Smallcakes Cupcakery And Creamery Bringing Celebrated Confections To El Segundo

Posted on January 24, 2018 by toddrickallen

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 At The Old L’Ami Space In Santa Monica?

Posted on January 19, 2018 by toddrickallen

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…

Citizen Sprout Now Open In Santa Monica

Posted on January 18, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

Grilliant Replaces Panini Cafe In Westwood

Posted on January 17, 2018 by toddrickallen

A while ago, I noticed that Panini Cafe (now Panini Kabob Grill) had vacated their space at 10861 Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood. Now it appears that a new restaurant will be moving in. With locations in Culver City and Burbank, Grilliant will soon take up residency. Look for a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern menu of kabob, salads, and flat bread wraps. We wish them the best of luck.

Boba Tea & Me Opens In Santa Monica

Posted on January 12, 2018 by toddrickallen

It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about a new boba shop going into an erstwhile juvenile hair salon at 1328 Wilshire Blvd. Wasting no time whatsoever, Boba Tea & Me has thrown open their doors for business. This is apparently their first storefront, after having operated for a while as a truck. Look for a menu of milk teas, smoothies, and all manner of brightly colored treats.

Lyfe Kitchen Expires In Playa Vista

Posted on January 10, 2018 by toddrickallen

I recently noticed that purveyors of modern comfort food Lyfe Kitchen have pulled up stakes in their Runway Playa Vista location at 12746 W Jefferson Blvd. A sign on the door confirms the sad news. Lyfe Kitchen has a rocky history to begin with, but I wonder if the bigger news is the Runway itself. With a captive audience of residents in the Playa Vista developments along Jefferson, you’d think that the Runway would be teeming with hungry patrons. And yet, since opening, they have never been able to fill all of the empty new storefronts. A great many still remain unoccupied. And now Lyfe Kitchen pulls out… Could this be an indication of trouble for the newish shopping/dining district?

La Vaca Brazilian Grill Heading To Century City

Posted on January 9, 2018 by toddrickallen

The food scene in the flashy new Westfield Century City Shopping Center continues to evolve… Plywood covering one of the spots in the still developing food court reveals that it will soon be the home to a branch of La Vaca Brazilian Grill. With a location in Canoga Park and another in Glendale, La Vaca serves a menu of traditional churrasco, salad bar, and various “hot dishes”. Look for a May opening.

Honeymee Heading For Century City

Posted on January 6, 2018 by toddrickallen

It appears that honeycomb specialist Honeymee is heading to the sparkling new Westfield Century City Shopping Center. Look for a menu of milkshakes, waffles, coffee and tea, and ice cream, including the “babee”, which is ice cream served in a sweet bun much like a hot dog. According to the signage, they’re shooting for a February opening.

Peet’s Coffee Disappears From Brentwood

Posted on January 5, 2018 by toddrickallen

So this was a bit of a shocker… Ever popular local fave caffeine shop Peet’s Coffee has abruptly pulled up stakes almost overnight from its historically significant landmark location at 11750 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Even while I was taking photos, locals were coming up to me and expressing shock at the loss of the neighborhood institution. Maybe competition from nearby Alfred Coffee has been taking its toll. I’ll keep watching…

Update: I’ve had lot of people ask why Peet’s has closed… I don’t have a confirmed answer, but a reader has heard that the lease renewal was too expensive, which is all-to-frequent in this neck of the woods.

10 Speed Coffee Coming To Santa Monica

Posted on January 2, 2018 by toddrickallen

Thanks to a tip from a reader, I went to check out what was happening on the corner of 20th and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica. Signs are up announcing that a branch of the popular Calabasas bicycle-themed restaurant and coffee shop Pedaler’s Fork is landing a spot at 1919 Santa Monica Blvd. (The northwest corner of the intersection, not the recently vacated Rudy & Hudson Diner spot.) And while the non-responsibility notice taped to the front door lists Pedaler’s Fork as the tenant, at least according to the recently posted signs, this outpost is going to be 10 Speed Coffee, which is the name of their house coffee. It looks like they have a way to go yet, so I’ll keep watching for an opening date.

Happy New Year From Toddrickallen!

Posted on December 30, 2017 by toddrickallen

It looks like we can expect another year of LA food scene craziness. And I’ll be right there with you in 2018… Let’s see what happens next. Until then, thanks for reading and Happy New Year! Enjoy!

Merci Clement Replaces Stick Shop In Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on December 28, 2017 by toddrickallen

While no one was looking, Stickhouse, at 223 Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, slipped out of existence and was replaced my another treat shop Merci Clement. If you read this blog, you may remember Merci Clement from its opening in Beverly Hills earlier this year. (Interestingly, it may already be closed: A spokesperson at the Santa Monica location reported it as closed and it doesn’t appear on their official website, but I cannot confirm this.) It looks like this incarnation retains Stickhouse’s array of frozen treats, and adds some French pastries as well.

North Shore Poke Co. Goes Belly Up In Beverly Hills

Posted on December 27, 2017 by toddrickallen

And while we’re on the subject of comings and goings in Beverly Hills, here’s more sad news. It was only a few months ago that a hopeful North Shore Poke Co. opened for business at 9461 S. Santa Monica Blvd. It appears that they have abandoned the notoriously tricky address. A hastily written note attached to the front states that they have relocated to Hermosa Beach.

Happy Holidays From Toddrickallen!

Posted on December 23, 2017 by toddrickallen

To all my dedicated readers and everyone who visits this site, I wish the best that the Season has to offer. May your Holidays be filled with all manner of delicious things and your celebrations be bright and joyful. Thanks for reading!

Oro Caffe Still On Its Way To BH

Posted on December 22, 2017 by toddrickallen

I first noticed a while ago that something called Oro Caffe was replacing longstanding Euro Caffe at 9559 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills, a brave location right in the middle of a stretch that is particularly challenging for restaurants. And then nothing happened… for almost two years! Since many of you have been checking for updates, I have been keeping my eye on the place. I was convinced that they had abandoned plans until recently. Work has finally commenced and a small now hiring sign has been placed in the window confirming that they are indeed still on their way. I’m not sure what the holdup was or when exactly they intend on opening, but rest assured that it will probably be soon.

Mendocino Farms Setting Up Shop in Brentwood

Posted on December 19, 2017 by toddrickallen

The shopping center on the corner of Montana and San Vicente in Brentwood has seen a great deal of turnover recently. The latest to try their hand at the location will be farm-to-table sandwich/salad market Mendocino Farms. There’s an ABC license posted at 11911 San Vicente Blvd. announcing the impending arrival to the spot that once housed carb palace Noah’s Bagels. No word on an opening date, but the website promises sometime in 2018.

Sustain A Bowl Coming Soon To Westchester

Posted on December 15, 2017 by toddrickallen

I short time ago, I told you about the window paper covering the space at 8338 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester that informed us about a new poke joint moving in. Well, plans must have changed because what was supposed to have been Fishbowl Poke Co. will now be something called Sustain A Bowl, at least according to the new window paper. I’m not sure what happened, or when they’ll open, but I’ll keep watching…

Tendergreens Opens In El Segundo

Posted on December 13, 2017 by toddrickallen

The newest contender for the attention of hungry El Segundo office workers is up and running. Tendergreens had their grand opening on Monday. They are joining an already open Shake Shack, and many other upcoming eateries, in the large Apollo Landing complex at 2181-A Rosecrans Ave.

Chick-fil-A Landing In Santa Monica Soon

Posted on December 12, 2017 by toddrickallen

Taco Bell closed down its location at 2207 Lincoln Blvd. in Santa Monica a few months back and I ‘ve been watching to see what would move in. Now we know. An extensive reconstruction of the building is underway to make room for Santa Monica’s first branch of well-known poultry pusher Chick-fil-A, who are slowly but surely conquering the Westside.

Update: Chick-fil-A opened 05/17/2018

Gelson’s In Century City Invites “Noshing & Imbibing”

Posted on December 8, 2017 by toddrickallen

Perhaps hoping to catch the overflow of people frustrated with choking crowds of Eataly, Gelson’s in Century City is making some Eataly-esque improvements. Providing more of an graze/drink/shop experience, a sign explains that they are adding a “Wolfgang Puck Build–Your-Own Pizza and Salad”, a wine and tapas bar, a seafood bar, and a poke bar. As you can see below, construction is nearly finished.

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