While they recently closed their location in Century City, looks like Charley’s Philly Steaks will soon be opening another branch in the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Charley’s Philly Steaks is the same company as Charley’s Grilled Subs, which was the name of the location in the Century City Shopping Center.) Read more about the sandwich chain and check out their menu here.
Wasting no time whatsoever, a new venture is going into the space at 1518 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica that used to house pizza restaurant BricoLA, that only just closed in May. While I can’t find out a lot of information, the still-developing website and posters in the window seem to indicate that the new restaurant offers “super tasty super foods” that are gluten-free, easily vegan or Paleo, and come in the form of a “KyeRito”, which I’m assuming is a wrap of some sort. I’ll let you know more as it develops…
First I heard rumors… then a tip from a reader… And now finally confirmation from a spokesperson for 41 Ocean in Santa Monica make it official: Red O, which was originally reported to have been going into the Ma’Kai space, will instead be taking over 41 Ocean on the corner of Colorado and Ocean in Santa Monica. 41 Ocean, which was the public restaurant for the private lounge in the back, launched in November of last year but never really took off. Now open only for private events, the space will begin to be developed by Red O in the near future, bringing Rick Bayless’ signature brand of Mexican cuisine to the beach. No word on any dates, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
Cookies and Books, the popular purveyor of literary encouragement, children’s parties, and sugary treats that closed down a while ago at 2230 Main St. in Santa Monica is looking to reopen at across the street at 2309 Main, according to announcements posted in the window of the new location. Looks like they’ll be sharing the block with Rawvolution and Rita’s Italian Ice. No word on an opening date, but I’m sure loads of local children (and parents) are waiting with bated breath…
Perhaps due to Silicon Beach, coffee houses are rapidly increasing in Santa Monica… Thanks to a tip from a reader, I ventured over to the check out yet another Starbucks under construction at 1705 Ocean Avenue unit C (but really located in the back of the new Waverly building on the corner of Olympic and Main). It appears that this Starbucks will be selling beer and wine in addition to lattes, according to the conditional use permit posted in the window. Located right next to the new Tongva Park, this might be the perfect place to sit with a glass of Ferrari-Carano and try the Starbucks Evenings menu, that you can check out here.
If you thought that the construction on Tommy’s Original Hamburgers on the corner of Lincoln and Pico indicated a remodel, think again. Looks like Tommy’s is out and the space is being rebuilt as a brand new Starbucks, giving us further evidence that Santa Monica, and even this bleak section of Lincoln Blvd., is rapidly developing. Not that surprising, except that the burger stand has anchored that corner for over 20 years.
And while we’re on the subject of the Marina Marketplace at 13450 Maxella Avenue in Marina Del Rey, it appears that yet another new eatery is joining the second floor line-up along with Ruth’s Chris. Announcements are up indicating that a branch of Florida-based national chain RA Sushi Bar Restaurant will soon be arriving. Ra offers a menu of (of course) signature sushi, bowls, bento boxes, and plates, all served in a “sexy environment” with a “big side of Anything Can Happen” that you can read more about here.
With locations throughout the US and a couple already in the LA area, the iconic and staid palace of fine dining Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse is expanding into Marina Del Rey in the Marina Marketplace at 13450 Maxella, second floor, according to recent announcements that have gone up on the expansive space and on the Markeplace website. Until their Summer 2014 opening, read more about the classic elegant steakhouse here.
For being such a sleepy town, El Segundo certainly sees a great deal of restaurant activity, mostly to fuel the local aerospace and airport industries. The latest to hit the scene is a brand new Indian restaurant named Mandovi that recently opened in the shopping center on the corner of El Segundo Blvd. and Sepulveda (150 S. Sepulveda). Not much information about the fledgling eatery yet, but I’ll keep you posted…
This weekend only, vegan chain Native Foods Café is dishing up a special sandwich, the Cauliflower Power Sub, consisting of roasted cauliflower, red onions, sweet red peppers, smashed chickpeas, arugula and creamy Spanish Romesco sauce all on a multigrain baguette served with special seasoned fries and a fresh watermelon slice for $10.75. Available July 4th and disappearing after July 6th, you can check out more on their website here.
Its official: Construction is underway and signs are up in the window confirming that LA’s very own branch of East Coast cult favorite Dunkin’ Donuts will soon be arriving on the corner of 12th and Wilshire in Santa Monica. Offering a menu of their much-lauded sugary treats and fetish-inducing coffee as well as breakfast and lunch sandwiches, this will be the first LA outpost of what appears to be a major expansion into the West Coast. No word on a projected opening date yet, but until then, read more here.
Continuing its inexorable conquest of the West LA juice scene, Kreation Juicery will soon be providing cold-pressed libations to the juice-starved folks of Marina Del Rey. Signs recently went up in the space at 4716 1/2 Admiralty in the Waterside Shopping Center announcing the impending arrival. Until then, read more about the rapidly expanding company here.
The antioxidant-packed goji berry is having its moment right now. Not since kale have we seen anything in the vegetable kingdom become so au courant. And now they’ve even gotten a namesake shop: Goji Juice + Vitamins opened this week at 408 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. Check out their menu of “organic, fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, healthy food, supplements, and more” here. 
I’ve been watching the space that used to house now-defunct sports bar South at 3001 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica for a while now. First, it was reported that a new farm-to-table restaurant was to take over. Then, late last year we learned of legal problems with the previous tenants and so it has sat empty for a long time. Now a new branch of popular SoCal restaurant chain Maria’s Italian Kitchen has quietly slipped into the space and opened last week. However the website states that this is only a temporary pop-up to service the needs of the poor people of Brentwood while the Maria’s location there is closed for remodeling because heaven knows there is no other place to eat Italian in Brentwood…
Fresh Healthy Café is now open in the space that used to house Sushi Itto in the food court of Santa Monica Place. With locations throughout the US, Canada, and the world, the eco-friendly chain offers a menu of wraps, grilled panini, salads, soups, smoothies, and fresh juices that you can read more about here.
If you’re looking for something to do near the beach on Saturday, June 28th from 11:00am to 3:00pm, check out the California Cook-Off at Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica. The cooking competition will be judged by Chef Ben Ford (Ford’s Filling Station) and there will be cooking demos, free samples, and a host of prizes from event sponsor Dole and Weber Grills. Check out more about the cook-off here.
While there continues to be about a billion branches of Mexican chain Baja Fresh located across the LA area and the country, recently we’ve seen their number decrease somewhat. The latest casualty appears to be the long-standing outpost located in the Manhattan Village Shopping Center on the corner of Sepulveda and Rosecrans in Manhattan Beach. Find other locations and read more here.
It was slow, it was painful, and we all saw it coming: With stories of a Chapter 11 late last year, the exodus of staff to other Italian restaurants across town, and gossip of no wine inventory, it seemed that Villetta had been doomed for a while. And now comes the final sad news from a piece of paper propped up in the window that Villetta closed on Friday, June 13th. Open in the old Chez Mimi space (246 26th St.) since March 2011, everyone was hopeful for a long successful run, but that, however, was not meant to be. All is not lost though, as the paper in the window does seem to hint at a reopening at some point in the future, so we’ll just have to see. Until then, you can read my original review here.
The scene on Friday evening…
Charming little lunch boîte Café Lucy, on the corner of Lincoln and Wilshire (1227 Lincoln) in Santa Monica, has posted signs indicating that they have temporarily closed down for renovations. Long a favorite of the local business crowd, they are planning on being back up and running in July. Until then, their other location is still open on the corner of Wilshire and 7th.
The latest to throw their hat into the juice ring, Orchard Flats Cold Pressed Juicery officially opened its doors to the spoiled-for-choice residents of Santa Monica on Monday. With a smattering of stores across LA, their newest is located at 705 Montana Ave. and boasts an organic selection of antioxidant, detox, and anti-aging blends as well as cleanses, elixirs, and a honey bee line that you can read more about here.
Toddrickallen 