso Cielo at 1431 B 2nd St., signs are up in the window indicating that the new tenant will be an outpost of Belgian chocolate purveyor KC Chocolatier. With a flagship in Chicago, KC is an offshoot of Kim’s Chocolates from Tienen, Belgium. No word on an opening date, and it looks like they’ve a way to go, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
We’ve long known that the renovation of the erstwhile dusty old Laemmle Theater at 1332 Second Street in Santa Monica was going to bring us (possibly) two new restaurants. And now we know for sure what one of them will be. A recently posted ABC license application informs us, and the company website confirms that a branch of Arizona’s earthy eatery Flower Child is on the way to the sparkling new movie palace. Offering a menu that is organic, locally sourced, and additive free, Flower Child promises “healthy food for a happy world”. No word on an opening date, and construction is fast and furious, but I’ll keep watching…
Toddrickallen is grateful to all who visit this blog and wishes all readers a very Happy Christmas filled with laughter, joy, and of course, delicious food!
While it appears to have happened a while ago, I only just noticed that popular Indian restaurant Bombay Cafe, at 12021 W. Pico Blvd., has a little problem. A notice posted in the front window informs us that ABC has suspended their liquor licence for a violation. When exactly will you again be able to order an IPA with your makhni paneer? It might be a while. The notice says the suspension is “indefinite”.
Going a little bit farther afield, I recently noticed construction on some upcoming new eateries heading to the land of Post & Beam behind Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. According to signs, Michelle’s Country Diner is remodeling an existing building. And close by, a branch of the Cajun seafood chain The Kickin’ Crab is being built. No word on opening dates, but I’ll keep watching…
Snazzy upscale coffee purveyor Alfred Coffee has the perfect idea for your last-minute stocking stuffer. If you can’t make it into one of their stylish branches on Melrose, in Brentwood, or in Silverlake, just pop into the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. There, you’ll find The Alfred Coffee gift box, essentially a vending machine filled with bags of coffee, gift cards, and Alfred gear. You’ll find these little treasures near J.Crew.
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