This Tuesday and Wednesday, October 22nd and 23rd at all California locations, Veggie Grill is bringing back its “VG Virgin” days. Specifically, if you bring in someone who has never been before (the virgin), Veggie Grill will comp their entrée when you buy yours. All virgins must be accompanied by an “experienced” VGer and no solos. Read more at: veggiegrill.com.
Remember when there was an outpost of David Meyers’ macaron paradise Boule on Bedford Dr. in Beverly Hills? Well, that space at 413 N. Bedford Dr. has sat idle for a really long time, but that is about to change. Signs have gone up in the window announcing a new venture with a curious name, Comoncy is about to take over. According to the signs, we can look for a menu of espresso, pastries, salads, and sandwiches.
Longtime Third Street Promenade frozen treat fixture Angelato Café has closed down this week due to a lost lease after 10 years at 301 Arizona Ave. in Santa Monica. But all may not be lost for the little gelato shop as indicated by the sign in the window: They are promising a new neighborhood location soon…
Signs have gone up in the window of the recently closed Bamboo Izakaya space at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Colorado in Santa Monica announcing the expansion of the members-only 41 Ocean Club into the space as the new 41 Ocean Restaurant. What’s most astonishing is that according to the signs, the new restaurant is planning on a November opening. (Really? In Santa Monica?!) Read more at: 41oceanclub.com.
A few weeks ago I told you about a new restaurant under construction in the cavernous old LA Food Show space in the Manhattan Village Mall at the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda in Manhattan Beach. At the time, I couldn’t track down a name, only a parent company, VMI Services, but the construction people told me the name was going to be Brick Roast House. Well, they were fairly close as signs went up on the construction site recently announcing the name of the brand new restaurant is going to be Brickworks Roasthouse & Grill. No word on an opening date yet, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
If you’re a vegetarian (or even if you’re not) you’re probably a fan of prolific author, farmer’s market ambassador, and slow food advocate Deborah Madison. As well as being the founding chef of Green’s Restaurant in San Francisco, still an influential pillar of the Bay Area’s food scene, Madison has written numerous books, including the classic Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. Tonight (Tuesday 10/08/13) at the Santa Monica Public Library at 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Deborah Madison will be discussing her latest book Vegetable Literacy with Amelia Saltsman, author of The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook. The event will begin at 7:00pm in the MLK Jr. Auditorium and will be followed by a book sale and signing.
A brand new concept, Go Greek Yogurt is now open at 452 Bedford in Beverly Hills. Specializing in fresh and frozen yogurt that is flown in from Greece within 24 hours of its production, this storefront is the first of what they hope will soon be a chain. With toppings like carrot marmalade, quince, and rose jam produced only in June from a Peloponnesian monastery, this is not your average frozen yogurt stand. They also have a series of proprietary blends, parfaits, toppings sourced from local farms, and even a savory blend of yogurt with cucumber, olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and oregano served with pita in terra-cotta dishes. You can read more at: gogreekyogurt.com.
It appears that the little Japanese/Thai sushi restaurant iShushi at 12009 Wilshire Blvd. in Brentwood has quietly closed down. No word on a replacement yet, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
Et tu, Rockenwagner? And then there’s this from the window of Rockenwagner Bakery at 311 Arizona Ave. in Santa Monica… rockenwagner.com
OK… Admit it: With all those flashy pizzas out there (think Mozza, Gjelina, Sotto, South End etc.) you still occasionally find yourself craving an old-school “California cuisine” pizza alla Spago back-in-the-day, fast being forced onto the endangered species list. Sadly, one of the last places to get your fix, Wolfgang Puck Express in the Third Street Promenade (at Arizona) is now officially extinct. But there is one glimmer of hope as the sign in the window promises a future return to Santa Monica. Until then, you can still find the nostalgic pies in a few remaining places here.
(BTW Spago will still make you one if you ask.)
Signs are finally up and construction is fast and furious on the new pizza concept from the folks at Joe’s Pizza, Pizza Compangia at 1551 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica, although what you’re looking at here is actually the entrance at 135 Colorado Ave. It appears they’re running a little behind since they predicted a Summer opening, but by now we all know Santa Monica, so I’ll keep my eye on it… joespizza
Must be bad Feng Shui… When last we checked, the space vacated by Fraiche restaurant at 312 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica was supposed to be in development for a dubious Chinese restaurant named Face. Well, all that appears to have fallen through as evidenced by the disappearance of all references to the upcoming Chinese restaurant and the prominent display of brand new “For Lease” signs. We’ll have to see what develops…
It appears that the sleepy little oenophilic restaurant at 104 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica, 104 Wine Bar by the Ocean has quietly slipped out of existence. No word on a replacement just yet, but with all the recent openings in that area (Stout, Water Grill, Taberna Arros y Vi), I can’t imagine the space will sit idle for long…
The little Italian creamery and breakfast nook Spumoni Café at 715 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica that opened only about a year and a half ago is now a different establishment. Café de Paris has now taken over the space. You’d be forgiven for overlooking this: The café still sports the big Spumoni Café sign and looks exactly the same, the only difference being the new window signs, menu, and Tour Eiffel outside the front door. Apparently, the owner of Spumoni restaurant (next door) pulled out of the little café, leaving the other owner, who is French to take over entirely. Look for a menu of breakfasts, crepes, salads, and yes, the gelato stays. cafedeparismontana.com
Looks like things are about to change over at Susan Feniger’s Street. They recently announced that they will close down for a vacation at the end of September and will re-open after a “major shift”, with inscrutable promises that the adventurous restaurant celebrating world street food will “never be the same”. Until the closure, they’re going nostalgic with a Flashback menu featuring old favorites from the past 5 years that could be available for the last time. A restaurant spokesperson playfully refused to reveal what changes are coming and informed me that the entire staff have been sworn to secrecy so we’ll just have to wait and see what develops… eatatstreet.com
The latest branch of “fast fire’d” gourmet pizza restaurant Blaze Pizza officially opens today (Monday) in the Culver Crossroads shopping center at 4114 Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City. And to kick to kick things off, tomorrow (Tuesday) they’re offering free pizzas for Facebook friends from 6pm to 9pm. Read more here: blazepizza.
Still searching for a reason to try Seasons 52, the healthy-ish supper-clubby chain slowly making inroads into SoCal? How about this… Right now you can get a flight of three wines, followed by a full pour of whichever was your favorite and one of their signature flatbreads for either $15 or $20 (depending on the wine) daily until 6pm. Check out your choices and read more here.
Down but not out… After a late July fire closed local fave restaurant, singles scene, sports bar, and tourist trap Yankee Doodles at 1410 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, questions arose as to what would happen next. But you can’t keep this plucky little phoenix down as indicated by the signs and permit applications in the window. Looks like they’re planning a major remodel. No word on an re-opening date (this is SM after all), but I’ll keep my eye on it…
Neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot Red Heart Cafe is now up and running in Santa Monica at 3103 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. Check out their menu of breakfasts, salads, and sandwiches and read more about the family-run cozy cafe here: redheartcafe.com.
With one other location in Korea Town, boba, tea, and hookah concept shop Boba Bear has moved into the odd space by a golf store at 1861 S. Bundy Dr. in LA. The interior, designed to foster “open-mindedness” and “a cultured experience” is set with sofas and low tables and more resembles a living room that a restaurant. You can check out their menus and read more about their vision here.
Toddrickallen 