Café Parisien Says Salut! To Brentwood

Posted on May 6, 2019 by toddrickallen

Thanks to a tip from a reader, I went to check out what was going on at the former La Scala space at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, after La Scala’s recent relocation to Wilshire Blvd. Sure enough, a new ABC application is posted on the front. While no business name is listed, the applicant tracks to a location in Culver City, which happens to be French charmer Meet In Paris. So I called Meet In Paris and spoke to a source who told me that the Brentwood space will soon be the home of a second branch of Larchmont Village’s Café Parisien, sister restaurant to Meet In Paris. I’m told that the menu will be similar to the Meet In Paris menu, but with a stronger emphasis on dinner, like Café Parisien. They’re shooting for an end of May opening, “fingers crossed”. We wish them the best of luck…

Kreation Debuts Kocktails Today In Brentwood

Posted on December 13, 2018 by toddrickallen

Back in April, I told you about the new Kreation Kafe coming to the old Gaucho Grill location at 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. At the time, I noticed an ABC application on the front, something unusual for the healthy chain better known for their “pressed juices” and “cleanses”. Kreation Kafe officially opened today at 7am. (If you rush, you might be lucky enough to be one of the first 100 who will receive free juice.) But what’s different about this Kreation, is that they will be serving “Kreation Kocktails”, which are made with beer, wine, and their proprietary juice blends and are intended for people who “like to drink healthy but still get buzzed”. Kale yes!

Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine Summits Santa Monica/Brentwood

Posted on November 23, 2018 by toddrickallen

Ever since we learned that longstanding healthy Mexican purveyor Kayndaves had abandoned their location at 262 26th St., across from the increasingly tony Brentwood Country Mart, I’ve been wondering who would even undertake such an upscale market. The corner of San Vicente and 26th has proven itself a challenging location as evidenced by the revolving door of restaurants that has attempted the space that most recently held L’Ami. (The latest gasp of hope, the ABC app that I reported on back in January has since been taken down and I think we’re back to square one.) But now, one brave contender is giving the Kayndaves space a go… A banner is up informing us that it will soon be the home of Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine. With three other locations scattered across the Southland offering Nepali, Tibetan, and Indian food, we wish them the best of luck.

What’s Going On At Biobar In Brentwood?

Posted on October 11, 2018 by toddrickallen

So what’s the deal with the diminutive Biobar space at 11966 Wilshire in Brentwood? They haven’t opened in a while, recently the windows have been blacked out with blinds, and they are not answering their phone. For all intents and purposes, they appear closed even though they’ve left no clues. But a peek through the blinds (No, I’m not above such things) reveals a beehive of activity. Something is happening at Biobar, I just can’t figure out what. Let me know if you have more information…

Alfred Tea Room Opens In Brentwood

Posted on September 14, 2018 by toddrickallen

Back in March, I told you about the impending arrival of cult coffee shop Alfred’s less-caffeinated offshoot Alfred Tea Room to the space at 11928 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. For all of you who have been eagerly checking for updates I have this happy news: Alfred Tea opened this week. Expect a menu of tea, milk tea, and matcha in a bright and cheery tiled setting with an outdoor patio.

Roast Is Done In Brentwood Village

Posted on May 23, 2018 by toddrickallen

On a tip from a reader (Thanks JP!), I went by to check out what was going on at Roast Deli & Market in Brentwood Village. The windows are papered over and the signs have been pulled from their space at 147 S. Barrington Ave. While their website is still up, Yelp is reporting them as closed, and so am I. I’ll watch to see what might move in.

Soom Soom Fresh Opens Today In Brentwood

Posted on May 22, 2018 by toddrickallen

It was back in November of last year, when I first noticed that healthy, organic Mediterranean restaurant Soom Soom was expanding into the space at 11704 South Barrington Court in Brentwood. After an extensive remodel of the space, Soom Soom Fresh will throw open its doors today, May 21st. This is the third location in an expanding chain. We wish them the best of luck.

Erratum: This is actually the chain’s fourth location.

Northern Café Now Dishing Dumplings In Brentwood

Posted on May 11, 2018 by toddrickallen

Well that didn’t take long… It was only about two weeks ago when I deciphered that fishy eatery Big Catch had quit the space at 12009 Wilshire Blvd. in Brentwood. Wasting no time, dumpling specialist Northern Café has settled right in and is now open for business. Billing itself as “authentic Chinese Cuisine”, this is another branch of the original Westwood location that Eater once called a “standout”.

What’s Going On At Big Catch Seafood House, Brentwood?

Posted on April 26, 2018 by toddrickallen

Brentwood’s branch of Big Catch Seafood House at 12009 Wilshire Blvd. appears to have gone off the deep end. They place appears gutted. There are still a few tables outside, otherwise the space is mostly empty. Yelp is not reporting it as closed yet, and the last review on was on April 16th, but the phone has been disconnected, there is no mention of this location on the company website, and when I went by last night after their usual opening hours to check things out, they were closed. I can’t report with any certainty that they are finished (or possibly restructuring), but things don’t look good… Let me know if anyone has more information.

Kreation Organic Coming To Brentwood… With Beer And Wine!

Posted on April 13, 2018 by toddrickallen

Just a few weeks ago, I told you about the collective gasp from locals when Gaucho Grill quit its location at 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Wasting no time whatsoever, an ABC application taped to the front of the space indicates that Kreation Organic is moving in. Known for their “pressed juices” and “kleanses”, you probably wouldn’t automatically associate Kreation Organic with beer and wine. I’ll keep my eye on this one…

Alfred Tea Room Coming To Brentwood…

Posted on March 28, 2018 by toddrickallen

It looks like specialty coffee purveyor Alfred is expanding in Brentwood. Just a few storefronts away from their location on the corner of Montana and San Vicente, paper has gone up on the front of the space at 11928 San Vicente Blvd. announcing that a branch of Alfred Tea Room is moving in. Not sure when they’re opening, but I’ll keep watching…

Gaucho Grill Closes After 25 Years In Brentwood

Posted on March 13, 2018 by toddrickallen

What’s going on in Brentwood? Recently a widely popular Peet’s Coffee closed up shop, allegedly due to a jack-up in the rent, sending out shock waves among locals. And now, right next door at 11754 San Vicente Blvd , a perennially busy Gaucho Grill has pulled out as well. The melancholic letter on the door lets us know that the date of closure was March 12th. Even while taking these photos, stunned Brentwood residents who had come for dinner were expressing their disbelief and protestations to me. With cultish Pizzana, and upcoming Mendocino Farms and Jon & Vinny’s Italian, the Brentwood dining scene appears to be rapidly changing…

Guyi Restaurant Soft Opens In Brentwood

Posted on March 9, 2018 by toddrickallen

Well that didn’t take long… It was only last month when I noticed a small poster on the space at the top of the Brentwood Gardens, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd., inscrutably announcing a new restaurant. Wasting no time whatsoever, Guyi Restaurant is now in their soft opening. I had previously wondered if they were related to a restaurant in China, but have since discovered that this is their first outpost. Look for a menu of authentic Sichuan/Northern Chinese food in a bright airy setting. And, until March 14th, you get 30% off the check.

Bar * Food Vanishes

Posted on February 27, 2018 by toddrickallen

Quirky neighborhood hang-out spot Bar * Food has flown the coop at 12217 Wilshire Blvd. in Brentwood. The front is completely covered in plywood and their website has vanished. Not sure what happened or what may be taking over, but I’ll keep watching…

Guyi Restaurant Brentwood?

Posted on February 16, 2018 by toddrickallen

The cavernous space at the top of Brentwood Gardens, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd., has had a troubled history of turnover. It has sat empty ever since Elaine’s Bakery moved out in 2014. Recently however, paper has covered the windows, and now a poster has been affixed to the front that appears to indicate a new eatery called Guyi Restaurant is intent on moving in. There’s not much information out there. The only other Guyi that I can find is a much-lauded Hunan restaurant in Shanghai China, but I’m unclear if they’re related. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…

What’s Going On At The Old L’Ami Space In Santa Monica?

Posted on January 19, 2018 by toddrickallen

What’s going on behind those imposing wrought iron gates at 246 26th St. in Santa Monica that used to hide L’Ami, and before that The Little Door, and before that Villetta? It has sat empty and idle ever since L’Ami disappeared sometime in 2017. But a carefully tucked away ABC application reveals that there are signs of life. The app lists the applicant as Operation Success LLC and gives no business name. A search reveals few clues. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what develops…

Peet’s Coffee Disappears From Brentwood

Posted on January 5, 2018 by toddrickallen

So this was a bit of a shocker… Ever popular local fave caffeine shop Peet’s Coffee has abruptly pulled up stakes almost overnight from its historically significant landmark location at 11750 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Even while I was taking photos, locals were coming up to me and expressing shock at the loss of the neighborhood institution. Maybe competition from nearby Alfred Coffee has been taking its toll. I’ll keep watching…

Update: I’ve had lot of people ask why Peet’s has closed… I don’t have a confirmed answer, but a reader has heard that the lease renewal was too expensive, which is all-to-frequent in this neck of the woods.

Mendocino Farms Setting Up Shop in Brentwood

Posted on December 19, 2017 by toddrickallen

The shopping center on the corner of Montana and San Vicente in Brentwood has seen a great deal of turnover recently. The latest to try their hand at the location will be farm-to-table sandwich/salad market Mendocino Farms. There’s an ABC license posted at 11911 San Vicente Blvd. announcing the impending arrival to the spot that once housed carb palace Noah’s Bagels. No word on an opening date, but the website promises sometime in 2018.

Soom Soom Fresh Mediterranean Expands Into Brentwood

Posted on November 20, 2017 by toddrickallen

With locations in Beverly Hills and LA, it looks like purveyors of healthy, organic Mediterranean food Soom Soom are living up to their website’s promise to expand “across Los Angeles and beyond”. Paper is covering the window at 11704 South Barrington Court announcing their impending arrival. I’m not sure how far along their progress is, but I’ll keep watching.

What’s Going On At Moo Greek Yogurt In Brentwood?

Posted on November 10, 2017 by toddrickallen

Moo Greek Yogurt burst onto the scene back in July of 2016, riding a popular yogurt mini-wave. Things seem to have slowed a bit, and Moo has been closed down for a while in their location at 11753 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Since then, I’ve been watching to see what develops. Their Yelp page promises a return in 2018, and their website doesn’t offer many clues, but the place is essentially gutted. I’ll keep my eye on things, but it doesn’t look good…

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Tag Archives: Brentwood