Honor Wines And Spirits Now Open In BH

Posted on October 8, 2014 by toddrickallen

If you’ve ever marvelled at the fact that you can get a bottle of Frank Family chardonnay for $34 at South Beverly Grill, or Shafer at Hillstone in Santa Monica for $65, then you are well acquainted with the fact that the wine buyers at the Hillstone Restaurant Group (Gulfstream, Houston’s, R & D Kitchen, etc.) know what they’re doing. Now’s your chance to take advantage of their expertise… Just to the left of their South Beverly Grill and Honor Bar, Hillstone has quietly opened a retail store, Honor Wines and Spirits at 114 South Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. They offer a carefully curated selection and other perks such as no corkage in any of their restaurants when purchased from Honor, and table side purchase at SBG. I was thrilled to come across a personal favorite, Stuhlmuller.

NiBi Pho Bistro Coming Soon To CC…

Posted on October 6, 2014 by toddrickallen

With one location already in The Citadel in Commerce, looks like Vietnamese restaurant NiBi Pho Bistro is trying their hand with a Westside audience. Signs recently went up on the space that used to house Kichi Grill in the Century City Shopping Center announcing the impending arrival. Look for an opening sometime next week, according to the notice. In the mean time, check out some reviews here.

Goodbye Tomu Fish Sushi, Hello New Brazilian In MB…

Posted on October 3, 2014 by toddrickallen

I’ve just noticed that local fave take-out sushi joint Tomu Fish (formerly Kamiyama Sushi) has vacated its space across from the Manhattan Village Mall at 3001 North Sepulveda in Manhattan Beach. And the space has already found a new tenant. Not sure what the name will be, but according to the banner out front we can expect a new Brazilian restaurant soon…

Melisse Is Hosting The Chef From Paris’ Hotel Le Bristol In Late October

Posted on October 2, 2014 by toddrickallen

If you’ve ever had the good fortune of dining at Paris’ Michelin three-starred Hotel Le Bristol, I’m certain you remember it well; the richly paneled ambiance of the dining room, those incredible floral arrangements, the jaw-dropping array of bread stacked in the middle of the room, the harpist creating the perfect mood, and the amazing food (I once had a salad with a solid layer of Perigord truffles artfully arranged on top that was, in a word, heaven). Hotel Le Bristol is the very epitome of French elegance. And now is your chance to sample that experience closer to home. LA’s closest thing to those grand Parisian dining rooms, Melisse in Santa Monica, is hosting the chef from Le Bristol, Eric Freshon on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday October 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. Chef Freshon will be offering an elaborate seven course tasting and the cost is $195 (Mon Dieu… but it’s cheaper than a flight to Paris). Snag your reservation by calling (310) 395-0881 or following the links here, but I would move rapidement if I were you…

Native Foods’ “Mint For Mercy” Cookie…

Posted on September 30, 2014 by toddrickallen

Today only (Tuesday September 30th), when you purchase an entrée, side, and drink at Native Foods, you’ll get a free cookie. But not just any cookie… It’s two chocolate oatmeal cookies sandwiching a creamy mint filling that they’re calling the “Mint for Mercy” cookie. Why the curious name? Because part of the proceeds today go to help the charity group Mercy for Animals which works to prevent farm animal cruelty and raise awareness of food policy.

Obika CC Launches Its Weekend Brunch With Free Mimosas!

Posted on September 26, 2014 by toddrickallen

Starting this weekend, mozzarella-specialist Obika in the Century City Shopping Center is launching its first ever brunch from 11:30am until 4:00pm Saturday and Sunday. Promising a menu of “Old World and New World” dishes, they are upping the ante on the classics with a few new twists including pancakes as prepared by the ancient Romans, and French toast in the manner of Sardinian tradition. And to kick off their inaugural weekend, they are pouring complimentary mimosas. Make your reservation by calling (310) 556-2452.

Buddha’s Belly Bids Bye-Bye To Santa Monica…

Posted on September 25, 2014 by toddrickallen

After anchoring the corner of Broadway and 2nd in Santa Monica for six years, casual Asian eatery Buddha’s Belly has now closed. According to a letter posted in the window, the space will soon be inhabited by a new venture from the same people, The Independence Tavern. Look for an opening of the new “rebranded” restaurant in about two months.

True Food Kitchen Arriving In Manhattan Beach (El Segundo) In 2015

Posted on September 22, 2014 by toddrickallen

I’ve been keeping my eye on the colossal The Point development on the corner of Sepulveda and Rosecrans in Manhattan Beach/El Segundo, right next to Plaza El Segundo. Still mainly in the construction phase, their website promises a multitude of retail and restaurant spaces. There’s no official word on what companies will inhabit The Point, but if you scour the online brochure, the one restaurant that they mention by name is the Fox Restaurant Concepts’ True Food Kitchen. Job boards appear to confirm that the healthy/fresh chain is looking to open this branch in early 2015.

Update: True Food Kitchen is now open. Read more about The Point here. (07/30/2015)

Obika’s “Meet The Makers” Special Event

Posted on September 19, 2014 by toddrickallen

This Wednesday September 24th from 6pm to 8pm, Obika in the Century City Shopping Center is hosting a special dinner giving you a chance to rub elbows with those behind the scenes. The “Meet the Maker” event will include a mozzarella making and tasting, special menu, and chef demo. Guaranteed to fill up quickly, RSVP immediately to CenturyCity@westfield.com.

Meet Zoe Nathan And Josh Loeb This Friday

Posted on September 17, 2014 by toddrickallen

This Friday, September 19th you’ll have a chance to meet local food scene darlings Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb (Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry, Milo & Olive) as they present their brand-spanking new cookbook Huckleberry. They will be signing books and doing a cooking demo at the Santa Monica branch of Williams-Sonoma. W-S is at 1600 Montana Ave. and the event starts at 1:00pm, but you’ll def want to get there early…

Chick ‘N’ Ribs Now Closed In SMP

Posted on September 16, 2014 by toddrickallen

And here again we find ourselves in the midst of “Closure Season”, when the end of Summer beach crowds begin to dwindle and restaurants disappear right in front of our eyes. There have already been a fair number of recent closings: Elaine’s, Daily Grill, and Manchu Wok. The latest to join their sad ranks? Chick ‘N’ Ribs is now closed in the troubled food court of Santa Monica Place.

Elaine’s Bakery & Cafe Now Closed In Brentwood

Posted on September 11, 2014 by toddrickallen

Knowing all that goes into opening a restaurant, it is never happy news to report a closure. Sadly, it appears that after being open almost one year, Elaine’s Bakery & Café is now closed at 11677 San Vicente Blvd. Suites 315 & 317 at the top of Brentwood Gardens. And they wasted no time clearing out by the looks of things. This leaves two big empty spaces in the Brentwood Gardens, the other being the old Daily Grill space. (A reader informed me that rumor has it the Daily Grill space will be inhabited by a Mendocino Farms, but I cannot confirm this…)

Taste Of Venice This Sunday…

Posted on September 10, 2014 by toddrickallen

Mosey on over to the Beach this Sunday, September 14th for the Taste of Venice from 3:00pm to 7:30pm. Benefiting P.S. Arts and art education, the event gives you an opportunity to rub elbows with various local chefs and sample their wares for a good cause. Check out the full list of participating chefs and restaurants on the flier below or head on over to the website for tix and more info…

Starbucks Now Open On Olympic And Main In SM

Posted on September 5, 2014 by toddrickallen

Interesting how, in Santa Monica, a restaurant can languish for sometimes years awaiting city approval, but a coffee shop opens in minutes… It was only in mid-July, when I first reported that a new Starbucks was landing on the corner of Main and Olympic in Santa Monica. The big news here was the new “Starbucks Evenings” concept: at night, there would be a menu of beer and wine with nibbles. Wasting no time whatsoever, the new Starbucks is already up and running. However, they are not serving beer and wine just yet. They are awaiting approval after the City review hearing last week. So you’ll just have to wait a bit longer for your flatbread and glass of Ferrari-Carano…

Manchu Wok Disappears From SMP…

Posted on September 4, 2014 by toddrickallen

Looks like the local branch of Hong Kong-based Manchu Wok has closed up shop in the food court of Santa Monica Place. If life has now lost its meaning without their signature brand of “fast and fresh Chinese”, you can locate another branch here, although it appears that the nearest one is in Las Vegas. No word on what may replace it yet…

Dunkin’ Donuts Opening Tuesday… Panic Ensues… Updates!

Posted on September 1, 2014 by toddrickallen

It’s official: According to the signs posted in the window over the weekend, LA’s very own Dunkin’ Donuts is set to open at 5:00am on Tuesday, September 2nd at 1132 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of 12th) in Santa Monica. This will be the first outpost of what appears to be a major expansion into the West Coast. Look for a menu of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, fetish-inducing coffee, and, well… donuts.

Updates:

By 8:00pm Monday evening a line began to form…

And by 7:00am Tuesday morning, panic breaks out…News cameras, traffic jams, lines around the block!

The New Promenade Food Hall In SM…

Posted on August 29, 2014 by toddrickallen

Back in April, I told you about an impending remodel of the tired and dated Food Hall in the Third Street Promenade between Arizona and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica (1315 3rd St. Promenade). Well, for those of you who have been losing sleep wondering what the hall will look like, wait no more! Here’s an artist’s rendering of the shiny new Hall taken from the recently posted design review application…

The Market At Santa Monica Place’s Latest Closures…

Posted on August 28, 2014 by toddrickallen

Just when I began to have hope that with all the development on Ocean Ave. and the new theater going into the cavernous space just a few feet away, The Market at Santa Monica Place was beginning to take off, I took this photo earlier in the week. Sadly, it appears that culinary gadget shop Cook by Venokado is gone, and organic delivery company Santa Monica Merchant has ostensibly been abandoned. Said one nearby employee, “I haven’t seen anybody in there for a long time.” (Sigh)

Chick-fil-A Arriving Soon In Culver City

Posted on August 26, 2014 by toddrickallen

Looks like the sometimes-controversial purveyor of poultry sandwiches, Chick-fil-A is coming soon to Culver City. Construction is underway and signs are up on corner of Jefferson and Mesmer, just to the west of the 405. No word on an opening date yet…

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

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