The açaí craze continues its inexorable march across the Westside… I recently noticed that something new had crept into the microscopic spot that used to house long-time resident Mrs. Field’s Cookies at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Now, instead of sugary treats, you can (rather ironically) stock up on superfoods. With one location in Pacific Palisades, Açaí Nation had quietly slipped into the space and offers a menu of bowls and smoothies that you can read more about here.
I recently noticed that an ABC application has gone up on the little neighborhood store that has long sat vacant at 2524 Pacific Ave. in Venice. Looks like a new venture, Crosswalk Deli will soon be inhabiting the space. No word on an opening, but it looks like they haven’t done too much yet…
Could this be an indication that the El Segundo/Manhattan Beach food scene is pushing east? Looking somewhat out-of-place, I just notices that a new, sleek sports grill is going into a spot in a strip mall in a particularly bleak section of Hawthorne just to the east of the 405 at 5119 W. El Segundo Blvd. What appears to be a fairly extensive build-out will soon house Flights Craft Beers + Sports Grill, which promises 40 different fresh beers on tap and a menu composed of such things as poutine, hefeweizen cheddar cheese fondue, and a variety of sliders. Looks like they’re shooting for a February opening. In the mean time, check out their website here.
Looks like there will be plenty of opportunities for new restaurants in the giant developments at Playa Vista, along Jefferson Blvd. One of the first to post their ABC application is the healthy eco-chain Lyfe Kitchen at 12746 W. Jefferson which not-so-coincidentally is also the location of the new Century Theatres (Cinemark) complex. And we can tell from their posted ABC application, Century Theatres intends on having a “general eating place” that serves alcohol as well, joining the other new theaters being built on the Westside that will also have restaurants including the new Arclight in Santa Monica, and the remodeled Laemmle in Santa Monica.
Last November, I told you about the closure of the waffle shop Honeymade at 10912 Le Conte Ave. in Westwood. We now know what will be replacing it. With a smattering of locations across LA and New York, looks like Taiwan-based Coco Fresh Tea & Juice is quickly settling in. I’m not sure when they plan on opening, but it appears that they’re very close. Look for a menu of fruit tea, boba, milk tea, smoothies, and slushes.
Just in time for all those flagging New Year’s resolutions, Veggie Grill has rolled out its new “Mindful Living” menu. The concept is a focus on items that are “lower in calories, high in protein, nutrient dense, energy packed, and flavor-full”. Included are: banh mi salad, tres chickin’ tacos + black beans, chargrilled veggie + penne salad, and many more choices that you can read about here.
The brand-spanking new Arclight Cinemas being built directly on top of Bloomingdale’s in the Santa Monica Place will feature its signature café and full bar according to the posters covering the plywood. Thus between the new café and the upcoming Cheesecake Factory, diners will be spoiled for choice on the formerly struggling third floor of the mall. Who knows? Maybe even the stagnant The Market might get new lifeblood… Look for a Fall 2015 opening.
Well I sure didn’t see this one coming, but it looks like one of Santa Monica’s favorite pan-Asian restaurants (and occasional salsa dance lounge) Monsoon Cafe, has ended its long run of 18 years at 1212 3rd St Promenade. According to the goodbye letter posted on the front door, those giant Nepalese Buddha eyes that have gazed down on this quieter section of the Promenade between Wilshire and Arizona will soon be painted over to make way for a new, unnamed “restaurant operation”. Whether this means the new eatery will be by the same owners or an entirely different company, I’m not certain. No word on what the replacement will be, but it appears they’re aiming at being up and running by April of this year.
After having long-anchored the strip mall on the corner of Bundy, it looks like California Vegan has given up the ghost at 12113 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA. And as indicated by the giant “for lease” sign, they’ve yet to line up a replacement. I’ll keep my eye on it…
Beaming opened in the completely redone sunny space at 1426 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica yesterday (Tuesday January 6th). This is the third branch of the organic superfood cafe that offers a menu of juices, smoothies, salads, bowls, and baked treats. Look for an upcoming branch to open in West Hollywood later in the year, but until then, read more here.
Back in April, I told you about a new Italian restaurant taking over the 17th St. Cafe/Jack’s on Montana/On Montana space at 1610 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Brought to you by the people behind Pecorino in Brentwood, at the time, it was reported to me that the new eatery was to be called Formaggio. We have since learned that the name had been shortened to Forma. Originally I was told that they were hoping for a September opening, but this being Santa Monica and all, restaurants seldom make their projected opening dates. But we do know that Forma Restaurant and Cheese Bar is shooting for a February opening as indicated by the announcement that was recently placed on the plywood covering the space. I’ll keep checking…
Update: Forma is now open. formarestaurant.com
Die-hard fans of über famous chef Thomas Keller can once again rejoice. Bouchon Bistro in Beverly Hills is bringing back the cult-producing buttermilk fried chicken served at another Keller landmark, Yountville’s Ad Hoc. You can procure the popular poultry, served with “seasonal accompaniments” on the first and third Monday of every month. Read more about Keller’s empire here.
I’ll be toasting all my readers at midnight tonight as we look forward to yet another year of LA food scene craziness. And I’ll be right there with you in 2015… Let’s see what happens next. Until then, thanks for reading and Happy New Year! Cheers!
Landing softly in a neighborhood restaurant scene that runs the gamut from Valentino to Weinerschnitzel, Viet Noodle Bar has now opened at 3221 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica. The space used to be the home of now-defunct Bite Bar & Bakery. The humble little Southeast Asian eatery already has one location in Atwater Village and offers a menu of rice and noodles, pho, and sandwiches that you can check out here.
The food scene continues to sputter in the Santa Monica Place Mall, despite the upcoming ArcLight Cinema and Cheesecake Factory. The latest evidence? Wetzel’s Pretzels appears to have quietly slipped out of its third floor space. But fear not: If you find yourself craving the doughy treat, you can easily find other locations, including the one just one block away in The Promenade by looking here.
Toddrickallen is grateful to all who visit this blog and wishes all his readers Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas filled with laughter, joy, and of course, delicious food! (The diet can start Monday…)
With one location already on Main St. in Santa Monica, it looks like cheery little Sunny Blue is expanding into Culver City, right next to the upcoming Humble Potato at 12608 West Washington Blvd. (corner of Mildred). Sunny Blue specializes in omusubi (otherwise known as onigiri) which are Japanese-style balls of rice filled with various fillings and eaten with the hand, hence their tagline “this place has balls”. But the environmentally aware mini-chain also offers salads, noodles, and frozen yogurt. No word on an opening date, but until then, read more here.
I recently noticed that a new restaurant is going into the freshly renovated space that used to house a discount store at 11030 Washington Blvd. (corner of Tilden) in Culver City. While the sign doesn’t mention a name, looks like they’ll be offering “delicious acai bowls”. There’s no indication of when the new superfood restaurant will open, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
Signs recently went up announcing that a brand spanking new branch of locally-based java behemoth Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will soon be taking over the space on the southwest corner of the hyper-busy intersection of Wilshire and Federal in West LA. Seems like an interesting choice for location given the craziness of the traffic and lack of parking. No word on an opening date but I’ll keep checking…
I just noticed the signs up at 219 Arizona (Third St. Promenade) in Santa Monica announcing the future arrival of a brand new venture, Creams & Dreams Ice Cream Shop. The space had recently housed clothing boutique Hydrate and previously Frey Wille. Not much news out there yet and no word on an opening date, but I’ll keep watching…
Toddrickallen 