It looks like poultry purveyor Chick-fil-A is continuing its relentless conquest of LA. A massive space is being cleared for the new restaurant at 740 N Sepulveda in El Segundo. According to the Daily Breeze, the planning documents reveal that the new “single-story 4,996 square-foot restaurant will seat up to 118 people and include an outdoor patio”. The article also reports a new Chick-fil-A location in Redondo Beach as well…
Westwood has been a whirlwind of openings and closings recently… but mostly closings. Paper is now covering the windows of two more eateries: Westwood’s branch of Ike’s Love and Sandwiches has unceremoniously darkened 1151 Westwood Blvd. Yelp is reporting them closed, but they’re describing themselves as “temporarily closed”. And paper is covering the windows of House of Meatballs at 1076 Gayley. A note posted on the front door says they are “freshening up”. A reader (Thanks Mark!) pointed out to me that they don’t answer the phone, and they haven’t posted anything in social media for months. We’ve seen this before. All too often, “temporarily closed” means “permanently closed”. We wish them the best of luck.
The space at 9465 S Santa Monica Blvd., set squarely in a notoriously tricky stretch of The Golden Triangle for restaurants, has seen its share of eateries come and go. The latest to go? It was back December of last year that I told you about the new pressed juice joint, Organica, that had recently opened. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it a year. A reader was quick to point out that they have now vacated the address. I’ll keep watching to see what other brave contenders may attempt the space…
You may recall that a branch of Il Fornaio used to anchor the corner of Ocean Ave. and Colorado (where Del Frisco’s Grill now resides) until its closure many years ago. But now it appears that the beloved Italian bakery/restaurant is about to make its return to Santa Monica. The space at 401 Wilshire Blvd, suite 150, has just completed a major renovation, turning it into a bright and airy storefront with a large deck and a mid-century feel. Recently an ABC application was affixed to the front informing us that this will be the location of Osteria Del Fornaio, a slightly different business name, but the applicant is listed as the Il Fornaio America Corporation, parent company of Il Fornaio and Canaletto Ristorante Veneto. Right now, the space is completely gutted, so we may have to wait a while to find out more…
Having long occupied the commodious space at 11500 Santa Monica Blvd, popular Mediterranean restaurant Safir Santa Monica has closed its doors for good. Large for lease signs plastered across the front confirm the sad news. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what may move in…
Well this was a shocker… After having anchored the Westwood Village food scene since, well… forever, Falafel King has closed up shop at 1010 Broxton Ave. I’m not sure what took out the neighborhood institution, but a gracious handwritten note on the door thanks their loyal supporters for “50 wonderful years” and suggests that they are looking for a new location.
Santa Monica is white hot for new eateries right now… Now it looks like they’re about to get a new neighborhood caffeine joint. Construction appears to be nearing completion on Café de Mundo at 1502 Broadway. Crafted coffee drinks “inspired by how the world drinks it” and Farmshop pastries and sandwiches will be on offer. They’re shooting for a Fall opening.
We first got tipped off about Tartine’s expansion into Santa Monica by Eater, but no location was given. Then an excited reader recently spotted this, which seems to imply that Tartine will be landing in a new development on the corner of 20th and Arizona (1925 Arizona to be exact), site of the former Gates, Kingsley & Gates Moeller Murphy Funeral Directors building! So I went by to check things out. The funeral parlor closed a while ago, and the lot was sold. The expansive corner space is currently under construction, and an application posted out front indicates that a five story building will eventually stand on the corner. There’s no indication from the permits that Tartine will be part of the new development. So I reached out to a rep for Tartine, who confirmed that yes, they will be opening at this location. The medical/residential neighborhood at first seems an odd choice for San Francisco’s darling of rustic bread and pastries. But remember that Susan Feniger’s and Mary Sue Milliken’s upcoming project Socalo is only a block away, and sleek The Rooster is two blocks away, so it appears the area is turning into a something of a food destination.
I heard from a saddened reader (very sorry JS) that the diminutive Japanese restaurant popular with locals, Necco, has closed up shop over the weekend in Westwood. Necco burst onto the scene in 2014 with a concept of healthy Japanese tapas and a minimalist interior. The website gives no explanation, but confirms the closure. All may not be lost though: The website also promises new projects. We wish them the best of luck.
It was only last month that I told you about the disappearance of Yagourt & Bougatsa from the free-standing kiosk on the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. But it looks like the space is about to get a new tenant. Window paper is announcing that Brandini Toffee intends to set up housekeeping. Based in Palm Springs, this is the first LA location for the almond toffee makers featured on Oprah Winfrey’s O List, The Martha Stewart Show, and the Food Network.
It looks like popular Las Vegas Mediterranean chain Bok Bok Chicken is expanding its presence in LA. Back in June, they opened a location in Downtown LA. And now, a banner affixed to the front of a space in the Culver Crossroads shopping center on the corner of Washington and Sepulveda is announcing the expansion. Look for a menu of panini, pitas, and plates of shawerma, falafel, rotisserie chicken, with other Mediterranean specialties.
Plywood on the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center is announcing the impending arrival of Bake Cheese Tart. Originally hailing from Japan, the chain has locations throughout Asia and another US location in San Francisco. The website explains that the tarts start with a double-baked crust, into which goes fresh cream cheese from Hokkaido. They are produced in Japan, then flown around the world where they are baked in their retail stores. Apparently, they’re so popular that they sell one tart per second worldwide.
Update: Bake Cheese Tart opened on Saturday, October 5 to long lines and big crowds.
You could be forgiven if you thought that the food scene at the Westfield Century City Shopping Center has stabilized after the remodel. Latest case in point? The capricious food court is gaining a new resident: Fuwa Teriyaki Grill.
It was an astonishing 3 years ago that I told you about the development of the space at 1001 Gayley, erstwhile home of a Coffee Bean. Qwench Juice Bar has officially thrown open its doors and is now dishing juices, smoothies, bowls, sandwiches to the good people of Westwood. What on earth took so long? According to a spokesperson, investor issues and city permit problems are to blame.
What was in distant memory once a dusty old Third Street Promenade tourist pit stop, The Gallery Food Hall, has been systematically transforming into a remarkable food destination over the past few years. Joining such lofty names as STRFSH, Paperboy, Dialogue, and the fascinating Social Eats concept, there’s now another name to add to the list. Kameo Shave Ice has opened in the old Everytable space on the ground floor. But you’d better hurry, the website promises a “limited time” only.
About two years ago, the strip mall popular with SaMoHi students on the corner of Lincoln and Pico in Santa Monica underwent a major remodel. Some of the storefronts mysteriously remain vacant, but it appears that is changing. Work is fast and furious on a new restaurant moving into the corner location. A new sign promises us that Pita House will soon be bringing us “Mediterranean cuisine”.
I just noticed a new banner and sign in front of the space at 11737 W Washington Blvd. in Culver City. I looks like something named Green Apple Café is moving in. Not much information out there on Green Apple, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see what develops.
This doesn’t happen very often… It appears that the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has closed its popular free-standing location at 1500 Westwood Blvd. I’m not sure what happened, but there is construction going on at the location. We’ll have to wait and see…
A new eatery is coming to the commodious space last occupied by Charly’s Restaurant at 4549 Imperial Hwy. A banner on the front is announcing the impending arrival of Ms. B’s M & M Soul Food Restaurant. This will be the second location for the Inglewood institution, home to “World Famous Mississippi Home Cooking”.
The Culver City mercurial food scene continues its rocky ride… There’s a big for lease sign in the window of what used to be Signature Burger at 3835 Main St. in Downtown Culver City. Could it be due to the new Burgerim about to open just a few doors down? I’ll keep watching to see what may take its place.
Toddrickallen 