I’d like to take this moment to thank all my dedicated readers and everyone who visits this site and wish all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I’m very grateful to you for giving me the inspiration and support to keep exploring the excitement of the LA food scene. May your Holiday be filled with great food, family and friends, fun, and all manner of deliciousness!
You may have been wondering what was going on over at neighborhood fave Cafe Montana at 1534 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Recently, they closed down. Then a sign went up in the window that announced they were remodeling and promising to reopen soon. That sign quickly disappeared. Then came the black plastic covering the windows… According to a source, Cafe Montana will not be reopening, ending a 20 year long run. The space is being developed for a new venture, tentatively named Ox & Son by businessman, restaurateur, and owner of Westside Rentals Mark Verge, who recently opened Art’s Table in Cafe Montana’s sister restaurant, the now-defunct Babalu. No details on an opening date or menu, but I’m told the concept will be “high-end”.
We all know that Thanksgiving can be hard on the turkeys. Now you can help the pitiable poultry out: This Tuesday, November 25th, when you buy a main, side, and drink at Native Foods, part of the proceeds will go to Farm Sanctuary, an animal advocacy group that maintains shelters for the birds. For your kindness, Native Foods will give you a free dessert, their ginger snappy sandwich cookie.
Looks like a new venture, Basanti Tea Bar will soon be taking over the vacated Crumbs Bake Shop space at 9465 South Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Not much out there yet except a still-developing website and job listings, but apparently the company was founded in Monterrey, Mexico in 2008. Look for a menu of “more than 35 loose leaf tea mixes, exotic fruits and indulgent flavors”. No word on an opening date, but I’ll keep checking…
And while we’re on the subject of Westwood, I noticed that specialty waffle shop Honeymade Sweet and Savory has closed its doors at 10912 Le Conte Ave. No word on what’s taking its place, but I’ll keep you posted…
Koala Tapioca is in their final build-out and hiring phase and is poised to open soon at 10965 Weyburn Ave. in Westwood. Created by two UCLA alums, this is their first foray into brick-and-mortar after beginning in a truck named Koala Tea. Look for a menu of icy drinks, boba, and street food with strong Asian influences that you can read more about here.
It wasn’t that long ago that an old-timey nursery sat at 1255 Coast Village Road in posh Montecito, a relic of the now-tony street’s utilitarian past that has disappeared to accommodate the patrons of estates worth millions just a stone’s throw away. The nursery was demolished to make space for a new development that will house a branch of LA-based Hillstone Restaurant Group (Houston’s, South Beverly Grill, Gulfstream, Bandera), according to the ABC application posted outside. This will be a prominent national chain presence in the sleepy seaside town known for its fiercely local and independent restaurant scene. And while I can confirm neither an opening date nor the exact branch of the HRG, rumor has it that the new venue will be an R+D Kitchen.
I’ve been watching The Point, the upscale outdoor mall being built on the corner of Sepulveda and Rosecrans in Manhattan Beach/El Segundo. After a little bit of investigation back in September, I told you that True Food Kitchen would be moving into the colossal development in 2015. And now comes news, via the LA Times, of the other restaurants that will be on offer: Mendocino Farms, Superba Food & Bread, Shophouse, North Italia (which along with True Food Kitchen is part of the Fox Restaurant Concepts group), and a “restaurant and marketplace” from the founder of Pitfire Artisan Pizza. Look for the openings to begin sometime in 2015.
I think many on the Westside were astonished and perhaps a bit nostalgic when that popular destroyer of waistlines, The Cheesecake Factory, abruptly closed its doors in 2012 at 11647 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. It’s long been reported that The Coral Tree Café has been renovating the space to make way for a cavernous new steakhouse. And now we have a name… According to the sign tacked up on the plywood announcing a job fair, the new restaurant will be called Baltaire. No word on an exact opening date, but they appear to be getting close…
Well that didn’t take long… Back in June, I told you about a new “superfood” concept restaurant poised to take over the space at 1518 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica that used to house pizza restaurant BricoLA. And by some miracle of planetary alignment (for that’s what’s needed to open a restaurant this quickly in Santa Monica), Kye’s opened yesterday (November 5th). Look for varied menu of salads, shakes, smoothies, breakfasts offerings, and their proprietary “kyerito”, which is essentially a wrap of such favorites as BBQ pork, reuben, paleo tuna, as well as many veg and vegan options such as bean taco, and “Nahm Jim“, the latter consisting of “assorted veggies, herbs, lotus root, woodear, Nahm Jim fish sauce or Veg Nahm Jim sauce, hemp seeds, macadamia nuts, sliced almonds, red/black rice blend, and nori” (whew!). Read more and check out their complete menu here.
After what seemed like an extraordinarily lengthy remodel of the space that used to house long-gone salad joint Choppe Choppe at 368 N. Camden, smoothie and juice shop Liquid Nutrition has recently opened in Beverly Hills. This is the first US branch of the popular Canadian chain. You can expect a menu of proprietary specialty drinks with protein, herbal, or vitamin supplements as well as wraps, treats, and house-grown wheatgrass served by extremely friendly and helpful staff in a bright, cheery environment.
Back in February, I told you about the impending arrival of a new novelty and candy emporium to the space at 1427 Third St. Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica. After an extensive and lengthy renovation of the storefront, It’Sugar is now open. With over 70 locations worldwide, It’Sugar delivers a wild ride through the world of confection with such TV gag products as Sweddy Balls, Colon Blow, and sacchariferous versions of edible intimate apparel as well as classic and retro candies that you can read more about here.
As you can tell if you look carefully at the posted announcement in the window of the photo taken on Monday, Steak N Shake officially opens today (Tuesday, October 28th) on the corner of Broadway and Third St. in Santa Monica. Originally hailing from Georgia, you can read more the chain and check out their menus here.
Downtown Santa Monica continues to be a flurry of urban renewal. I’ve been carefully watching the development on the corner of 7th and Arizona, which until recently has been concealed by scaffolding and plywood. All that came down this week to reveal an ABC application in the window. With locations in West Hollywood and Downtown LA, looks like popular casual eatery Caffe Primo is expanding west, to 702 Arizona Ave. to be exact. No word on an opening date yet, but until that magical day, you can read more here.
And while we’re on the subject of Main St., things are about to get a whole lot sweeter. Right across from now-defunct Wildflour Pizza, construction is underway on a new candy kitchen and shop, A Real Treat Candy Boutique at 2724 Main St. in Santa Monica. With one store already at 10800 West Pico Blvd. in LA, ART promises a natural selection of house-made candies that are free of artificial sweeteners, with vegan, kosher, gluten-free, and allergy sensitive choices that you can read more about here.
Long-standing local institution Wildflour Pizza has finally closed its doors at 2807 Main St. in Santa Monica. Wasting no time whatsoever, construction is underway on what will shortly be a brand new “wine and beer garden”, I’m told. And while I’m not certain of the name, the design review lists Edmund Silkaitis, long associated with Café Montana, as the applicant. Look for an opening in about 30 days.
Back in April I told you about the impending arrival of a tony new wine shop on the corner of Little Santa Monica and Canon in Beverly Hills. Oenophile wonderland Heritage Fine Wines is now up and running at 9400 S. Santa Monica Blvd. and the reviews are (mostly) good. But the best part besides the wine? They are also carrying bread from Paris’ ridiculously famous boulangerie, Poilane.
Originally hailing from Sherman Oaks and with locations throughout SoCal, Sharkey’s Woodfired Mexican Grill is expanding further. The new location will be in the Villa Marina Marketplace Mall at 4371 Glencoe Ave., Space #16, in the cul-de-sac between Pavilions and CVS. No word on when their signature brand of “fresh, natural, and organic” Mexican food will be available, but until then, read more here.
Marina Del Rey’s very own branch of Florida-based national chain RA Sushi Bar Restaurant is now up and running in the Marina Marketplace at 13450 Maxella Avenue. While they are still waiting for their liquor license to come through, Ra offers a menu of (of course) signature sushi, bowls, bento boxes, and plates, all served in a “sexy environment” with a “big side of Anything Can Happen” that you can read more about here.
Earlier in the week I told you about a new Vietnamese restaurant’s anticipated opening in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. Good to their word, NiBi Pho Bistro is now up and running in the food court. With one other restaurant in the city of Commerce, you can check out their Facebook page here.
Toddrickallen 