Sweet XO Coming Soon To Manhattan Beach

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Has your existential search for the meaning of it all gotten you down?  The promise of “Life Fulfilled” is just around the corner at the upcoming branch of Sweet XO, the yogurt, candy, bakery concept coming soon to Plaza El Segundo (next to The Counter) at 3700B Allied Way in Manhattan Beach.  With one location in Agoura Hills and three others slated for SoCal, The chain offers a stupefying array of treats from “xogurt” with 175 different toppings, to desserts, cupcakes, candies, and vegan and sugar free items in a bright, cheery environment.  They also carry gifts and accessories.  No word on an opening date, but until then, you can check out their website here.

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The Courtyard Kitchen Now Open For Dinner In Santa Monica

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Looking for more evening dining options on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica?  Cozy little neighborhood newcomer The Courtyard Kitchen recently started serving dinner at 1211 Montana Ave.  Their current hours are 8:30am until 10:00pm daily.  Look for a Mediterranean-inspired menu of salads, large plates, and pasta and they allow you to bring your own wine.  Check out their Facebook page here.

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“7th Street Bistro” Coming Soon To Santa Monica

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Looks like things are rolling right along on the joint effort by Brant Ng (The Spice Table) and Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan (Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry, Milo & Olive) going into the impressive and enormous deco Verizon building at 1314 7th St. in Santa Monica.  The space will apparently become two different projects.  One will be a café and retail space seating 49 indoor and 37 outdoor  and the other a restaurant seating 242 indoor and 72 outdoor according to The Santa Monica Daily Press.  The names listed on the ABC licenses are 7th Street Bistro and 7th Street Wine, but I’m told these are simply working names for the lease and may not be what they’re called in the end.  They are shooting for a Summer 2014 opening.

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“Another Burger Joint” Coming Soon To West LA

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What’s going into the old Campos Tacos space at 12201 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA?  Our only clue is the red banner hanging above the door that reads Another Burger Joint and promises a welcome to both carnivores and vegetarians.  Whether this is the name of the new restaurant or a teaser, we’ll just have to wait and see…

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Santa Monica Merchant Coming Soon To Santa Monica Place

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A brand new venture, Santa Monica Merchant is coming soon to the slowly revitalizing The Market at Santa Monica Place.  Although there’s not a lot of information out there yet, they appear to be a go-to for community supported agriculture and are billing themselves as a “curated source for a daily selection of organic local meats, cheeses, and produce”.  Read more at their still-developing website here.

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Veggie Grill Virgin Days Are Back!

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This Tuesday and Wednesday, October 22nd and 23rd at all California locations, Veggie Grill is bringing back its “VG Virgin” days.  Specifically, if you bring in someone who has never been before (the virgin), Veggie Grill will comp their entrée when you buy yours.  All virgins must be accompanied by an “experienced” VGer and no solos.  Read more at: veggiegrill.com.

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Comoncy Cafe Coming Soon To Beverly Hills

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Remember when there was an outpost of David Meyers’ macaron paradise Boule on Bedford Dr. in Beverly Hills?  Well, that space at 413 N. Bedford Dr. has sat idle for a really long time, but that is about to change.  Signs have gone up in the window announcing a new venture with a curious name, Comoncy is about to take over.  According to the signs, we can look for a menu of espresso, pastries, salads, and sandwiches.

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41 Ocean Restaurant Shooting For A November Opening In SM…

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Signs have gone up in the window of the recently closed Bamboo Izakaya space at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Colorado in Santa Monica announcing the expansion of the members-only 41 Ocean Club into the space as the new 41 Ocean Restaurant.  What’s most astonishing is that according to the signs, the new restaurant is planning on a November opening.  (Really? In Santa Monica?!)  Read more at: 41oceanclub.com.

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Brickworks Roasthouse & Grill Coming Soon To Manhattan Beach

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A few weeks ago I told you about a new restaurant under construction in the cavernous old LA Food Show space in the Manhattan Village Mall at the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda in Manhattan Beach.  At the time, I couldn’t track down a name, only a parent company, VMI Services, but the construction people told me the name was going to be Brick Roast House.  Well, they were fairly close as signs went up on the construction site recently announcing the name of the brand new restaurant is going to be Brickworks Roasthouse & Grill.  No word on an opening date yet, but I’ll keep my eye on it…

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Deborah Madison To Speak In Santa Monica Tuesday

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If you’re a vegetarian (or even if you’re not) you’re probably a fan of prolific author, farmer’s market ambassador, and slow food advocate Deborah Madison.  As well as being the founding chef of Green’s Restaurant in San Francisco, still an influential pillar of the Bay Area’s food scene, Madison has written numerous books, including the classic Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.  Tonight (Tuesday 10/08/13) at the Santa Monica Public Library at 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Deborah Madison will be discussing her latest book Vegetable Literacy with Amelia Saltsman, author of The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook.  The event will begin at 7:00pm in the MLK Jr. Auditorium and will be followed by a book sale and signing.

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Go Greek Yogurt Now Open In BH

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A brand new concept, Go Greek Yogurt is now open at 452 Bedford in Beverly Hills.  Specializing in fresh and frozen yogurt that is flown in from Greece within 24 hours of its production, this storefront is the first of what they hope will soon be a chain.  With toppings like carrot marmalade, quince, and rose jam produced only in June from a Peloponnesian monastery, this is not your average frozen yogurt stand.  They also have a series of proprietary blends, parfaits, toppings sourced from local farms, and even a savory blend of yogurt with cucumber, olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and oregano served with pita in terra-cotta dishes.  You can read more at: gogreekyogurt.com.

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Wolfgang Puck Express Now Closed In Santa Monica

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OK…  Admit it: With all those flashy pizzas out there (think Mozza, Gjelina, Sotto, South End etc.) you still occasionally find yourself craving an old-school “California cuisine” pizza alla Spago back-in-the-day, fast being forced onto the endangered species list.  Sadly, one of the last places to get your fix, Wolfgang Puck Express in the Third Street Promenade (at Arizona) is now officially extinct.  But there is one glimmer of hope as the sign in the window promises a future return to Santa Monica. Until then, you can still find the nostalgic pies in a few remaining places here.

(BTW Spago will still make you one if you ask.)

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Pizza Compagnia, Santa Monica

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Signs are finally up and construction is fast and furious on the new pizza concept from the folks at Joe’s Pizza, Pizza Compangia at 1551 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica, although what you’re looking at here is actually the entrance at 135 Colorado Ave.  It appears they’re running a little behind since they predicted a Summer opening, but by now we all know Santa Monica, so I’ll keep my eye on it…  joespizza

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Fraiche Back Up For Lease In SM

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Must be bad Feng Shui…  When last we checked, the space vacated by Fraiche restaurant at 312 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica was supposed to be in development for a dubious Chinese restaurant named Face.  Well, all that appears to have fallen through as evidenced by the disappearance of all references to the upcoming Chinese restaurant and the prominent display of brand new “For Lease” signs.  We’ll have to see what develops…

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104 Wine Bar By The Ocean Now Closed

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It appears that the sleepy little oenophilic restaurant at 104 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica, 104 Wine Bar by the Ocean has quietly slipped out of existence.  No word on a replacement just yet, but with all the recent openings in that area (Stout, Water Grill, Taberna Arros y Vi), I can’t imagine the space will sit idle for long…

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Cafe De Paris Has Taken Over Spumoni Cafe On Montana Ave.

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The little Italian creamery and breakfast nook Spumoni Café at 715 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica that opened only about a year and a half ago is now a different establishment.  Café de Paris has now taken over the space.  You’d be forgiven for overlooking this: The café still sports the big Spumoni Café sign and looks exactly the same, the only difference being the new window signs, menu, and Tour Eiffel outside the front door.  Apparently, the owner of Spumoni restaurant (next door) pulled out of the little café, leaving the other owner, who is French to take over entirely.  Look for a menu of breakfasts, crepes, salads, and yes, the gelato stays.  cafedeparismontana.com

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Street Closing For A Month: Changes To Come…

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Looks like things are about to change over at Susan Feniger’s Street.  They recently announced that they will close down for a vacation at the end of September and will re-open after a “major shift”, with inscrutable promises that the adventurous restaurant celebrating world street food will “never be the same”.  Until the closure, they’re going nostalgic with a Flashback menu featuring old favorites from the past 5 years that could be available for the last time.  A restaurant spokesperson playfully refused to reveal what changes are coming and informed me that the entire staff have been sworn to secrecy so we’ll just have to wait and see what develops… eatatstreet.com

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