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?
It was back in early 2016 that I first noticed that something was moving into the old Euro Caffe space at 9559 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in a notoriously risky stretch of Beverly Hills. I don’t know why it took so long, but a charming new coffee shop, Oro Caffe, has finally opened this week. Having the feel of a cozy salon de thé with plush banquettes and marble tables, in addition to specialty coffees and teas, Oro Caffe boasts an astonishing array of pastries and savory lunch items that are freshly made nearby using (mostly) locally sourced and organic ingredients. We wish them the best of luck.
It was a while in the making, but Joss Bites Asian Tapas, the offshoot of next door’s Joss Cuisine, is finally about ready to throw open their doors at 9923 N. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. They were shooting for an opening next week, but it looks like that will be delayed. Considering that they had originally hoped for a Fall 2017 opening, they are probably used to delays. According to the paper on the front, the menu will contain things like; classic Peking duck, fresh oyster croquette coated with crunchy mashed taro, and tiger prawn wrap with Thai basil and spices.
And while we’re on the subject of stunning closures… Long time Beverly Hills traditional Italian restaurant Il Forno Caldo has quit its location at 9705 S Santa Monica Blvd. I’m not sure what happened, and their website doesn’t give any clues, but as I’ve mentioned before, this is a notoriously fickle stretch of Beverly Hills when it comes to restaurants.
I applauded last year when B.H. Poke courageously threw open their doors on a particularly tricky stretch of Beverly Hills (9527 Santa Monica Blvd. to be exact). Then something went south… A note was hastily affixed to the front door saying that they were taking a “little break”. Now, after sitting idle for a few months, a large for lease sign officially confirms their demise. I’ll watch to see what might move in.
I recently noticed an ABC application pasted to the front of the space at 340 N Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills that used to house the erstwhile Canon Club. The application lists the business name as Estiatorio Louka. I’m not sure if this is the final name of the new restaurant or not. There doesn’t seem to be much information out there yet, but it does seem curious that it’s only about a block away from what Eater is reporting about AVRA Estiatorio landing in the old Hakkasan space.
It wasn’t that long ago that American Tea Room at 401 N. Canon Drive in Beverly Hills underwent a major renovation and triumphantly reopened. Recently, however, I noticed a for lease sign on the space. A letter posted on the front door explains that they have made an “incredibly tough decision to close” all three of their locations (Beverly Hills, the Arts District, Newport Beach). They are continuing to offer teas on their website.
And while we’re on the subject of comings and goings in Beverly Hills, here’s more sad news. It was only a few months ago that a hopeful North Shore Poke Co. opened for business at 9461 S. Santa Monica Blvd. It appears that they have abandoned the notoriously tricky address. A hastily written note attached to the front states that they have relocated to Hermosa Beach.
I first noticed a while ago that something called Oro Caffe was replacing longstanding Euro Caffe at 9559 S. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills, a brave location right in the middle of a stretch that is particularly challenging for restaurants. And then nothing happened… for almost two years! Since many of you have been checking for updates, I have been keeping my eye on the place. I was convinced that they had abandoned plans until recently. Work has finally commenced and a small now hiring sign has been placed in the window confirming that they are indeed still on their way. I’m not sure what the holdup was or when exactly they intend on opening, but rest assured that it will probably be soon.
South Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills is a revolving door for restaurants. Basanti Tea Bar decided to try their luck when they opened back in 2015 at 9465 S. Santa Monica Blvd. Sadly, they have recently vacated the space. A note taped to the front door blames “unforeseen circumstances” for their misfortune. I’ll keep watching the spot to see who’ll be next to give it a shot.
Planet Smoothie has locations across the US, but relatively few outposts in LA. The closest one to the Westside resides in Santa Monica, and opened back in 2015. But that’s about to change. There’s a notice in the window of the space 193 1/2 S. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills announcing that another Planet Smoothie is on the way. No word of an opening date and it looks like they’ve got a way to go.
WeHo’s Continental Kitchen is expanding. Signs are up on the space at 8300 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of San Vicente) in Beverly Hills, that used to house BrewDog Pub, announcing the impending arrival. And it looks like they’re fairly close to opening. Expect a large and varied menu of smoothies, salads, breakfasts, burgers, wraps, bowls, and more.
