I noticed recent activity at the in-store restaurant on the third floor of Santa Monica Place’s outpost of Nordstrom. It appears that what was formerly Blue Stove is transforming into a “casually sophisticated” bistro, Bazille. It looks like they’re not too far from opening, but until then, you can compare menus here.
It wasn’t that long ago that The Little Door Santa Monica turned into L’Ami in their sunny location at 246 26th St. in Santa Monica. Well, I don’t know what happened, or exactly when it happened, but I recently noticed that they have pulled up stakes entirely. The website says that they are closed for renovations, but that is all too frequently code for “permanently closed”, which is precisely what Opentable says. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
I’ve been watching the space at 1128 Wilshire Blvd. that used to house a Polish deli to see what would develop. Paper recently went up in the window informing us that First Spoonful is moving in. First Spoonful is currently operating as a home meal delivery system designed with busy parents in mind. In their first retail location, you’ll be able to find meals, snacks, and take cooking classes with your kids. They’re shooting for a Fall opening.
The other day I noticed an interesting sign recently installed on the upstairs space in The Gallery at 1315 3rd Street Promenade where Subway used to reside. Still covered with plastic, the sign resembles a license plate and bears an inscrutable jumble of consonants that appear to say “starfish”. It also bears a very famous name, Voltaggio. After much online searching, I was able to uncover only one single clue: On page 35 of the Downtown Santa Monica Annual Report (you’re welcome for searching this document, it’s written on the very last page.), you’ll see this single sentence, “Two new and exciting chef-driven concepts will follow, James Beard Award winner Dave Beran’s Dialogue and STRFSH by the Voltaggio Brothers.” And that’s as much as I can find…
Update: Eater has more details here.
Further Update: Voltaggio STRFSH is now open.
It looks like a new contender is vying for the attention of hungry lunchtime workers in the busy food scene of El Segundo. Il Romanista recently opened in the space at 829 N. Douglas St. that used to be the home of ZPizza. The new restaurant claims that it is the first to bring Roman-style pizza al taglio to Los Angeles. Pizza al taglio is baked in large rectangular pans and cut into squares with large scissors that you can see in the photo below. Read more about them and check out their menu here.
This is one of those times that I vastly underestimated the excitement over a story… Ever since I told you about Little Asia’s impending return to Hawthorne, the interest has been astonishing. You may recall that the beloved purveyor of Asian food closed down on the corner of El Segundo and Hawthorne after a devastating fire some three years ago, and most thought that was the end of the popular restaurant. Then back in March of this year, I noticed that they appeared to be behind a new build out at 4624 W. Imperial Highway in Hawthorne, a stone’s throw from the old location. So, for all of you who have been carefully checking for details and demanding answers, I have this happy news: Little Asia is now open at their new location. An ABC application in the window means you’ll soon be able to toast their exultant return with beer and wine.
I recently saw a notice at the construction site at 2800 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Harvard) in Santa Monica that lets us know a branch of natural foods grocer Erewhon in intent on inhabiting the new building. This will be their fourth location. I’ll keep checking their progress, but as you can see, it looks like they’ve got a ways to go before opening.
I’ve been watching the diminutive space at 13050 San Vicente Blvd. suite 108 (corner of 26th) in Brentwood ever since Starbucks closed up shop there earlier in the year. Signs recently went up on the façade informing us that expanding über-hip roasters Blue Bottle Coffee will soon be inhabiting the address. And sooner than you think: According to their website, they’ll be handing out free coffee this Saturday for their pre-opening sneak peak “community day” starting at 9am.
You could be forgiven for not seeing much happening in this photo. But looks can be deceiving… Hiding behind this humble and signless façade, at 2821 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica, is the Westside’s newest and much-anticipated Vietnamese restaurant Blossom, that I first told you about back in April. You’ll be pleased to know that they are now open and dishing noodles Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. 
Well that certainly didn’t take long… It was only just a couple of weeks ago that I told you about the disappearance of short-lived Couscous A Gogo at 9533 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Wasting no time whatsoever, a branch of LA’s Soom Soom Fresh Mediterranean has taken up residence and is currently in soft opening. Expect a menu of falafel, shawarma, kebob, and hummus plates.
I’d thought that we’d begun to see a slowdown in world poke domination, but maybe not… A window notice at 8338 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester informs us that Northridge’s Fishbowl Poke Co. is quickly setting up housekeeping. I’ll keep watching to see when they begin dishing fish.
International lifestyle brand Joe & The Juice continues its inexorable conquest of the hip juice scene in LA. First came news back in April that a location was landing on Melrose. Then I noticed window paper in Beverly Hills. And recently, yet more window paper has popped up on the corner spot of San Vicente and Montana in Brentwood, right next to Alfred Coffee at 11906 San Vicente Blvd., announcing the Danish company’s impending arrival. When will the “hunky guys” start pouring? We’ll have to watch and see…
Well this was a bit of a surprise… After 20 years, consistently popular Blue Plate has quit their busy location at 1415 Montana Ave. as of last week. Not sure what happened, but nearby Blue Plate Taco and Blue Plate Oysterette remain open. Read their goodbye message here, and I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
The strip mall on the corner of Lincoln and Pico in Santa Monica is a popular one: It sits close to SaMo High. Many of the restaurants vacated their spaces as the complex closed for a major remodel. Now the fast food is beginning to trickle back in. It looks like the burger chain about to release its IPO, Fatburger, is diving in, as is Buffalo’s World Famous Wings, and Firehouse Subs.
It wasn’t that long age that I first told you about a new North African-influenced restaurant going into the space at 9533 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Lasting a little over a year, it sadly appears that Couscous A Gogo has vacated the location. The awnings have been pulled down, their phone number no longer works, and the space is being gutted. This is a tough stretch of Santa Monica Blvd: puffy meringue people Bo Nuage recently quit their space, and remember Beverly Hills Beignet? I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
I’ve been watching the build-out on the corner space of 10959 Kinross Ave. in Westwood since May of last year, when I learned that something called D1 Café was moving in. After an extensive remodel of the location, they are now up and running. Look for a menu of kabobs, pizzas, and salads.
I recently noticed that something called simply The Seafood Bar is landing on the second floor of the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach, which by the way is looking forward to a major remodel. Not much information out there on this, but I’ll take a wild stab in guessing that fish will be on the menu. I’ll keep watching as more develops…
Those of you looking for a quick sandwich fix in Brentwood might have to go a bit farther afield. It looks like quotidian sandwich chain Subway has vacated the space at 11762 San Vicente Blvd. Not sure what happened or what may take over the location, but I’ll keep watching…
Recently I noticed plywood covering a smallish space at 4410 Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City, and a banner announcing the impending arrival of something called Harujuku Taproom. As it turns out, this modest beginning will be a branch of a popular Tokyo chain of craft beer izakaya restaurants featuring Baird Beer. According to the website, we can expect a menu of “traditional light izakaya fare and an assortment of meat & vegetable skewers (kushiyaki) grilled right before your eyes”. No word on an opening date, but until then, you can get a glimpse of what the finished product will look like on their Facebook page…
Since I first told you about the mysterious ABC license posted on the tony space at 408 N. Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills, a great many of you have been checking for details, so here you go… I recently heard from a spokesperson from the Napa Valley winery listed on the application, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery. She informed me that the winery is opening an elegant tasting salon at this location that will showcase their white and red varietals of Bordeaux. I’m told the space will evoke a “modern French parlor complimented by Napa Valley chic” with bistro tables, a palette of black, gold, and white, and a custom bar that will serve flights, glasses, and bottles of wine. They’ll be running their salon through August of next year. Look for the opening soon. You’re welcome.
Toddrickallen 