Tag Archives: Brentwood

Banana Leaf Expanding To Brentwood

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I told you two years ago when Brentwood’s fave watering hole/pickup joint Cabo Cantina, at 11829 Wilshire, fell victim to the Pandemic.  The space has sat empty ever since.  That’s about to change.  A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Matt!) spotted an ABC application on the front of the address that confirms that Banana Leaf is moving in.  Bringing a much-needed and refreshing injection into the Brentwood food scene, Banana Leaf has five other LA locations and offers a menu they describe as a “balance between classics and progressive Indian cuisine”.

El Merkat By Teleferic Barcelona Coming To Brentwood

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It was me who broke the news that high-end Spanish tapas chain Teleferic Barcelona was replacing old school Italian fave Vincenti at 11930 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood.  They have since opened to nightly adoring crowds.  Now it looks like the brand is increasing its presence along the tony street.  Right next door to Teleferic Barcelona, plywood is up on the space 11934 San Vicente announcing a branch of El Merkat by Teleferic Barcelona.  On offer at El Merkat will be a selection of “authentic Spanish gourmet products” including cheeses, meats, wines, spices, and paella kits.

Bacio Di Latte Blessing Brentwood Soon…

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People go crazy for the luscious gelato at Bacio di Latte in The Westfield Century City Shopping Center.  Now fans in Brentwood won’t have to drive so far.  Window paper is up on the space that was the home of Yogurtland, at 11706 San Vicente, proclaiming the triumphant news that Bacio di Latte is moving in.  You’re welcome.

CURRY HOUSE CoCoICHIBANYA Coming To Sawtelle Japantown

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Curry specialists CURRY HOUSE CoCoICHIBANYA opened their first shop in Japan in 1978. They have since spread to over 1,400 locations around the world, including a handful in SoCal.  They’re about to add one more to that collection.  There is a notice in the window of 1947 Sawtelle Blvd Unit D announcing that CURRY HOUSE CoCoICHIBANYA is settling in and will soon be dishing their proprietary curries, salads, and omelets.

Parakeet Cafe Coming To Brentwood

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San Diego’s Parakeet Cafe continues its push into LA County.  Last year, I told you about the health-focused chain taking over the old Chin Chin space in Beverly Hills.  Recently, window paper went up at 13050 San Vicente Blvd. suite 112, most recently home to a mysterious branch of Umami Burger ghost kitchen, announcing that a new branch of Parakeet Cafe is settling in at this address as well.  Check out another location’s menu here to get an idea of what may be coming…

Rosti Tuscan Kitchen Now Open In Brentwood

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Well that certainly took a long time…   I first told you that Santa Monica’s popular Italian staple Rosti Tuscan Kitchen was opening another location in Brentwood almost two years ago.  Since then, people have been demanding answers.  While I’m not certain as to what caused the delay, I can tell you that they have recently opened for business at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 104, in what had once been an outpost of Industry darling La Scala.  I’m told the menu is the same as the Montana Ave. location.

(Thanks Eric!)

The Auld Fella Set To Breathe New Life Into Brentwood’s Bar Scene

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You may recall that the Pandemic Closures hit bars particularly hard, and Brentwood’s local watering hole Bru Haus at 11831 Wilshire Blvd. was no exception:  It closed in 2020.  Then it appeared that the location was going to get an island-themed restaurant named Morabeza, but that never materialized.  Now there’s a new ABC application posted on the front listing the new tenant as The Auld Fella.  The Auld Fella describes itself as “an Irish joint” and currently has a location in Culver City.  Hopefully their arrival will bring new life to Brentwood’s once-thriving bar scene.

(Thanks John!

Yogurtland Bids Adieu To Brentwood

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I’m hearing from readers that Brentwood’s beloved icy treat shop Yogurtland appears to have vacated its longtime location at 11706 San Vicente Blvd.  I’m not sure what happened, but as real estate prices rise, the busy retail and food section along San Vicente appears to be undergoing a transformation.  Kreation recently skedaddled, and so did Hollywood old school fave Vicenti, both with big splashy replacements on the way.  I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what may develop. 

(Thanks Stephen!)

Vincenti Bids Arrivederci To Brentwood; Being Replaced By Telefèric Barcelona

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I’ve been hearing from shocked readers that after 25 years, under-the-radar Brentwood powerhouse Vincenti Restorante has closed up shop at 11930 San Vicente Blvd.  Vincenti dazzled The Westside for 25 years with its combination of inventive Italian food created by Chef Nicolo Mastronardi and its sophisticated setting.  The hard-working woman behind Vincenti, Maureen Vincenti, would greet you with a hug at the door and inquire about your life as she led you into the elegantly appointed dining room studded with old-school Hollywood A-listers and industry execs.  And while the luster may have dulled a tad recently, it’s easy to forget that Maureen’s late husband, Muaro Vincenti, along with Piero Salvaggio and others, revolutionized the way Los Angeles and America experienced Italian food.  Its closure feels like the end of an era of classic Italian fine dining.  Read Maureen’s and Chef Mastronardi’s parting message here.

Wasting no time whatsoever, it appears that Telefèric Barcelona will be throwing their hat into the ring of the recent tapas craze by taking over the space.  Telefèric Barcelona hails from Spain and has a smattering of locations in NoCal.  They offer a “truly authentic Spanish Tapas concept and experience”.  Check out their menu here.

Erratum:  This story was originally published with the misspelling of Vicenti instead of the correct Vincenti.  My apologies.

Planta Landing In Brentwood

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Ever since Pizzicotto and Kreation moved out of their respective spaces at 11758 and 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, people have been contacting me demanding answers.  Thanks to the clever investigative work of a reader (Thanks Eric!), I may have an answer.  Eric discovered that the two spaces will be joined and become the home to Planta.  (Their website does confirm a Brentwood location, but doesn’t give an address, so I don’t have confirmation on this.)  Planta restaurant group has locations across America and Canada and promotes a celebration of ‘the power of plants” with a 100% plant-based dining concept.  It looks like another location is coming to Marina del Rey as well.

Kreation Quits Brentwood

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It appears that juice and cleanse experts Kreation Organic has cleared out of its location at 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood.  That leaves another gaping hole in a block that used to contain many eateries.  I’ll keep my eye on the location to see what may develop.  And yes, I’m still watching the former Pizzicotto space which appears to have been leased. (Thanks Eric!)

Chin Chin Bids Ciao To Beverly Hills

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I’m a little late in reporting this, but I’ve been hearing from shocked readers that Chin Chin has closed its doors at 206 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills.  I’m not entirely sure what happened, but the Asian-ish eatery has been a staple of the Beverly Hills dining scene for 25 years.  One reader (Thanks Steve!) claimed it was due to leasing issues, and noted that the nearby branch in Brentwood is getting a much-needed scrub-up so don’t count Chin Chin out yet.  It appears that the space is already leased, and as always, I’ll keep an eye out to see what may develop.

Update:  While I have not confirmed this, a reader (Thanks Robin!) reports that this will be a branch of San Diego’s own Parakeet Cafe.  

The Upper Crust Pizzeria Coming To Brentwood

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People were devastated when favorite neighborhood French charmer Belle Vie fell victim to the Pandemic.  According to new signs, the space will soon be a branch of up-and-coming pie joint The Upper Crust Pizzeria.  You may recall that before Belle Vie, this space was the home for 40 years of Divita’s Pizzeria, so I guess this is a bit of a full circle.  The Upper Crust has locations in Massachusetts and California and offers a menu of “sort of famous” pizza, wings, lasagna, and calzone.

Morabeza Replacing Bru Haus In Brentwood

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Ever since I first told you about the Pandemic disappearance of popular watering hole Bru Haus, at 11831 Wilshire in Brentwood, people have been clamoring for news on its replacement.  Construction has been ongoing for a number of months now, but little information was available.  Recently a reader (Thanks John!) let me know there is now a name attached to the new project.  A small paper on the front tells us that something called Morabeza is moving in.  A cursory search reveals that “morabeza” might be a reference to a word for hospitality in the Cape Verde Islands (I do not have confirmation on this).  I guess we’ll have to wait and see exactly what’s coming.  In the mean time, you can track their progress on their FB page here, which incidentally lists the new business as a restaurant.

Wood Ranch Replacing Bandera In Brentwood

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People were absolutely gutted when I reported that beloved Westside institution Bandera, which closed during the lockdowns, would not be reopening at 11704 Wilshire in Brentwood.  Even now I still hear from gob-smacked fans wondering what will replace it.  Now we know…  A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Durendal_et_joyeuse!) wrote to tell me that this location will soon be the home to a branch of Wood Ranch.  Their website and a notice of nonresponsibility on the front door confirm the news.  For those unfamiliar, Wood Ranch has locations throughout SoCal and specializes in wood-fired BBQ, oak-grilled steaks, seafood, burgers, and sandwiches.

Update: Wood Ranch opened on 04/22/2022

Umami Burger Coming To Brentwood As Well…

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The C3 Restaurant Platform is having a moment…  It was only last week when I told you about the arrival of Umami Burger to Venice.  Now it seems Brentwood is getting lucky as well.  Umami Burger is currently moving into the old Le Pain Quotidien space at 13050 San Vicente Blvd Ste 114 (corner of 26th), consequently the same shopping center that is the home to the new swanky bento box restaurant Imari.  A company spokesperson contacted me to let me know that this location, as well as the new Venice location, will also host a ghost kitchen for Sam’s Crispy Chicken, Krispy Rice, Kumi.  

Mama Hong’s Vietnamese Kitchen Moving Locations On The Westside

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Long-standing Westside staple Mama Hong’s Vietnamese Kitchen is moving locations.  A complany rep gave me the skinny on the new signage up at 12201 Santa Monica Blvd. in LA.  This address used to be home to burger joint Quicksand which fell victim to the Pandemic.  Mama Hong’s will be closing their Brentwood location in the under-renovation shopping complex at 11819 Wilshire Blvd. in about a week, and opening in the new space “soon”.  They also have locations in Burbank and Orange as well.

Evan Steakhouse And Bar Coming To Brentwood

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It was back in December of last year that I noticed that Maradentro would not be returning to the space at 1168 S Barrington Ave. in Brentwood.  A new eatery appears to be moving into the prominent corner location.  A sign on the corner is letting us know that Evan Steakhouse and Grill is coming soon.  There’s not much out there yet, just a still-developing website.  Let me know if you have any information.

Bandera Bids Bye-Bye To Brentwood

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So… this may come as a bit of a shock to you so you may want to fix yourself a Manhattan, lower the lights, put on some Bill Evans, and sit down.  One of the questions I most frequently get asked is if Bandera would be reopening.  As you probably know, Bandera has remained shuttered, probably due to the fact that the majority of the space was a bar.  Known for their mood lighting, stiff cocktails, jazz trios, and excellent Dover sole, Brentwood’s beloved branch of The Hillstone Restaurant Group was a popular nightlife spot for many years at 11700 Wilshire Blvd.  I now have it on good authority that Bandera will not be reopening at this location.  Better make that Manhattan a double.

Rosti Tuscan Kitchen Coming To Brentwood

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The hidden little space at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 104 has had a bumpy ride since its under-the-radar glam industry spot La Scala quit the location.  For a while it was a short-lived French eatery called Meet In Paris, but mostly it has sat empty.  That’s about to change.  There’s an ABC application posted on the front announcing that this space will soon be a branch of Santa Monica’s perpetually popular Italian powerhouse Rosti Tuscan Kitchen.  (They also have a branch in Calabases as well.)  Brentwood sure does love its Italian restaurants…