I looks like the hungry aerospace employees in El Segundo have a new food option. PCH Mexican Grill & Seafood is now open in the shopping center at 831 N Douglas St. Expect a menu of burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and salads. An ABC application in the window indicates that beer and wine are soon on the way as well. We wish them the best of luck.
While I’m not quite sure when it happened, it appears that something has moved into the former home of Beaming at 1426 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. The location now sports a sign that declares Discovery Bar by Earthbar as the new resident. Expect a “healthy holistic supply” of vitamins, lattes, bowls, juices, smoothies, and grab-and-go meals.
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Rhonda!), I went by the shopping mall on the corner of Palisades Dr. and Sunset in Pacific Palisades to see what was going on. Sadly, it appears that popular neighborhood eatery Taste has completely disappeared from its location at 538 Palisades Dr. I’m not certain about the other location on Melrose in West Hollywood. If you have any more information, let me know…
Update: See comment below for info on the Melrose Taste.
I heard from a deeply saddened reader (Sorry RK…) that innovative java shop Balconi Coffee Company had permanently closed its doors at 11301 W Olympic Blvd. #124. Sure enough, the space is gutted and there’s a gracious note affixed to the front (that you can also read here) explaining their reasoning. Apparently, Balconi was a pioneer in the use of the siphon method for making coffee. All is not lost though, the note promises that they are looking for a “safe time and location to reopen” and in the mean time they will be doing pop-ups and event collaborations. We wish them the best of luck…
We all wait with bated breath for Los Angeles’ branch of celebrated Italian emporium Eataly to return to its pre-COVID glory. I’m told, however, that there will be at least one significant change. One of the signature restaurants, Il Pesce Cucina, is apparently being axed. The replacement? Sources say the new eatery is being described as “Mediterranean”. Here’s hoping we can explore it ourselves soon…
The marquis with the mustachioed chef announced Iranian restaurant Javan for many years at 11500 Santa Monica Blvd. Then Javan transformed into another Persian eatery Safir, which closed last fall. But apparently all is not lost for the plucky purveyor of Persian food. Notices are taped to the windows triumphantly declaring that “Javan is back”. What that looks like exactly, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
With so much bad news lately, it’s refreshing to see plucky new restaurants chancing the uncertain times. With locations up and down California, Taiwan fruit tea experts Yi Fang have recently opened at 2010 Sawtelle in Sawtelle Japantown. Expect a bewildering array of choices that includes besides fruit tea, tea latte, milk tea, “salty cream”, Yakult tea, and other traditional drinks. We wish them the best of luck.
It was only back in June when I told you about the sad disappearance of popular gelato spot Grom from its location at 3888 Cross Creek Rd. in Malibu. Wasting no time whatsoever, a new caffeine and icy treat shop has sprung up in Grom‘s former digs. Electrically named Joules & Watts Coffee recently opened and is offering their proprietary specialty weekly-roasted coffee as well as ice cream. We wish them the best of luck…
I love a good teaser campaign… We can tell that a new cafe and bakery is on the way to 2024 Broadway in Santa Monica because of the prominent banner and window display. They just neglected to tell us the name of the new spot, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see what it will be called. Apparently we can expect breakfast, lunch, European pastries and cakes.
In its previous incarnations, the space at 184 N. Cannon Dr. has been various restaurants, a jazz club, and even a macrame lounge. But they’ve all gone by the wayside, perhaps due to being upstaged by perennially glam next door neighbor Spago. Now it appears a plucky new contender is about to give the tricky location a go. An ABC application on the front is announcing that something called Nusret Beverly Hills is intent on moving in. What should we expect? I’m not certain, but perhaps there’s a clue here. We wish them the best of luck.
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Jeremy!) I went by to check out what was going on in the bolthole space that used to be the home of L Kitchen at 952 Gayley in Westwood Village. Sure enough, paper is covering the window and informing us that something is coming. While I can’t read the writing on the front, one small detail is written in English: Let’s Go 4 Tea, which I’m guessing is the name. I assume that this will be another tea and boba shop. If you have other information, let me know…
We all know The Beverly Hills Hotel. And we all know The Palm. But the Beverly Hills Palm Hotel? Well, that’s the unlikely business name listed on an ABC application pasted to the front of the diminutive former home of the Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop at 9685 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Since I can’t find out much information or any links to either of these two storied Beverly Hills institutions, I’m afraid we’ll just have to wait and see what develops…
A few years ago when it opened, Ippudo caused quite a stir with its tonkotsu ramen that was a huge hit in New York. But things have changed. Ippudo is no more. And what’s next for the space at 1403 2nd St.? Why none other than expanding dumpling and noodle chain Dan Modern Chinese. According to their website, they’ll also be opening in Playa Vista and Manhatten Beach soon as well. 
It was a little over two years ago that I told you about the arrival of “Japanese izakaya” restaurant Kopan Ramen to the space at 1091 Broxton in Westwood. Sadly, it appears that they have given up the ghost. All signs are down and plywood still covers the front. I’ll keep watching to see what may develop.
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Michael!) I went by to see what was going on in the new commercial development at 3008 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica. It took me a while to spot the sign, but it appears that something called Kohi Cafe is coming to the corner spot on Stanford. Can’t find much information on the new restaurant, but I’ll keep watching…
On a tip from a reader, I went by the site of the erstwhile Brentwood Restaurant & Lounge at 148 S Barrington to see what was going on. Sure enough, the previously understated exterior has been transformed into a bright and sunny facade announcing the arrival of a new venture, Baja Norte. The website lets us know that this is a new project of chef Bruce Marder (West Beach Cafe, Rebecca’s, The Rooster, Capo). Apparently, Baja Norte was born out of an exploration of his “Mexican food roots” during quarantine. You can check out the menus and read more here.
A new ABC application recently went up on the front of the currently closed-for-renovation Viceroy Hotel on the corner of Pico and Ocean in Santa Monica. While it doesn’t give us the name of the restaurant, it does promise that an eatery will be coming to the iconic property. You may recall that The Viceroy’s previous restaurant was called Whist and subsequently Cast, and in the past has been helmed at different turns by Tim Goodell and Tony DiSalvo. The website says the name of the new restaurant is Sugar Palm Ocean Avenue, and you can catch a glimpse of it through the front door. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
The story that has garnered the most interest on this blog recently has been the disappearance of neighborhood coffee shops, and in particular, the mass extinction of SoCal’s beloved The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Thank you to all the readers who sent me news that the CBTL at 9th and Wilshire in Santa Monica has now also succumbed. There is still one extant Coffee Bean in the Third St. Promenade, and I went in today to have a look. The lack of customers, and low inventory of food left me wondering what its future may be… What’s going on? I’m not certain, but perhaps there’s a clue here.
As you know if you read this blog, coffee shops are getting hammered right now. Peets, The Coffee Bean, and even Starbucks have all been closing locations recently. And now it looks like the newish Bluestone Lane is leaving its location at 9523 S. Santa Monica, in the Golden Triangle. The large for lease sign in the window appears to confirm it.
I first told you about the arrival of seafood bar Shuck House to the food court of the Century City Shopping Center back in 2018. Sadly, it appears they have given up the ghost. Plywood is now covering the space. I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
Toddrickallen 