It’s that time of year again. This from my inbox:
MAINopoly: A Taste Of Main Street This Sunday
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Category Archives: News
Oltremare (Spruce And Oak) Coming To Beverly Hills
A mystery! When longtime local favorite Caffe Roma closed at 350 N Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills, it left a gaping hole in the block. Window paper has gone up announcing the replacement restaurant as Oltremare. However, an ABC application recently went up on the front listing the new business as Spruce and Oak. I can’t find much on either name, so if you know more pass it along.
Levain Bakery Coming To Beverly Hills
Crazy popular Levain Bakery continues its LA expansion. There’s window paper up at 130 S Beverly Dr, previously home to a poke shop, announcing the latest branch. Levain Bakery began in NYC in 1995 and has since grown to a smattering of locations around New York and other locations including Larchmont Village, and a new location in Venice. They are famous for ridiculously good handmade cookies that they describe as, “crispy, chewy, soft and melty”.
Azur Bringing “Art De Vivre” To Beverly Hills
It appears a new breezy French charmer is moving into the space at 453 N Canon Dr., most recently home to LA’s branch of Tatel. The name of the new restaurant is Azur, and the website describes it as French Mediterranean. While we’re waiting for the promised “treasured experience, beyond laid-back summer living”, put yourself in the mood by checking out their trop cool Spotify playlist here.
(Thanks M!)
Slizeria Pizza Coming To Sawtelle Japantown
It looks like a new pie option is coming to the space at 11301 W Olympic #117 in Sawtelle Japantown. A snazzy new sign and build-out are announcing the arrival of Slizeria. Slizeria appears to be a new restaurant promising pizza by the slice or pie with “fresh ingredients & unique flavors”.
(Thanks Vanessa!)
Pérse Coming To Brentwood
I usually don’t write about news that I can’t confirm, but I’m hearing this from so many sources that I’m going to pass it on. Brentwood Gardens, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd., is becoming a dining destination. There is already an outpost of pasta expert Ospi (which consequently has a new location in Montecito), and lunch spot Sweetgreen. Recently, I told you about the possible arrival of Cafe Landwer. And on the third floor, construction is underway on what may soon be Pérse. I don’t have much information other than the name, so if you have more, let me know.
GGiata Landing In Brentwood Soon…
Yet more Brentwood news… I heard from a sharp-eyed anonymous reader that a new sandwich spot will be taking over the old New York Bagel spot at 11640 San Vicente Blvd, in the Town & Country shopping center. While there’s no signage up yet, the website confirms that GGiata is moving in. With five other locations around LA, GGiata bills itself as an “East Coast-style Italian deli”. Check out their menu of sandwiches, salads, breakfasts, and seasonal items here.
Community Goods Coming To Brentwood
There is a lot of news coming out of Brentwood lately. I had been hearing that Beverly Grove’s crazy popular coffee shop Community Goods was opening in Brentwood, but I couldn’t find any proof. There’s nothing visible from the street. Thankfully, a sharp-eyed reader sent me the evidence. If you look carefully at the floorplan of the shopping center that is being remodeled on the corner of San Vicente and Montana Ave, the location is revealed. Community Goods in moving into a back space of The Lawn, at 11911 San Vicente. Expect a focused menu of coffee drinks and breakfast and lunch choices such as breakfast sliders, turkey or tuna sandwiches, toasts, and banana bread. Read this review to get a glimpse of what is coming. Watch this space for more Brentwood news soon…
Malou Coffee, Niko Sando Raising The Bar In Brentwood
Brentwood is getting some seriously fresh new food and drink options. Adorable drinks shop Malou Coffee recently opened at 912 S Barrington. Malou Coffee specializes in a “carefully curated selection of single origin coffees and unique blends” as well as ceremonial grade matcha from the Uji region near Kyoto Japan. Right next door, a new sandwich spot is about to open. Niko Sando promises “authentic handcrafted Japanese sandos” including katsu sando, egg salad sando, and wagyu sando.
Junior Cookies Bringing “World’s Freshest Cookies” To Santa Monica
It appears that a West Hollywood popular baked treat spot is opening a second location in Santa Monica. According to their Instagram post, construction is halfway finished on the new Junior Cookies, moving into the former Sweet Rose Creamery space at 2726 Main St. Promising “the world’s freshest cookies”, Junior Cookies offers flavors such as Banana Pudding, KitKat Tiramisu, and Salted Almond Chocolate Chip. The window says they’re aiming for a Spring/Summer opening.
Cafe Landwer Coming To Brentwood?
Ever since the beloved California Pizza Kitchen in the Brentwood Gardens, at 11677 San Vicente, closed their long-standing second floor location last year, readers have been demanding answers. The space has been leased, and the directory on the ground floor lists the new tenant as Cafe Landwer. This real estate website appears to confirm this. With a nearby location in Century City, Cafe Landwer started out as a coffee bar in Germany in 1919, later moving to Israel, where it continues to roast coffee and operate a number of locations. Expect a menu with a variety of choices including shakshuka, bowls, schnitzel, burgers, pizza, and pasta.
Niche Lands A Neighborhood Coffee Shop.
I just noticed that Abbot Kinney’s popular coffee truck Niche has landed a cozy neighborhood brick-and-mortar. Their new awning is up at 712 Washington in MDR, formerly home to a realty company. It appears that they are ready to open with “coffee, matcha, tea, milkshakes & superfood smoothies” as well as breakfast and baked goods on offer.
SoCal Vibes Co. Bringing Beachy Chill To Downtown Santa Monica
Construction is fast and furious at the site of the old Craftsman bar at 119 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. An ABC application on the front lists the new business as SoCal Vibes Co. This is the tap room/restaurant branch of Carson’s very own Honest Abe Brewery. With locations in the South Bay and Venice, SoCal Vibes Co. offers “unique food and beverage offerings in a beachy, chill atmosphere” with live music and game nights.
Paradise Bowls Bringing A “Wholesome Escape” To MDR
There’s window paper up on one of the storefronts in the everchanging landscape of the Waterside Marina del Rey shopping center announcing the arrival of Paradise Bowls. Paradise Bowls is a local company with locations Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and another expected outpost in Westlake Village. Their website promises a “delicious and wholesome escape” with a menu focused on acai and pitaya bowls and smoothies. Looks like they’re aiming for a summer opening.
The Courtside Lounge Coming To Downtown Santa Monica
There’s construction and a new ABC application at 123 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. This address has been a number of different eating places over the years with the most recent being Monty’s Good Burger and Thai Dishes before that. The ABC application lists the new “beer & wine eating place” as The Courtside Lounge. Other than what I would imagine will be a sports theme, we’ll have to keep watching for more details.
Levain Bakery Opens In Venice On…
This from the folks at Levain Bakery, at 1161 Abbot Kinney Blvd:
Levain Bakery on Abbot Kinney will open Friday, April 4th!
“And as a special flavor… we will be offering our Black & White Chocolate Chip Cookie ONLY at the Venice bakery, for a limited time
Our co-founders, Connie McDonald & Pam Weekes will be here for the occasion
We’re doing a ribbon cutting at 8am
The first 100 people in line will get a free Levain tote bag!
ALL proceeds from our opening day will be donated to St Joseph Center in Venice.”
Cafe Knotted Bringing Happiness And Donuts To Century City Soon…
Good news Century City, donuts are heading your way! The little kiosk on the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, near Zinqué, has been the home to a number of different projects including Brandini Toffee and most recently Brique French Toastery. Window paper recently went up proclaiming a new tenant. Cafe Knotted is planning on dishing fresh donuts from this location starting in April.
Very Thai Bringing Modern Thai To Century City Soon…
Something new is arriving to the second-floor location of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, previously home to California Pizza Kitchen. Colorful plywood is announcing a Fall 2025 opening of Very Thai. I’m not able to locate any information on Very Thai, and even the usually up-to-date Westfield website doesn’t yet mention it, so if you have answers, please pass them on. According to the plywood, what we’re promised is, “A taste of the very best modern Thai cuisine perfected and cherished over 30 years by one of the world’s largest Thai culinary leaders.”
Update: A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Karen!) spotted this: https://asamnews.com/2023/10/30/major-expansion-into-united-states-taiwan-restraurant-conglomerate/
Bru’s Wiffle And Flapjax Diner Collab in Santa Monica
As a public service announcement, I feel compelled to tell you the news about everyone’s favorite weekend brunch spot, Bru’s Wiffle, at 2408 Wilshire in Santa Monica. Frequently seen with lines out the door, Bru’s has decided to team up with another brunch power spot across the street, Flapjax Diner (same owners). According to a notice on the door, they will be operating at Flapjax Tuesday through Thursday from 8am to 2pm. Then on Friday through Sunday, they will be back at their original location from 8am to 3pm. Now you know…
(Thanks Debbie!)
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Will Close In Brentwood On…
To The Good People of Brentwood comes this unhappy news: I’ve confirmed that beloved local institution, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, at 11698 San Vicente Blvd, will permanently close this Sunday, March 23rd. While many disheartened fans have written to tell me this news, one reader (Thanks Steve!) reminded me that CBTL actually began in Brentwood, albeit not at this location. He also informed me that this address was previously home to the All American Burger featured in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. You have just a few hours left to drop by and grab one last oat milk latte… and contemplate the historic neighborhood loss.
Toddrickallen 