A reader (Thanks SG!) sent me concerns about Sawtelle’s cavernous temple to shabu-shabu Mizu 212. A hastily written note taped to the front door says they are closed for remodeling. Nothing has been touched inside for a bit now, and… well, hopefully I’m wrong, but we’ve seen this before. I’ll let you know if anything changes.
If you follow this blog, then you know about Westwood Village’s recent alarming deluge of restaurant closures. Add two more to the list: El Pollo Loco has vanished from its location at 1081 Gayley, and for all intents and purposes Coco Fresh Tea & Juice has stopped functioning. If you have any information on why the sudden exodus of eateries, let me know…
(Thanks Ivy for the tips!)
I went by to check out what was going on at 12222 Venice Blvd. after I got a tip from a reader (Thanks Ivy!). Sure enough, Top Chef Brooke Willliamson’s artisanal ice cream shop Small Batch has closed up shop. You can still get their proprietary icy treats at Playa Provisions in Playa del Rey.
Well this came as a bit of a shock… After what seems like, well… forever (in reality, 26 years), it appears that Santa Monica’s branch of retro diner Swingers has thrown in the towel at its 802 Broadway location. So what happened to the neighborhood’s fave late night hang out joint? A note affixed to the front door cites rising labor and food costs, and operating expenses as the culprits.
Westwood has been a whirlwind of openings and closings recently… but mostly closings. Paper is now covering the windows of two more eateries: Westwood’s branch of Ike’s Love and Sandwiches has unceremoniously darkened 1151 Westwood Blvd. Yelp is reporting them closed, but they’re describing themselves as “temporarily closed”. And paper is covering the windows of House of Meatballs at 1076 Gayley. A note posted on the front door says they are “freshening up”. A reader (Thanks Mark!) pointed out to me that they don’t answer the phone, and they haven’t posted anything in social media for months. We’ve seen this before. All too often, “temporarily closed” means “permanently closed”. We wish them the best of luck.
The space at 9465 S Santa Monica Blvd., set squarely in a notoriously tricky stretch of The Golden Triangle for restaurants, has seen its share of eateries come and go. The latest to go? It was back December of last year that I told you about the new pressed juice joint, Organica, that had recently opened. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it a year. A reader was quick to point out that they have now vacated the address. I’ll keep watching to see what other brave contenders may attempt the space…
Having long occupied the commodious space at 11500 Santa Monica Blvd, popular Mediterranean restaurant Safir Santa Monica has closed its doors for good. Large for lease signs plastered across the front confirm the sad news. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what may move in…
Well this was a shocker… After having anchored the Westwood Village food scene since, well… forever, Falafel King has closed up shop at 1010 Broxton Ave. I’m not sure what took out the neighborhood institution, but a gracious handwritten note on the door thanks their loyal supporters for “50 wonderful years” and suggests that they are looking for a new location.
I heard from a saddened reader (very sorry JS) that the diminutive Japanese restaurant popular with locals, Necco, has closed up shop over the weekend in Westwood. Necco burst onto the scene in 2014 with a concept of healthy Japanese tapas and a minimalist interior. The website gives no explanation, but confirms the closure. All may not be lost though: The website also promises new projects. We wish them the best of luck.
This doesn’t happen very often… It appears that the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has closed its popular free-standing location at 1500 Westwood Blvd. I’m not sure what happened, but there is construction going on at the location. We’ll have to wait and see…
The Culver City mercurial food scene continues its rocky ride… There’s a big for lease sign in the window of what used to be Signature Burger at 3835 Main St. in Downtown Culver City. Could it be due to the new Burgerim about to open just a few doors down? I’ll keep watching to see what may take its place.
Well this is a shocker… I’ve been hearing from readers who were astonished to learn that West LA landmark Lenny’s Deli abruptly shut its doors for good over the weekend at their 2379 Westwood Blvd. location. Sure enough, a hand-written note pasted on the front declares that they are “officially closed”. I’m not sure what has happened, or what will become of the massive space, but I’ll keep watching…
Update: Eater has the full skinny here.
As you can tell if you read this blog, it’s been a hard Summer for restaurants… But seriously, what’s going on in Westwood? A quick jog around the Village left me gobsmacked, with no less that four restaurants recently deceased. Last week I told you about the disappearance of long-standing Westwood anchor Tanino. But add to the list Nushii, Lollicup, and perhaps most surprising, Spireworks. If you recall, Spireworks burst on the scene back in 2016 and caused a stir by introducing The Westside to its signature Turkish döner (spit-roasted meat). I’m not sure why the sudden exodus, but I’ll keep watching.
Beverly Hills can be a tricky location for casual lunch spots. Sadly, one that has survived the sturm und drang for 10 years recently closed shop. A gracious note on the front door lets us know that Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop has quit its location at 9671 Wilshire Blvd. Greenleaf has six other locations across the LA/OC area.
Well this came as a bit of shock, but longstanding red sauce joint Tanino Ristorante Bar appears to be finished at 1043 Westwood Blvd. Tanino anchored the mercurial Westwood food scene for 20 years, but sadly paper is now covering the windows. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
Competition for dairy-based treats in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center is stiff. The latest victim? While I’m not entirely sure when it happened, I’ve noticed that Yagourt & Bougatsa has cleared out of their space in the kiosk just outside of their parent restaurant Petros. It seems that all in not quite settled in Century City yet…
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Shawn!), I went to check out what was going on at Mediterranean eatery Allspice Kitchen & Grill at 7501 Sunset in West Hollywood. Sure enough, a large for lease sign on the front and gutted interior confirm that they have indeed closed. Their Yelp page promises a temporary closure, but I think it’s safe to say there looks to be little hope of that…
I recently heard from a reader (Thanks Steve!) that Brentwood neighborhood fixture Wahoo’s Fish Taco was going to close at 11911 Wilshire Blvd. after a nearly 20 year run. For lease signs point to the sad fact, but a notice on the door confirms that they will indeed close at Summer’s end. All may not be lost though, according to the notice, they are looking for a new space somewhere nearby…
This is sad news… It was only in January of last year that I noticed that a branch of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern mini-chain Grilliant was taking over the old Panini Café space at 10861 Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood. They opened shortly thereafter. And now, after a little more that a year, it appears that they have given up the ghost. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but a note in the window confirms the closure and extends their gratitude.
The Lord giveth French restaurants, and the Lord taketh away French restaurants… In sad news, it appears that after 25 years, quiet neighborhood charmer Le Petit Café will be closing their doors for good on May 11th. Here is their gracious good-bye note to their devoted fans:
“It is with sadness that we inform you that our last day of business will be Saturday, May 11th, 2109. After much deliberation, we have decided to close. This was not an easy decision by any means, as Le Petit Cafe is our second home, our loyal employees and customers are our second family. We have had the pleasure of serving you all for these last 25 years and they are 25 years we will forever hold close to our hearts. Thank you for your support.
Affectuesement.
Robert Bourget.”
We wish them the best of luck…
Toddrickallen 