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…
South Santa Monica Blvd. in The Golden Triangle can be a tricky location. Eateries come and go along the notoriously capricious strip. But that doesn’t seem to deter plucky newcomers. Recently I told you about The Kind Ones, and right next door, in what used to be Bo Nuage at 9523 S. Santa Monica, signs have recently gone up announcing a branch of expanding Australian coffee chain Bluestone Lane.
Well that didn’t take long… It was only just a couple of weeks ago that I told you about a new pressed juice joint landing in the old Basanti Tea Bar space at 9465 S. Santa Monica Blvd. Wasting no time, Organica Juice Bar is now up and slinging smoothies to the good people of Beverly Hills.
It appears that Beverly Hills is about to get a whole lot sweeter soon… Window displays are up announcing confirmation that the much-anticipated Fatamorgana Gelato will soon be arriving to the space at 162 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. The celebrity fave Italian brand has one shop in Studio City and boasts 66 hand-made flavors, 26 of which are vegan, and everything is gluten-free. I’m told they’re shooting for a March opening.
It looks like local fave Cabbage Patch has dispensed their last sandwich at 214 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. Their website lets us know that they’ve closed their Downtown branch as well. That leaves one location left, in Marina Del Rey.
Perhaps we’re not done with the pressed juice craze just yet… Back in December of last year I told you about the demise of Basanti Tea Bar at 9465 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. And now it looks like a new contender is moving in. Window signage indicates that Organica Juice Bar will soon be the new occupant. According to the window, you can expect a menu of cold-pressed juices, superfoods, smoothies, bowls, and, well… you get the picture.
A big available sign in the window of 9667 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills lets us know that after a valiant effort, Little Highness Bao is done dishing dumplings. Sadly, this stretch of The Golden Triangle is a historically challenging one for restaurants. I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
A mysterious ABC application has appeared on the front of a former hair salon at 345 N. Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills. The application lists the applicant and the business name as a rather inscrutable and unlikely “Le Wall Paint Parlor“. While these names are often prototypes and eventually discarded, it’s hard to ignore this one. The application also promises a “beer and wine eating place” and construction is underway. As I can’t find much information (or any), I guess we’ll have to keep watching…
I’ve been watching the space at 252 N Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills for a while now. It used to be the home of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar until March of 2017, when Fleming’s quit the location. It has sat empty ever since, but that’s about to end. On a tip from a reader (Thanks Mike!), I went to check out the recently posted ABC application declaring that ever-popular Frida Mexican Cuisine is moving in.
I’ve been carefully watching the space at 9527 S Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills that used to house ill-fated B H Poke. I knew something was moving in, but I couldn’t confirm what. The new tenants left cryptic messages here and there, and had a daisy painted on the front at one point. But a note taped to the window finally lets the cat out of the bag. It appears that this location will be the future home of The Kind Ones. While there’s not a ton of information out there, this article in Fitt LA explains that The Kind Ones has its roots in Kuwait, and specializes in breakfast sandwiches and bowls, the former being served in open-top boxes on proprietary brioche buns that purportedly require the baker to sign a “non-disclosure agreement “. Their Yelp page lists the opening as November 2nd.
Well, this was a bit of a shocker… The other day, when I popped in for a green lemonade to M Café Beverly Hills, I was greeted with a note on the front informing me that after 10 years they had “officially closed”. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep my eye on their space at 9433 Brighton Way to see what develops.
Back in July, we learned that Swiss chocolate purveyor Teuscher had vacated their long-held corner space at 9548 Brighton Way to make way for a flashy new chocolatier with an SLS Hotel pastry chef cred. But all is not lost for the beloved chocolate institution. Paper is up in the window of the former Pretty Ballerinas shop just across the street at 371 N Camden Dr. informing us that this will soon be their new home. Meanwhile, their coffee shop The Café, continues to chug out cappuccinos in their temporary location at 430 N Camden.
If you follow this blog, then you know about Burgerim’s unstoppable plan to take over the world. The latest evidence? A sign in the window of the old Subway space at 250 S. Beverly Dr. proclaims the location will soon be serving the chain’s signature Lilliputian burgers.
What’s going on at Panera Bread? Recently, the (newish) Westwood branch abruptly closed up shop. On a tip from a reader (Thanks Shawn!), I went to check out the (also newish) Beverly Hills location at 239 S Beverly Dr. Sure enough, a note taped to the front door explains that they have “permanently closed”. Could this indicate trouble for the popular bakery/sandwich chain?
Toddrickallen 