Recently, I told you about the closure of the long-time Westside fixture Soybean Chinese Food due to a health code violation at 11966 Wilshire Blvd. in West LA. Wasting no time whatsoever, a charming and cheerful little lunch spot has moved in. Biobar, which opened on Tuesday, serves a simple and straightforward menu of “fresh & healthy” soups, salads, and sandwiches and is brought to you by the people behind Totpot, the organic children’s prepared meal delivery service.
It’s fascinating watching the massive Playa Vista development emerge out of thin air. As if overnight, row after row of residential buildings have sprung from nothing. So of course, it seems only natural that the future inhabitants will need to eat somewhere. Back in January I told you about the impending arrival of a Cinemark Theater (now open) with a full bar, lounge, and dining menu as well as a future Lyfe Kitchen. And now we can add to the list a brand new flashy Whole Foods on the corner of W. Jefferson and McConnell Ave.
Back in late February, I told you about an ABC application posted on the vacant space at 1519 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica that used to house The Parlor. The applicant was listed as Estate 1519, which I assumed was a working name. Well, as it turns out, the new restaurant will indeed be named Estate as indicated by the sample menu that they recently posted in the window. According to the Yelp page, Estate is up and running (possibly a soft opening) as of this week and the (positive) reviews are trickling in. The menu, designed by Chef Hisashi Yoshiara (Buddha’s Belly) appears to be an eclectic mix of Asian influences and Californian cuisine that you can check out in the photo below.
Nearby to the upcoming Joan’s on Third and eLOVate, I just noticed the plywood with a conditional use permit posted on it announcing the impending arrival of a new 245 seat indoor/outdoor restaurant in the new development at 1755 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica. The applicant listed is as “Santa Monica Eats LLC”, but if you track down the ABC application, it reveals that the new restaurant will be Herringbone, which I’m assuming will be a sister restaurant to the Herringbone at the Mondrian in West Hollywood. Not much news out there on an opening date and they’ve only recently posted job listings, but I’ll keep watching. In the mean time, check out Chef Brian Malarkey’s “Fish Meats Field” concept menu and read more about the company here.
With one location at 8325 Lincoln Blvd., Kanpai Sushi Bar & Grill is expanding into the space at 8736c Sepulveda in Westchester according to signs posted on the storefront. Named for the Japanese word for “cheers”, Kanpai serves a menu of “traditional Japanese with California flair” that you can read more about here. No word on an exact opening date, but it looks like they’re very close…
Could this be an indication that we’ve finally reached the saturation point with the custom-built pizza concept? I recently noticed that the South Bay’s very own outlet of the Southern US chain BYOPizza has closed its doors at 4051 Inglewood Avenue in Redondo Beach. And if you can’t bear the thought of life without them, the next nearest location appears to be in Texas…
The brand new branch of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf that was under construction in the curious space on the southwest corner of the super-busy intersection of Wilshire and Federal is now open. Where you might find parking is anyone’s guess. But while you’re driving around looking for a space, you can read more about the SoCal fave beverage shop here.
I just noticed that signs are up in the window of the space that used to house the unfortunately named and short-lived sandwich shop Bite Mi Café announcing the impending arrival of Cousins Maine Lobster to 8593 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. TV’s Shark Tank darlings Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac (the “Cousins” appear to be expanding their growing lobster truck business into brick and mortar. No word on an opening date or what exactly will be on offer (although I’ll wager a guess that it will have a great deal to do with lobster), but you can read more about CML here.
It looks like the Century City Shopping Center’s very own outlet of the do-it-yourself sandwich chain Which Wich has quietly slipped out of the famously capricious food court. Sadly, the little restaurant was only open a little less that a year and a half. Could it be due to competition from Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese pop-up (which by-the-way will be closing April 15th)? No word on what will be replacing this devastating loss but I’ll keep watching…
Tonight (Wednesday, March 11th), at 7pm, Obica in the Century City Shopping Center is hosting a Giropizza Party. What exactly does that mean? For $30 (beverage and tax not included), you well get a slice of every pizza that rolls out of the oven until you cry for mercy. Choices will include classic pizzas, as well as freshly invented varieties and dessert pizzas as well. But you will need to call and make a reservation as space will be limited. Call (310) 566-2452 just as fast as your fingers can dial to secure your spot.
And while we’re on the subject of highly anticipated Westside restaurant debuts, Baltaire is opening today (Monday, March 9th). The “contemporary American steakhouse” took over the old Cheesecake Factory space at 11647 San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood. After an extensive remodel, you’ll hardly recognize the space, but they have kept the patio dining area. Check out their website here and in the mean time, here’s a glimpse of what you can expect…
This is a big day for Westside restaurant openings… Back in November, I told you about a new restaurant taking over the old Café Montana space at 1534 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. To those of you (and there are many of you) who have been carefully following this story comes this welcome news: Ox & Son is expected to open its doors tonight, March 9th.
Please fasten your seatbelt and put your seat in the upright position… Recently, I told you about a new sports bar being built in an unlikely place on the edge of El Segundo. According to their sign, it appears that Flights Craft Beers + Sports Grill will be coming in for a landing on March 12th at 5119 W. El Segundo Blvd (just to the east of the 405). Until then, check out their menu and their selection of 40 beers on tap here.
Update: The opening has been pushed back to March 25th.
Thanks to a tip from a reader, I investigated the ABC application posted in the window of the now-defunct mini-mart just to the right of Piccolo at 9 Dudley Ave. in Venice. Whatever is taking over appears to be a new restaurant that is billing itself as a “café/market” and will be serving beer and wine. Hard to imagine what’s coming to the tiny space, but the applicant is listed as Dudley Market and according to the conditional use application, there will be a full-service restaurant with only 20 seats as well as a “gourmet market”. Dudley Market is more than likely a working name, so we’ll have to keep watching to find out more…
I think the finger is out of the dyke on this one… With more and more movie theaters on the Westside either redesigning themselves with food and drink menus or being built with restaurants comes news of one more to join the stampede: It appears that the dusty AMC Santa Monica 7 on the corner of 3rd and Arizona is getting a remodel. And according to the advertisements on the fencing outside, they’ll soon be offering beer, wine, and cocktails to the bill of fare as well as reclining chairs. Not sure if they’ll have food service like the Marina AMC, but I’ll keep watching…
Melrose’s darling little charmer Bo Nuage appears poised to descend upon Beverly Hills in a pink cloud of confectionary magic very soon. I recently noticed that the Parisian-themed purveyor of meringues and cakes is taking over the old Shoe Wiz storefront at 9523 Santa Monica Blvd (near Rodeo). No word on when this little chunk of fabulousness will be open, only that they’re predicting some time this year. Until that enchanting day, read more about them here and in this interview in Eater LA.
With all the development under construction along Jefferson Blvd. in Playa Vista, we shouldn’t be surprised that a new influx of savvy restaurateurs are rushing in to feed the new neighborhood. The latest to join their ranks? With one location on Washington Place in LA, banners stretched across the strip mall on the southwest corner of the intersection of Jefferson and Mesmer indicate that Don Chuys Authentic Mexican Restaurant is expanding south. The family-owned restaurant offers a hand-crafted menu in the style of Leon Guanajuato, Mexico that you can read more about here.
The space at 1519 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica has sat vacant for an extremely long time. For those with excellent memories, the space was built for Cinch restaurant and after that failed, The Parlor took over but went under after complaints from the neighbors. It’s been empty since about 2010. Well all that is about to change. Construction is underway and a new ABC license has posted indicating that we will soon see a new inhabitant. The license names the applicant as Estate 1519, but that’s probably just a working name. I can’t seem to uncover any information and the construction people have no clue, so we may have to wait to see what’s actually coming. Hopefully it won’t take long…
After I posted yesterday about the impending opening of yet another health food restaurant at 1705 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica, I could almost hear people collectively rolling their eyes. But there’s a lot more buzz to this story… I quickly heard from sources that I wasn’t in possession of all the facts. Turns out, eLOVate isn’t going to be some run-of-the-mill kale and quinoa joint, already so ubiquitous in Santa Monica. Rather, eLOVate will be the flagship restaurant for TV personality, cookbook author, and personal chef-to-the-stars Roberto Martin. Probably most famous for cooking for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, the passionate vegan chef is best known for American comfort food designed to please carnivores. And while no menu has been announced, glancing at his cookbook, I think we might expect such things as: southern fried chick’n; mac and cheese; tofu crab cakes; and chick’n and mole tamales. They’re shooting for a spring opening, but until then, read more about Chef Roberto’s vision in this Ecorazzi article.
Looks like a brand spankin’ new venture, eLOVate, is coming soon to 1705 Ocean Ave. Suite 111 (but actually the space faces Olympic equidistant between the new Starbucks and upcoming and highly anticipated Joan’s on Third) in Santa Monica. Not much information on eLOVate out there yet, except an ABC application that you can check out here. Judging by the window display, I’m guessing the new restaurant will serve some manner of healthy food. They’re promising a Spring opening, but I’ll keep my eye on it.
Toddrickallen 