I’ve known for a while that there was going to be a branch of luxury artisanal coffee purveyor Caffe Luxxe in Pacific Palisades. But now I know where… The signs are up on the window of the space at 15200 W. Sunset Blvd. #105, across the street from the upcoming Palisades Village development, announcing the impending arrival. I’m not sure of an opening date, but construction is fast and furious.
Self-described “outrageously sweet interactive pop-up” Candytopia opens tomorrow (Friday March 2nd) in Santa Monica Place. The exhibit, brought to you by Hollywood “Candy Queen” Jackie Sorkin and described to me by an employee as “an immersive art [experience] made out of candy”, will run for four months. And yes, you will be eating candy. Read more about this spectacularly creative pop-up and get tickets here.
Quirky neighborhood hang-out spot Bar * Food has flown the coop at 12217 Wilshire Blvd. in Brentwood. The front is completely covered in plywood and their website has vanished. Not sure what happened or what may be taking over, but I’ll keep watching…
I noticed a while ago that Taiwanese shaved ice shop Frostalicious had quietly disappeared from its space at 10967 Weyburn Ave. in Westwood. Wasting no time, a new treat shop has moved in. Sip Matcha, Boba & Tea recently opened and is dispensing Technicolor drinks, such as the Magic Matcha pictured below, to the good people of Westwood.
I applauded last year when B.H. Poke courageously threw open their doors on a particularly tricky stretch of Beverly Hills (9527 Santa Monica Blvd. to be exact). Then something went south… A note was hastily affixed to the front door saying that they were taking a “little break”. Now, after sitting idle for a few months, a large for lease sign officially confirms their demise. I’ll watch to see what might move in.
Ever since I first told you about a new restaurant moving into the old Panini Kabob Grill space at 10861 Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood, I’ve been fielding questions about an opening date. Well, Grilliant is now open for business. Look for a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern menu of kabob, salads, smoothies, and flat bread wraps.
The cavernous space at the top of Brentwood Gardens, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd., has had a troubled history of turnover. It has sat empty ever since Elaine’s Bakery moved out in 2014. Recently however, paper has covered the windows, and now a poster has been affixed to the front that appears to indicate a new eatery called Guyi Restaurant is intent on moving in. There’s not much information out there. The only other Guyi that I can find is a much-lauded Hunan restaurant in Shanghai China, but I’m unclear if they’re related. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…
And now here’s me thinking the whole poke thing was beginning to slow down… Paper is up on the window of the space at 4020D Lincoln Blvd. (corner of Washington) in Marina Del Rey announcing that a branch of Aloha Poke Co. is moving in. I’m not sure when exactly they’ll be dishing raw fish, but I’ll keep watching.
If you follow this blog, you know how competitive the food scene in El Segundo is. Case in point: Once popular Mexican restaurant La Sirena Grill has closed up shop at 710-D Allied Way as the hungry aerospace crowds have moved on to Apollo Landing and The Point. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
On a tip from a reader (Thanks Dean!), I went to check out what was going on on the corner of Barrington and Pico. It looks like a new Vietnamese restaurant is going into the space at 2404 Pico. I’m not sure when Pho Ever will be opening, or if it’s related to any of the other “Pho Ever” restaurants out there, so we’ll just have to wait and see…
Perhaps you’ve been missing the old Gate of India restaurant that disappeared from its location at 115 Santa Monica Blvd. That space has been (slowly) transforming into something called Tumbi Bar. However, GOI has resurfaced as Rita’s Gate of India in its new location at 1450 5th Street in Downtown Santa Monica.
I recently noticed an ABC application pasted to the front of the space at 340 N Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills that used to house the erstwhile Canon Club. The application lists the business name as Estiatorio Louka. I’m not sure if this is the final name of the new restaurant or not. There doesn’t seem to be much information out there yet, but it does seem curious that it’s only about a block away from what Eater is reporting about AVRA Estiatorio landing in the old Hakkasan space.
It wasn’t that long ago that American Tea Room at 401 N. Canon Drive in Beverly Hills underwent a major renovation and triumphantly reopened. Recently, however, I noticed a for lease sign on the space. A letter posted on the front door explains that they have made an “incredibly tough decision to close” all three of their locations (Beverly Hills, the Arts District, Newport Beach). They are continuing to offer teas on their website.
It looks like a branch of the popular Koreatown seafood restaurant EMC Seafood & Raw Bar is on its way to the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance. A major build out is underway on the front of the busy shopping complex. No word on an opening date, but it looks like they’ve a way to go…
Tucked underneath the Santa Monica Pier, Big Dean’s Ocean Front Cafe has long been a favorite watering hole with locals and the beach crowd, and has remained largely untouched since the 1970s. But that’s all about to change… According to a spokesperson, they are expanding into the space just to the north, adding more patio, bar, and kitchen space. And at the other end of the building, a brand new Starbucks is moving in, bringing a much different vibe to this little hidden corner of Santa Monica. Check out the artist’s rendering below to get a taste of how things will look.
It was back in June of 2013, when I first noticed a new Italian restaurant gearing up to cater to the hungry tourist trade on the Santa Monica Pier. Sadly, it appears that Ristorante Al Mare has closed up shop… Making haste to replace it will be Seaside On The Pier, at least according to the plywood covering the remodel. Looks like they’re installing a grill, sandwich shop, and a rooftop lounge.
This week I heard from a reader (Thanks FG!) who told me about the closure of O & O Sicilian Kitchen & Bar at 1705 Ocean Ave Suite #111 in Santa Monica. I went by to check it out… While there is no notice posted and their website is still functioning, Yelp is reporting them as closed and the space is being gutted. Courageously opening in a challenging location back in 2016, it appears the foot traffic simply wasn’t on their side. Sad to see them go…
A sign hanging at 225 Main St. in Downtown El Segundo informs us that a branch of the much-lauded Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery will soon be opening. With over 200 locations, and appearances on Cupcake Wars, The View, and in USA Today, the sweet shop is sure to bring a lot of attention to the laid-back beach community. Look for a menu of 18 signature cupcake flavors as well as 15 flavors of small batch ice cream made fresh daily.
Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery bringing celebrated confections to Downtown El Segundo.
What’s going on behind those imposing wrought iron gates at 246 26th St. in Santa Monica that used to hide L’Ami, and before that The Little Door, and before that Villetta? It has sat empty and idle ever since L’Ami disappeared sometime in 2017. But a carefully tucked away ABC application reveals that there are signs of life. The app lists the applicant as Operation Success LLC and gives no business name. A search reveals few clues. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what develops…
Back in September, I first noticed that something new was moving into the erstwhile Polish deli space at 1128 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. The paper covering the window listed the new business as First Spoonful. They have since opened as Citizen Sprout and offer home delivery meal services and school lunch programs, as well as in-store selection of sandwiches, salads, and snacks.
Toddrickallen 