I recently noticed that a new restaurant is going into the freshly renovated space that used to house a discount store at 11030 Washington Blvd. (corner of Tilden) in Culver City. While the sign doesn’t mention a name, looks like they’ll be offering “delicious acai bowls”. There’s no indication of when the new superfood restaurant will open, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
Signs recently went up announcing that a brand spanking new branch of locally-based java behemoth Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will soon be taking over the space on the southwest corner of the hyper-busy intersection of Wilshire and Federal in West LA. Seems like an interesting choice for location given the craziness of the traffic and lack of parking. No word on an opening date but I’ll keep checking…
I just noticed the signs up at 219 Arizona (Third St. Promenade) in Santa Monica announcing the future arrival of a brand new venture, Creams & Dreams Ice Cream Shop. The space had recently housed clothing boutique Hydrate and previously Frey Wille. Not much news out there yet and no word on an opening date, but I’ll keep watching…
I haven’t heard much news from Japanese chain Yoshinoya in quite a while, but it looks as though they’re about to up their game. Signs indicate that they are poised to take over the corner spot in a brand new development on the corner of Manchester and Bellanca in Westchester. And it appears as though the dusty brand, founded in Tokyo over a century ago, is about to get a reboot. The new signs read Yoshinoya Japanese Kitchen. They look close to opening, but until then, read more about their signature teriyaki bowls here.
The cold-pressed organic juice craze continues its inexorable conquest of the Westside as evidence by the expansion of local chain Juice Crafters into the storefront at 2811 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. Still in their soft opening, you can get 50% off through this Saturday. Read more about their menu and find other locations here.
Apparently actress Jessica Biel has long wanted to bring her organic restaurant idea Au Fudge into existence, and now it looks as though she’s almost there. I recently noticed an application posted in the window of the space that used to house Smoke and Artichoke’s Heart at 9010 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood announcing the impending arrival of Au Fudge. The concept? A kid-friendly environment that New York Magazine is calling a “Soho House for kids”… and by kids, we mean well-heeled and connected kids. According to an announcement on the website Jessica Biel Central, looks like the A-list little ones can expect an opening sometime between February and April of next year.
The iconic and staid palace of upscale dining Ruth’s Chris Steak House is now open in Marina Del Rey in the Marina Marketplace at 13450 Maxella Ave., second floor. With over 135 locations worldwide, Ruth’s Chris is currently the world’s largest luxury steak restaurant. Check out their menu and read more their hot buttered plates here.
To those of you (and there are a whole lot of you) who have been closely following the impending opening of super popular and occasionally controversial Chick-fil-A just to the west of the 405 at 11750 Jefferson in West LA (corner of Mesmer), comes this happy news: Chick-fil-A will officially be throwing open its doors this Thursday, December 4th. Lines could be tough, and they’re asking you to bring a tent (!), but you’ll be rewarded with their signature sandwiches, games, and a chance to win free food for a year.
Looks like shops selling boba (chewy tapioca balls submerged in sugary drinks) are proliferating lately. To the list we add one more: Signs recently went up in the new building at 11573 W. Santa Monica Blvd. (corner of Federal) in West LA announcing the impending arrival of Honey Boba. Promising “the best boba alive”, they already have locations in Gardena, Lomita, Rosemead, and Arcadia, so this will be their first foray into the Westside. No word on an opening date, but until then you can read more here.
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 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 filled with great food, family and friends, fun, and all manner of deliciousness!
You may have been wondering what was going on over at neighborhood fave Cafe Montana at 1534 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Recently, they closed down. Then a sign went up in the window that announced they were remodeling and promising to reopen soon. That sign quickly disappeared. Then came the black plastic covering the windows… According to a source, Cafe Montana will not be reopening, ending a 20 year long run. The space is being developed for a new venture, tentatively named Ox & Son by businessman, restaurateur, and owner of Westside Rentals Mark Verge, who recently opened Art’s Table in Cafe Montana’s sister restaurant, the now-defunct Babalu. No details on an opening date or menu, but I’m told the concept will be “high-end”.
We all know that Thanksgiving can be hard on the turkeys. Now you can help the pitiable poultry out: This Tuesday, November 25th, when you buy a main, side, and drink at Native Foods, part of the proceeds will go to Farm Sanctuary, an animal advocacy group that maintains shelters for the birds. For your kindness, Native Foods will give you a free dessert, their ginger snappy sandwich cookie.
Looks like a new venture, Basanti Tea Bar will soon be taking over the vacated Crumbs Bake Shop space at 9465 South Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Not much out there yet except a still-developing website and job listings, but apparently the company was founded in Monterrey, Mexico in 2008. Look for a menu of “more than 35 loose leaf tea mixes, exotic fruits and indulgent flavors”. No word on an opening date, but I’ll keep checking…
And while we’re on the subject of Westwood, I noticed that specialty waffle shop Honeymade Sweet and Savory has closed its doors at 10912 Le Conte Ave. No word on what’s taking its place, but I’ll keep you posted…
Koala Tapioca is in their final build-out and hiring phase and is poised to open soon at 10965 Weyburn Ave. in Westwood. Created by two UCLA alums, this is their first foray into brick-and-mortar after beginning in a truck named Koala Tea. Look for a menu of icy drinks, boba, and street food with strong Asian influences that you can read more about here.
Rapidly-expanding vegan chain Veggie Grill has rolled out its new winter menu. Included on the seasonal menu are: crispy portobellos, chargrilled veggies and penne, a glazed tofu banh mi, Sonoran winter bowl, kale and white bean braise, and other items. Check out the full menu and read more here.
It wasn’t that long ago that an old-timey nursery sat at 1255 Coast Village Road in posh Montecito, a relic of the now-tony street’s utilitarian past that has disappeared to accommodate the patrons of estates worth millions just a stone’s throw away. The nursery was demolished to make space for a new development that will house a branch of LA-based Hillstone Restaurant Group (Houston’s, South Beverly Grill, Gulfstream, Bandera), according to the ABC application posted outside. This will be a prominent national chain presence in the sleepy seaside town known for its fiercely local and independent restaurant scene. And while I can confirm neither an opening date nor the exact branch of the HRG, rumor has it that the new venue will be an R+D Kitchen.
I’ve been watching The Point, the upscale outdoor mall being built on the corner of Sepulveda and Rosecrans in Manhattan Beach/El Segundo. After a little bit of investigation back in September, I told you that True Food Kitchen would be moving into the colossal development in 2015. And now comes news, via the LA Times, of the other restaurants that will be on offer: Mendocino Farms, Superba Food & Bread, Shophouse, North Italia (which along with True Food Kitchen is part of the Fox Restaurant Concepts group), and a “restaurant and marketplace” from the founder of Pitfire Artisan Pizza. Look for the openings to begin sometime in 2015.
I think many on the Westside were astonished and perhaps a bit nostalgic when that popular destroyer of waistlines, The Cheesecake Factory, abruptly closed its doors in 2012 at 11647 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. It’s long been reported that The Coral Tree Café has been renovating the space to make way for a cavernous new steakhouse. And now we have a name… According to the sign tacked up on the plywood announcing a job fair, the new restaurant will be called Baltaire. No word on an exact opening date, but they appear to be getting close…
Well that didn’t take long… Back in June, I told you about a new “superfood” concept restaurant poised to take over the space at 1518 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica that used to house pizza restaurant BricoLA. And by some miracle of planetary alignment (for that’s what’s needed to open a restaurant this quickly in Santa Monica), Kye’s opened yesterday (November 5th). Look for varied menu of salads, shakes, smoothies, breakfasts offerings, and their proprietary “kyerito”, which is essentially a wrap of such favorites as BBQ pork, reuben, paleo tuna, as well as many veg and vegan options such as bean taco, and “Nahm Jim“, the latter consisting of “assorted veggies, herbs, lotus root, woodear, Nahm Jim fish sauce or Veg Nahm Jim sauce, hemp seeds, macadamia nuts, sliced almonds, red/black rice blend, and nori” (whew!). Read more and check out their complete menu here.
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