Going into the old Ummba Grill space near the food court in the Westfield Century City Shopping center, Meizhou Dongpo, the Sichuan chain based in Beijing is predicting a November opening according to signs that recently covered over the original announcement for a now-past Summer opening. As to an exact date, we’ll just have to wait and see. In the mean time, you can try to decipher what I believe to be the website for the company: meizhou.com.
A few weeks ago, I told you about the planned November opening of a public restaurant attached to the private 41 Ocean Club in the old Bamboo Izakaya space at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Colorado in Santa Monica. Defying all Santa Monica odds, 41 Ocean Restaurant officially opens to the public today (Nov. 12th). Look for a menu of ceviche, crudo, salads, raw bar, and surf and turf. Here’s a glimpse at what you can expect from the Monday night launch party… 41oceanclub
Not long ago, I told you about the plans to turn a part of supplement and nutrition expert LA Urban Fitness at 3015 Main Street in Santa Monica into a café. LA Urban Fitness Café is now open at 7am daily. Look for a menu of smoothies, cold-pressed juices, Groundwork coffee, and snacks. laurbanfitness.com
For whatever reason, things have always moved slowly at Ferrarini, the charming little Italian deli at 9622 Brighton Way in Beverly Hills. When it eventually opened in 2012, it had been under construction for over two years. So it comes as no surprise that they are finally getting ready to offer beer and wine to accompany their menu of sandwiches, panini, and salads highlighting specialty regional products from Italy, as evidenced by their ABC application in the window.
Has your existential search for the meaning of it all gotten you down? The promise of “Life Fulfilled” is just around the corner at the upcoming branch of Sweet XO, the yogurt, candy, bakery concept coming soon to Plaza El Segundo (next to The Counter) at 3700B Allied Way in Manhattan Beach. With one location in Agoura Hills and three others slated for SoCal, The chain offers a stupefying array of treats from “xogurt” with 175 different toppings, to desserts, cupcakes, candies, and vegan and sugar free items in a bright, cheery environment. They also carry gifts and accessories. No word on an opening date, but until then, you can check out their website here.
Looking for more evening dining options on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica? Cozy little neighborhood newcomer The Courtyard Kitchen recently started serving dinner at 1211 Montana Ave. Their current hours are 8:30am until 10:00pm daily. Look for a Mediterranean-inspired menu of salads, large plates, and pasta and they allow you to bring your own wine. Check out their Facebook page here.
Looks like things are rolling right along on the joint effort by Brant Ng (The Spice Table) and Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan (Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry, Milo & Olive) going into the impressive and enormous deco Verizon building at 1314 7th St. in Santa Monica. The space will apparently become two different projects. One will be a café and retail space seating 49 indoor and 37 outdoor and the other a restaurant seating 242 indoor and 72 outdoor according to The Santa Monica Daily Press. The names listed on the ABC licenses are 7th Street Bistro and 7th Street Wine, but I’m told these are simply working names for the lease and may not be what they’re called in the end. They are shooting for a Summer 2014 opening.
What’s going into the old Campos Tacos space at 12201 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA? Our only clue is the red banner hanging above the door that reads Another Burger Joint and promises a welcome to both carnivores and vegetarians. Whether this is the name of the new restaurant or a teaser, we’ll just have to wait and see…
A brand new venture, Santa Monica Merchant is coming soon to the slowly revitalizing The Market at Santa Monica Place. Although there’s not a lot of information out there yet, they appear to be a go-to for community supported agriculture and are billing themselves as a “curated source for a daily selection of organic local meats, cheeses, and produce”. Read more at their still-developing website here.
This Tuesday and Wednesday, October 22nd and 23rd at all California locations, Veggie Grill is bringing back its “VG Virgin” days. Specifically, if you bring in someone who has never been before (the virgin), Veggie Grill will comp their entrée when you buy yours. All virgins must be accompanied by an “experienced” VGer and no solos. Read more at: veggiegrill.com.
Remember when there was an outpost of David Meyers’ macaron paradise Boule on Bedford Dr. in Beverly Hills? Well, that space at 413 N. Bedford Dr. has sat idle for a really long time, but that is about to change. Signs have gone up in the window announcing a new venture with a curious name, Comoncy is about to take over. According to the signs, we can look for a menu of espresso, pastries, salads, and sandwiches.
Longtime Third Street Promenade frozen treat fixture Angelato Café has closed down this week due to a lost lease after 10 years at 301 Arizona Ave. in Santa Monica. But all may not be lost for the little gelato shop as indicated by the sign in the window: They are promising a new neighborhood location soon…
Signs have gone up in the window of the recently closed Bamboo Izakaya space at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Colorado in Santa Monica announcing the expansion of the members-only 41 Ocean Club into the space as the new 41 Ocean Restaurant. What’s most astonishing is that according to the signs, the new restaurant is planning on a November opening. (Really? In Santa Monica?!) Read more at: 41oceanclub.com.
A few weeks ago I told you about a new restaurant under construction in the cavernous old LA Food Show space in the Manhattan Village Mall at the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda in Manhattan Beach. At the time, I couldn’t track down a name, only a parent company, VMI Services, but the construction people told me the name was going to be Brick Roast House. Well, they were fairly close as signs went up on the construction site recently announcing the name of the brand new restaurant is going to be Brickworks Roasthouse & Grill. No word on an opening date yet, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
If you’re a vegetarian (or even if you’re not) you’re probably a fan of prolific author, farmer’s market ambassador, and slow food advocate Deborah Madison. As well as being the founding chef of Green’s Restaurant in San Francisco, still an influential pillar of the Bay Area’s food scene, Madison has written numerous books, including the classic Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. Tonight (Tuesday 10/08/13) at the Santa Monica Public Library at 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Deborah Madison will be discussing her latest book Vegetable Literacy with Amelia Saltsman, author of The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook. The event will begin at 7:00pm in the MLK Jr. Auditorium and will be followed by a book sale and signing.
A brand new concept, Go Greek Yogurt is now open at 452 Bedford in Beverly Hills. Specializing in fresh and frozen yogurt that is flown in from Greece within 24 hours of its production, this storefront is the first of what they hope will soon be a chain. With toppings like carrot marmalade, quince, and rose jam produced only in June from a Peloponnesian monastery, this is not your average frozen yogurt stand. They also have a series of proprietary blends, parfaits, toppings sourced from local farms, and even a savory blend of yogurt with cucumber, olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and oregano served with pita in terra-cotta dishes. You can read more at: gogreekyogurt.com.
It appears that the little Japanese/Thai sushi restaurant iShushi at 12009 Wilshire Blvd. in Brentwood has quietly closed down. No word on a replacement yet, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
Et tu, Rockenwagner? And then there’s this from the window of Rockenwagner Bakery at 311 Arizona Ave. in Santa Monica… rockenwagner.com
OK… Admit it: With all those flashy pizzas out there (think Mozza, Gjelina, Sotto, South End etc.) you still occasionally find yourself craving an old-school “California cuisine” pizza alla Spago back-in-the-day, fast being forced onto the endangered species list. Sadly, one of the last places to get your fix, Wolfgang Puck Express in the Third Street Promenade (at Arizona) is now officially extinct. But there is one glimmer of hope as the sign in the window promises a future return to Santa Monica. Until then, you can still find the nostalgic pies in a few remaining places here.
(BTW Spago will still make you one if you ask.)
Signs are finally up and construction is fast and furious on the new pizza concept from the folks at Joe’s Pizza, Pizza Compangia at 1551 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica, although what you’re looking at here is actually the entrance at 135 Colorado Ave. It appears they’re running a little behind since they predicted a Summer opening, but by now we all know Santa Monica, so I’ll keep my eye on it… joespizza
Toddrickallen 