Beverly Hills can be a tricky location for casual lunch spots. Sadly, one that has survived the sturm und drang for 10 years recently closed shop. A gracious note on the front door lets us know that Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop has quit its location at 9671 Wilshire Blvd. Greenleaf has six other locations across the LA/OC area.
It looks like a new chocolate shop is landing in Beverly Hills soon. Window paper is heralding the arrival of Chokolatta to the diminutive space at 255 1/2 S Beverly Dr. Apparently the focus here is small batch, handmade chocolates, desserts, and drinks with an emphasis on “Pre-Hispanic recipes and the ancient Mayan culture” that you can read more about here.
Back in December of last year, I told you about the demise of sandwich shop Cabbage Patch at 214 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. And now it looks like a new tenant is moving in. Window displays announce the arrival of Cinderella Cakes. Cinderella Cakes has been an Orange County staple for over 65 years, and are famous for producing decorated cakes that are “edible works of art”, but they also produce an array of other sweet treats and host cake decorating parties as well. It looks like they’re shooting for a Fall opening.
The increasing number of authentic Japanese restaurants or impending projects, as in straight out of Japan, is impressive right now. Add one more to the list: Window notices are up on the space next to Yazawa, at 9966A S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills, announcing a new restaurant, Ima. The window promises shabu-shabu and sukiyaki, but their website lets us know that Tokyo-based Imafuku makes highest-grade Japanese Wagyu the star of the show. And they’ll even let you know from what part of Japan the beef is coming, just in case you’re concerned about Fukushima.
Thanks to a sharp-eyed reader (Thanks ML!), I went to check out what was going on at 120 S. Linden Dr., a small freestanding hut in a parking lot behind a building on Wilshire. A while ago, it used to house a hidden locals-only restaurant, Cool Basil Thai Bistro, that folded in 2016. The space has sat empty since then. But there are indications of activity, and a large sign on Linden announces that this will soon be the home of Guisados. Originally from Boyle Heights, and with locations dotting the Southland, Guisados offers a menu of traditional Mexican homestyle braises served with handmade tortillas, beans, and rice.
If you follow this blog, then you know what a tricky market S. Santa Monica Blvd. is in the Golden Triangle of Beverly Hills. Courageous contenders routinely come and go. The latest to go? It appears that high-end candy shop Sugarfina has pulled up stakes at their 9495 S. Santa Monica Blvd. location leaving a gaping cavity on the glittery street.
The City of Beverly Hills should consider rebranding their glamorous downtown as the Golden Devil’s Triangle for its ability to make restaurants disappear. The latest? Japanese batter specialist Harajuku Crepe has vacated its space at 9405 S. Santa Monica Blvd. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
