It’s that time of year again… More info and tickets here.
Santa Monica Pub Crawl This Saturday, December 14
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Bread + Butter Bringing Pastry And Coffee From Australia To Santa Monica Soon
It appears a new Australian bakeshop is making its first US appearance. There’s a notice up on the space that used to be the location for a short-lived GGET, at 2645 Main St. in Santa Monica, announcing the arrival of Bread + Butter. While I don’t have much information on this business, they do have three locations in Tasmania and their website confirms this location. What will be on offer? Exceptional “fresh pastries + sourdough bread every day” using 100% cultured butter. 
Fitoor (Finally) Opens In Santa Monica On…
inally)Ever since I first told you about an exciting new Indian concept moving into the old Herringbone space at 1755 Ocean Ave Ste 103 in Santa Monica, I have been peppered with questions about an opening date. I have it on good authority that Fitoor will soft open with “limited seating” on Monday, December 9th. With another location in San Jose, Fitoor (Hindi for ‘Passion’) is the highly anticipated restaurant from the tech people behind San Fransisco’s buzzy Rooh. Read my original story here for more information.
Palms N’ Patties Opening A Storefront In Santa Monica
Another new eatery is landing in the new shopping center that was formerly a bank on the corner of Wilshire and Berkeley in Santa Monica, the same shopping center (3032 Wilshire) that is home to Oakberry Acai and delightful Portuguese egg tart purveyor Paderia. Their new neighbor will be Palms n’ Patties. And what is that? Their menu appears to be straightforward burgers and fries.
Happy Thanksgiving From Toddrickallen!
I’d like to take this moment to thank all my dedicated readers and everyone who visits this site and wish all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I’m so very grateful to you for giving me the inspiration and support to keep exploring the excitement of the LA food scene. May your Holiday be a warm celebration filled with great food, family and friends, fun!
Mochidoki Quits Montana Ave.
I first caught wind a New York-based “high-quality mochi ice cream” shop was opening its first West Coast location back in May of 2023. It took a long time (this is Santa Monica after all), but Mochidoki finally threw open their doors at 1133 Montana Ave in August of last year. Sadly, after a little more than a year, it appears Mochidoki has closed up shop at this location. If you’ve become a fan, you can still find their icy treats at the locations listed s on the poster below.
Doner Corner Coming To Brentwood
The space at 11916 Wilshire in Brentwood has gone through a number of incarnations over the last few years. Most recently it was The Upper Crust Pizza. Before that it was a French restaurant, and before that another pizzeria. But now a new name has gone up on the iconic sign: Doner Corner is moving in and refurbishing the space. Promising “the true essence of Turkish cuisine”, you can expect a menu of doner, falafel, kibbeh, hummus, and more.
Ghirardelli Opening Ceremony With Free Sundaes On Wednesday
Well, that didn’t take long… It was about a month-and-a-half ago that I told you about the arrival of San Francisco chocolatier Ghirardelli to the space at 1541 Ocean Ave. in Downtown Santa Monica. Wasting no time whatsoever, they will be hosting the opening ceremony of the new “Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop” on Wednesday November 20, with a ribbon cutting at 1pm. The first 100 guests will receive a “World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae”.
Chagee Modern Tea House Coming To Century City
A new beverage company is throwing their hat into the ring of the constantly evolving restaurant scene at the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. There’s plywood up on the space just to the left of the upcoming Rumi’s Kitchen announcing the arrival of Chagee Moderrn Tea House. Chagee (pronounced CHAH-jee) was founded in Yunnan in 2017 and has since spread to over 5,000 stores worldwide with the most being in Malaysia. This location is part of an expansion into the US. They are apparently famous for their milk tea, as well as other drinks, and their Dior-esque packaging. Look for a Spring 2025 opening. Until then, you can read more about the company here.
What’s Going On At Ingo’s Tasty Diner?
Local laid-back neighborhood spot Ingo’s Tasty Diner, at 1213 Wilshire in Santa Monica, has been closed for years. What was expected to be a quick remodel started… and then completely stopped. Over a year ago, a new spate of construction prompted me to write an update. Not much happened after that and many believed that the project was dead. Recently however, there is renewed activity. As you may recall, Ingo’s has taken over the old Vienna Bakery space next door. Window paper has gone up with images of New York, LA, and even Julia Child, and there is a paper in one of the windows with the name Diner Antonette. LGO Hospitality Group (the parent company for Ingo’s, The Misfit, Luggage Room Pizza, and others) is still behind the project, and the website promises a return of Ingo’s Tasty Diner. Why the delay? I’m told that parts of the building are historic and complicated the permit process. But now construction is fast and furious (although they appear to have a way to go) and I’m also told they are hoping to be open by “The Holidays”.
Mikomi Sushi Replacing Lotus Dim Sum In Downtown Santa Monica
Ever since well-regarded Lotus Dim Sum Dumpling House ended its short life in the old P.F. Chang’s space on the corner of Wilshire and 4th in Downtown Santa Monica, people have been peppering me with questions about what was taking over. Construction began very quickly, and just last week, window paper went up announcing the new tenant. Mikomi Sushi was founded in Monrovia in 2007 with a mission to “provide food made with quality ingredients and equally quality service”. They offer a solid menu of sushi, sashimi, and rolls. This will be their third location, and they are aiming for an opening in early 2025.
Desvelados Cantina Opens In Downtown Santa Monica
A new Mexican restaurant has suddenly appeared in the old Mercado space at 1416 4th St. in Downtown Santa Monica. Desvelados Cantina officially threw open their doors on Friday (Nov. 1). This is their sixth location, with the other branches being mostly east of here. Self-described as “An elevated taste of Mexico”, look for an extensive (and delicious looking) menu of classic food and drinks with an emphasis on tacos. We wish them the best of luck.
Clay Cafe Combining Art/Coffee Shop In Santa Monica
Combining art with food/drink appears to be a trend in Santa Monica. I recently told you about The Splatter Studio, and now there’s another new venture as well. Billing itself as a “paint-your-own-pottery studio and cafe”, Clay Cafe is moving into the space at 620 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. Their website reveals that, in addition to the clay studio, they will operate a coffee shop that “serves a wide variety of hot and cold beverages and light snacks”.
Phanny’s Bringing “The South Bay’s Best Breakfast Burrito” To El Segundo
If you look carefully at the shopping center located on the corner of Sepulveda and El Segundo Blvd. in El Segundo, you’ll notice a small window poster announcing that one of the spaces at 150 Pacific Coast Highway is being leased by Phanny’s. You could be forgiven for not having heard of Phanny’s before. Phanny’s is an old-school Redondo Beach neighborhood spot serving what some have called the “The South Bay’s Best Breakfast Burrito“. Check out their extensive menu of burritos at their Redondo Beach location to get an idea of what may be coming. I’m told they’re planning on opening soon, possibly in a month, depending on permits. 
The Splatter Studio Bringing Art, Beer, Wine To Downtown Santa Monica
Los Angeles’ first branch of Atlanta’s immersive art experience, The Splatter Studio, is coming soon to 321 Santa Monica Blvd in Downtown Santa Monica, previously home to Dragon Herbs (and long ago home of Hooters). Billing themselves as “a contemporary action painting studio”, the idea here, as I understand it, is to create art by splattering it Jackson Pollock-style across a canvas (and each other?) as a social event and “stress reliever”. Why am I covering this since I normally write about restaurants? Because according to the window paper and website, this location will also carry beer and wine to enhance your artistic and social experience.
Wake And Late Coming To MDR
Epic breakfast burritos are heading to Marina del Rey… There’s window paper up on one of the spaces in the Waterside Marina del Rey Shopping Center announcing the arrival of Wake and Late. Wake and Late has four other locations across LA (with another in the works for Santa Monica) and is known for their breakfast burritos, “rip & dip bagels”, and coffee. The promised Santa Monica branch of Wake and Late has languished for nearly three years. I hope they have better luck with this location.
CPK Disappears from Brentwood
The two second floor restaurants in Brentwood Gardens Plaza, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd, have always been a bit problematic. I’ve long wondered if perhaps it is due to the fact that they’re not street-level. The space currently operated by Ospi has been through a number of excellent iterations over the years. But the other space has been home to California Pizza Kitchen for a very long time. Sadly, that chapter has come to a close. Readers have been letting me know that CPK has vacated the space. While there are still many locations around, this location was dear for many as it was their first encounter with the revolutionary California Cuisine brand that invented “The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza“.
The Lineup at Venice’s New Colony…
As signs recently went up at Venice’s new “smart kitchen” The Colony at 401 Lincoln Blvd (previously home to a large encampment) readers have been excitedly asking me what would be on offer. Here’s a partial list of what I know so far: Crumbl, Kakkoi, Main Chick, Goop Kitchen, Muy Thai, Good Steak, Behold Burger, Sweet Rose, Culture Crush, Xenia, and Jennie’s House. You’ll notice that this list is very similar to The Colony on Santa Monica Blvd. You’re welcome.
California Smash Coming To El Segundo
Congratulations Good People of El Segundo, a new entertainment complex is heading your way! There’s major construction happening at 811 N. Nash St. announcing the arrival of California Smash. Billing itself as “The Ultimate Pickleball And Social Club”, California Smash will offer, in addition to pickleball courts, a DJ and dancefloor and “full-service bar and restaurant, serving up a delectable array of drinks and dishes to fuel your passion for play and socializing”. While they clearly have a lot of work to do, they’re aiming for an opening this year.
OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival This Sunday
This from my inbox:
“OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival returns to the iconic Santa Monica Pier on Sun. Oct. 13 to celebrate the sea and raise awareness for Heal the Bay to help keep our local ocean and beaches clean! This beloved ocean-inspired tasting event features the city’s top chefs and restaurants and their favorite underwater ingredients! Attendees will enjoy seafood tastings, beer gardens, wine tastings, live music, oyster-shucking competitions, and more fun in the sun!”
General admission (Little Fish) is $85 and gets you access to seafood and drinks tastings. VIP admission (Big Fish) is $165 and gets the tastings as well as early entry, access to a lounge, and exclusive tastings and cocktails. I’m told tickets are selling out so you might want to move quickly. Oh, and “yacht rock attire” is encouraged.
Read more and get your tickets here.
Toddrickallen 