Category Archives: News

Tacos Por Favor Replacing Cock N’ Bull In Santa Monica

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Ever since dusty British-themed watering hole Cock N’ Bull closed at 2947 Lincoln Blvd., I’ve been peppered with questions about what would take over the address located in the quickly gentrifying section of Santa Monica.  Recently construction has been fast and furious at the site, which stands only a block away from a much-anticipated branch of Tartine.  One of my readers, (Thanks Jeff!) employed some excellent sleuthing skills to uncover the new tenant.  Apparently, Tacos Por Favor will be soon fill the space.  While I don’t have confirmation, there is a “surrendered” ABC application listing the Tacos Por Favor at this address. Tacos Por Favor currently operates three locations on The Westside and offers a menu of tacos, burritos, tortas, tostadas, and combos.

Palm Restaurant Waves Goodbye To Beverly Hills

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It’s always sad when Beverly Hills loses one of its historic dining institutions….  I’m hearing from shocked readers that celebrity hangout and industry powerhouse Palm Restaurant has closed its legendary doors at 267 N Canon Dr Suite A7.  I went by to gaze upon its faded glory, and sure enough, all signs have been pulled down from the iconic steakhouse.  I’ll keep my eyes on the location to see what may develop, but in the meantime, read about their storied history and get very, very nostalgic…

(Thanks Jonny!)

Little Hawaii Juice Bar Coming To Downtown Santa Monica

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There’s strange window paper up on the space most recently occupied by Belgian confectionary experts KC Chocolatier.  1431 B 2nd St. is covered over with photos of various bowls, tropical images, and bold letters promising “Juice, Smoothie, Bowls”.  Santa Monica Daily Press clears up the mystery by naming the new business as Little Hawaii Juice Bar.  Get the skinny in their article here.

Nuvola Bringing Pedigreed Italian To Brentwood Village

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There’s a new ABC application on the front of the space at 145 S Barrington Ave. in Brentwood Village.  The name of the new eatery is Nuvola, but that doesn’t bring up much on a search.  The license details reveal two names, Luca Crestanelli and Roberto Facciolla, both of whom are associated with local Italian powerhouse Toscana Restaurant Group.  I don’t know what is exactly in store (the window display seems to imply more of a deli), but definitely exciting news for the tony, exclusive neighborhood.

Rabano Bringing “Fresh And Healthy” To Main St.

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The space at 2507 Main St. in Santa Monica has been a bit of a mystery for the last few years.  Once the home of Novel Cafe, the space has been gutted with intermittent construction.  Readers assured me it was either going to be a restaurant, or bar, or something, but I could never verify anything… until now.  A sign recently went up over the door announcing the arrival of Rabano Handcrafted Food & Drinks.  Rabano has a location in Hermosa Beach and has a “fresh and healthy” menu of salads, bowls, and sandwiches that utilizes local ingredients and focuses on the environment.

Lei’d Cookies Opens Saturday In Culver City

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It was only a little over a month ago when I told you about the arrival of popular cookie purveyor Lei’d Cookies to 8588 Washington Blvd. in Culver City.  Wasting no time whatsoever, they are opening this Saturday, Oct.7th.  Doors open at 3pm and there will be gifts for the first 50 people.  We wish them the best of luck…

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Opening A New Santa Monica Location

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I’ve been reporting on the closure of many local The Coffee Bean & Tea Leafs in recent years.  All the closures seemed to be a pattern and I was afraid that that didn’t bode well for the java franchise.  But lo and behold, a brand new CBTL is moving into the old deli space in the medical building at 2021 Santa Monica Blvd (corner of 20th St.).  Could this begin a refresh for the storied SoCal coffee chain?

Panda Express Opening A New Location In Marina Del Rey

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Congratulations Good People of Marina del Rey, mall-quality Asian food is heading your way!  There’s a banner hanging on the commodious space on the corner of Lincoln and Washington announcing the arrival of food court fixture Panda Express.  Right now the space is gutted so you may have to wait a bit for your orange chicken…

Galvin Bakery & Cafe Coming To Montana Ave.

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There’s a new restaurant coming to the diminutive space at 625D Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, formerly home to a Subway.  The window paper names the new eatery as Galvin Bakery & Cafe.  There’s not much info out there on Galvin, but it appears coffee, alfajores, sandwiches, and salads will be on offer.

Roca Pizza Disappears From Palisades Village

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I first told you about Roca Pizza‘s arrival to 1061 N Swathmore in Pacific Palisades back in April of 2022.  It took them a while to open, which they did about six months ago.  Sadly, they have already given up the ghost at this location.  They had planned on another location in Waterside Marina del Rey, but I haven’t heard if that will still happen or not.  Roca Pizza was a project from California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) Co-founder Rick Rosenfield and his wife Esther that featured pies with long-refrigerated dough baked in imported Italian ovens.

(Thanks Ron!)

House Of Mandi Bringing Yemeni Food To Westwood

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It caused quite a stir when I reported that New York’s noodle expert Dun Huang was moving into the former El Pollo Loco space at 1081 Gayley in Westwood Village.  For whatever reason, that never happened.  Now the address appears to be getting a new tenant.  Signs are already up announcing the arrival of House of Mandi.  House of Mandi has a location in Anaheim and specializes in Yemeni food which you can read more about here.

B & T’s Deli Bringing Plant-Based Subs To Montana Ave.

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There’s new window paper up on the space at 912 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica.  This address was previously home to the popular salad joint Greens Up!, which mysteriously vanished only days ago.  The new business, B & T’s Deli, will specialize in “casually gourmet” plant-based subs.  We wish them the best of luck.

Honey Krush Replaces Kung Fu Tea In Westwood Village

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That didn’t take long…  It was only last month when I told you about the disappearance of Kung Fu Tea and TKK Fried Chicken from the diminutive space at 1136 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village.  Wasting no time, a new purveyor of organic drinks, Honey Krush, has quickly set up housekeeping.  If they’re not already open by the time you read this, they will be shortly…

PokiTomik Blows Up Westwood With “Explosive Poke”

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A reader wrote to tell me that a new bolthole is dishing raw fish in Westwood Village. PokiTomik is now open at 1135 Westwood Blvd. and offers a menu of bowls, burritos, and tacos.  PokiTomik began in Glendale in 2017 and has spread to 15 locations across SoCal.  They have made it their mission to “blow up the community with the freshest and most wholesome ingredients to make the most explosive poke”.

Big Fish Little Fish Swims Out Of Century City

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The mercurial Food Court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center can be tricky.  Many eateries have come and gone from the notorious second floor location.  Add one more to the list: Big Fish Little Fish Poke is now no fish.  As you can see, the space is boarded up. (Thanks TF!)

We Roll Nori Now Dishing Fish In Westwood

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The unassuming space at 10912 Le Conte Ave in Westwood Village has seen a number of food and drink vendors come and go.  The most recent (I believe) was Ichi Tea & Sushi, and before that, Coco Fresh.  Now a new contender is giving the tricky space a go.  We Roll Nori has set up housekeeping at this address and is delivering a menu that focuses on onigiri, misubi, and hand rolls. 

Uncle Stevey’s Bagels Bringing East Coast Style Bagels To El Segundo

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Congratulations Good People of El Segundo, carby goodness is heading your way!  There’s an awning up on the space at 213 Richmond St. in Downtown El Segundo letting us know that Uncle Stevey’s Bagels is moving in.  Uncle Stevey’s will offer a menu of classic and seasonal (think cheddar hot honey and rosemary garlic) East Coast style bagels that promise a “quintessential crunchy exterior and chewy interior”.  Looks like they’re shooting for a late Summer opening.

Mochidoki Finally Opens On Montana

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Well that certainly took a long time…  We all know that opening a new eatery in Santa Monica can be an arduous affair.  The latest business to make it through the gauntlet is Mochidoki at 1133 Montana Ave in Santa Monica.  Just in time for the Labor Day weekend, they finally threw open their doors in a soft opening yesterday.  Read more about the East Coast company with mochi ice cream so good they supply the likes of Nobu and Tao in my original post here.

Tartine Bakery Opening On Lincoln In Santa Monica

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Congratulations Lucky People of Santa Monica, you’re getting a new branch of cult fave San Francisco bakery Tartine.  If you’re craving an impossibly flaky croissant and the lines are too long at their ridiculously popular spot at 1925 Arizona Ave., you can soon head over to their new location at 2903 Suite 110 Lincoln Blvd, in the new The Wilson development.  There are bright orange banners in the windows announcing the happy news.  This is a developing story…

G’s Il Capo Dei Bar Coming To El Segundo

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Yet more from white-hot El Segundo….  There’s a new watering hole coming to the space at 225 Richmond St. in Downtown El Segundo, in the old Deluca Pasta location right next to the sleek new steakhouse Porterhouse.  The name of the new establishment will be G’s Il Capo Dei Bar according to the banner and the barely legible ABC application for a “general eating place”.  What Now Los Angeles was able to dig up a bit more information which you can read here.