Monty’s Good Burger Landing In Downtown Santa Monica

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Congratulations, Good People of Santa Monica, exceptional plant-based burgers are heading your way!  There’s a small hiring notice on the front of the erstwhile home of Thai Dishes on Broadway at 123 Broadway.  It lets us know that popular plant-based Monty’s Good Burger is moving in.  Monty’s has locations across LA and specializes in hand-breaded plant-based chicken sandwiches, fries, tots, shakes, and an artisanal vegan burger that is so good, it landed them a spot on Eater’s list of Essential Los Angeles Burgers.

Mixt Coming To Downtown Santa Monica

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You may recall the corner spot at Fourth and Santa Monica Blvd. from the nightly news after an arsonist torched the place in May of 2020.  Back then, it was the home to Sake House by Hikari which decided not to return to the location at 401 Santa Monica Blvd.  The space had been undergoing renovation since then, and now window paper lets us know the new occupant: MIXT.  MIXT has locations throughout California and in Scottsdale and Dallas. They offer a menu of chef-crafted salads, market plates, sandwiches, and bowls, as well as a “design your own” concept featuring “whole, honest, pure foods”.

Capri Gelato Giving Away Free Gelato All Weekend Long in MDR

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The good folks at Capri Gelato & Coffee Bar asked me to pass this along:

“Capri Gelato & Coffee Bar will be announcing some major news over Labor Day Weekend.  To celebrate, they are treating all guests in Marina del Rey to a complimentary mini cup of their unique and homemade Passion Fruit Goat Cheese flavored gelato all weekend long.”

Passion fruit goat cheese is their wildly popular proprietary gelato flavor that is “similar to a passion fruit cheesecake: a perfect balance of sweet, and sour yet still creamy“.  Sounds like an excellent way to cool off this hot Holiday Weekend.

Capri Gelato is at 4222 Lincoln Blvd. in Marina del Rey.  The deal runs from Friday September 2nd through Monday September 5th.  Their hours are Friday-Sunday 7am-9pm, and Monday (Labor Day) 7am-8pm.

McConnell’s Bringing Icy Treats To Downtown Santa Monica

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Santa Barbara’s finest, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, is opening a location in Downtown Santa Monica.  There’s a now hiring notice posted in the window of of the diminutive space at 1456 Third Street Promenade, most recently home to ice cream shop Somi Somi, and Pinkberry before that.  For over 70 years, McConnell’s has been producing what some call the “best ice cream in the world” using simple, straight-forward ingredients.  It looks like they’re close to opening…

Kreation Quits Brentwood

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It appears that juice and cleanse experts Kreation Organic has cleared out of its location at 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood.  That leaves another gaping hole in a block that used to contain many eateries.  I’ll keep my eye on the location to see what may develop.  And yes, I’m still watching the former Pizzicotto space which appears to have been leased. (Thanks Eric!)

The Brothers Sushi Now Dishing Fish On Montana Ave.

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Ever since I first spotted the ABC application over a year ago, people have been demanding answers about an opening date for The Brothers Sushi at 1008 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica.  The Brothers Sushi is the insanely popular high-end sushi spot in Woodland Hills and folks were excited by the idea of getting a branch on the Westside.  I’m happy to report that they are now in soft opening. Their hours are: Tuesday through Friday 12pm to 2pm and 5:30 pm to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday for dinner only from 5:30 to 9:30.  You can snag a rezzie by calling (424) 330-0270 or locating them on Tock.  You’re welcome.

La La Rice Bringing Thai To Sawtelle

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A sign has gone up at 11688 Gateway Blvd. (corner of Barrington) announcing that a new Thai eatery is coming to the Sawtelle neighborhood.  La La Rice appears close to opening.  I can’t seem to find out a lot about the new restaurant except that they have applied for a beer and wine license, so I guess we’ll have to wait on details.

Update: I’ve since heard from the good people over at La La Rice who asked me to pass along this link to their website.

(And yes, it officially is in “Sawtelle”, I carefully checked.)

Subway Disappears From Montana Ave.

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While no one was looking, the tiny branch of massive sandwich chain Subway quietly slipped out of its long-time location at 625D Montana Ave.  And why does this matter?  While this may be welcome news to some, this particular branch served as one of the very last quick and inexpensive lifelines for employees on a street that has been completely taken over by expensive restaurants, high-end delis, and fourth-wave coffee joints.  I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what may move in.  

Kalaveras Coming To MDR, And Just About Everywhere…

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Cantina Urbana Kalaveras is sure having a moment.  They recently opened their location in Santa Monica.  Now a reader spotted a banner up on the old Jerry’s Deli in Marina del Rey that says they are taking over the long-troubled space at 13181 Mindanao.  And that’s not the end of the story:  They are planning a major expansion across SoCal.  Besides their current eight outposts, their website lists no less than 13 new locations in the works including Burbank, North Hollywood, and Long Beach.  Kalaveras offers an immersive El Dia de Los Muertos celebratory fast/casual concept with “Latin American culinary classics” and a focus on mixology. (Thanks Jennifer!)

Kitchen Of Korea Coming To Torrance

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A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks LaShonda!) noticed a new sign at Torrance’s erstwhile branch of burger joint Stacked.  It appears that someting called Kitchen of Korea is taking over the space at 3525 W Carson St. in the Del Amo Fashion Center.  Self-described as a steakhouse, the website promises us “boundless menu options consisting of freshly prepared meats, seafood, and vegetables” with “traditional Korean ban-chan (side-dishes)”.

Chipotle Disappears From The Golden Triangle

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I’ve been hearing from shocked readers that everyone’s favorite grab-and-go burrito joint has abruptly pulled up stakes at 475 N Beverly Dr.  A notice on the front door informs us that Chipotle has unceremoniously quit the space that was previously the longtime home of a Baja Fresh.  Wasting no time, something has already leased the location so I’ll keep watch to see what may be taking over. 

Sogno Toscano Bringing “Tuscan Dreams” To Santa Monica

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Something fresh and new is coming to the tiny space at 1512 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica.  Windowpaper covering the front lets us know that Sogno Toscano is moving in.  And what is that?  While the name might not be immediately familiar, they are the “USA’s largest Italian online food store”.  Maybe you’ve even spotted their delivery trucks ferrying their wide selection of Italian meats, cheeses, pasta, and oils.  While they currently have a coffee and wine bar in New York, this location is being described as a “lifestyle cafe, wine bar, & specialty market”.  (Thanks Kurt!)

Japonica Now Open In El Segundo

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Excited readers have been letting me know that there’s a great new sushi/ramen place open in El Segundo.  While I’m a little late in the game in reporting this, Japonica is now open at 229 Main St.  Japonica has two other South Bay locations and offers a solid menu of Japanese favorites such as sashimi, tempura, bowls, and rolls.

Ugo Opening A Trattoria In Downtown Santa Monica

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The space at 1237 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica has seen a number of eateries come and go.  Years ago it was a Greek restaurant, then a BurgerIM, and most recently, a hot chicken place was slated to move in.  But apparenty that fell through…  Italian specialists Ugo Cafe has long had a relationship with Downtown Santa Monica.  Originally, they had a shop in Santa Monica Place.  Then they moved to 1400 Third Street Promenade.  And now, they are opening a new location at 1237 3rd St.  As you can see, the sign displays the new business as Ugo An Italian Trattoria.  A spokesperson assured me that this will be their second location in Santa Monica (and third in total), and whereas their current Promenade location is more of a “grab and go” concept, the new location will be more of a “fancy” sit-down restaurant.

LAX75 Coming To Culver City…

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People are demanding answers after an ABC application went up on the front of the beloved theater most recently home to ArcLight at 9500 Culver Blvd. in Culver City.  Here’s what I can find out so far…  It appears that Amazon is taking over the historic theater.  And there will be food as well.  The ABC app lists the name of the new business as LAX75, and the primary owner is listed as multinational foodservice company The Compass Group.  There are a lot of rumors swirling around, so if you have more concrete info, please pass it along. (Thanks John!)

Erratum: This story originally reported the new restaurant as French 75.  Thanks to all the readers who took the time to let me know. 

Lotus Dim Sum Dumpling House Opens Today…

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It was back in March of this year that I told you about what was going to fill the cavernous hole left by the shocking disappearance of P.F. Chang’s on the corner of Wilshire and 4th in Santa Monica.  Wasting no time whatsoever, Lotus Dim Sum Dumpling House has fully moved into the location and is throwing open their doors today, July 27th at 12:00pm.  Along with recently-opened popular Osteria Del Fornaio on the opposite corner, Lotus is bringing a much-needed injection to a struggling Downtown Santa Monica dining scene that was hit hard by pandemic closures.  We wish them the best of luck.  You can check out Lotus’ menu here.

Sauced BBQ & Spirits Bringing Axe Throwing To El Segundo

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Yes, you read that headline right.  There’s a new pork purveyor coming to the former home of Salt Creek Grille at 2015 East Park Pl in Plaza El Segundo.  With a smattering of locations throughout CA, Sauced BBQ & Spirits is promising us “authentic slow-cooked Southern BBQ”, but that’s not all…  We’re also being promised “axe throwing” at this location, which you’ll just have to read more about here.  And yes, you can drink alcohol while throwing axes because, well, why not?

Dunkin’ Donuts Comes To Westwood Village

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The troubled corner space at 1001 Gayley in Westwood Village was most recently and briefly the home to juice shop Qwench, and before that it was a branch of Coffee Bean.  Now a reader (Thanks Kiko!) wrote to tell me that a new coffee joint is taking over to location.  It appears that national chain Dunkin’ Donuts will soon be dishing breakfast pastries and sugary coffee drinks to the good people of Westwood.