Gaucho Grill Closes After 25 Years In Brentwood

Posted on March 13, 2018 by toddrickallen

What’s going on in Brentwood? Recently a widely popular Peet’s Coffee closed up shop, allegedly due to a jack-up in the rent, sending out shock waves among locals. And now, right next door at 11754 San Vicente Blvd , a perennially busy Gaucho Grill has pulled out as well. The melancholic letter on the door lets us know that the date of closure was March 12th. Even while taking these photos, stunned Brentwood residents who had come for dinner were expressing their disbelief and protestations to me. With cultish Pizzana, and upcoming Mendocino Farms and Jon & Vinny’s Italian, the Brentwood dining scene appears to be rapidly changing…

Guyi Restaurant Soft Opens In Brentwood

Posted on March 9, 2018 by toddrickallen

Well that didn’t take long… It was only last month when I noticed a small poster on the space at the top of the Brentwood Gardens, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd., inscrutably announcing a new restaurant. Wasting no time whatsoever, Guyi Restaurant is now in their soft opening. I had previously wondered if they were related to a restaurant in China, but have since discovered that this is their first outpost. Look for a menu of authentic Sichuan/Northern Chinese food in a bright airy setting. And, until March 14th, you get 30% off the check.

Spumoni’s March Monday Deal

Posted on March 8, 2018 by toddrickallen

Good news for fans of Spumoni’s imported Italian wood burning oven… During the month of March, they’ll take 50% off your entire bill on Monday nights. Offer is for dine-in only.

Spumoni 713 Montana Ave. Santa Monica 90403

Three Twins Ice Cream Vanishes From Santa Monica

Posted on March 6, 2018 by toddrickallen

I recently noticed that Three Twins Ice Cream has vacated its space at 2726 Main St. in Santa Monica. The windows are papered over and the website is reporting it closed as of March 4th. It looks like they recently closed their San Francisco branch as well. Could this indicate trouble for the brand?

Caffe Luxxe Comes To Pacific Palisades

Posted on March 2, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

Candytopia Bringing “Confectionary Bliss” To Santa Monica For A Limited Time

Posted on March 1, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

Bar * Food Vanishes

Posted on February 27, 2018 by toddrickallen

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…

Sip Now Dispensing Matcha In Westwood

Posted on February 23, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

B.H. Poke Officially Gone…

Posted on February 22, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

Grilliant Opens In Westwood

Posted on February 21, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

Guyi Restaurant Brentwood?

Posted on February 16, 2018 by toddrickallen

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…

Aloha Poke Co. Landing A Location In MDR

Posted on February 15, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

La Sirena Grill Closes In El Segundo…

Posted on February 12, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

Pho Ever Comes To The Westside

Posted on February 9, 2018 by toddrickallen

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…

Rita’s Gate Of India Relocates In Santa Monica

Posted on February 8, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

Estiatorio Louka Taking Over The Canon Club Space In Beverly Hills

Posted on February 6, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

American Tea Room Closes All Locations…

Posted on February 2, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar Coming To Torrance

Posted on February 1, 2018 by toddrickallen

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…

Big Dean’s Expands, Starbucks Lands Under The Pier In SM

Posted on January 31, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

Seaside On The Pier Replacing Ristorante Al Mare On The SM Pier

Posted on January 26, 2018 by toddrickallen

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.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest