Sadly, “contemporary macrobiotic” food source The Market at M Café has quietly closed down its location at 11678 San Vicente Blvd. in competitive Brentwood. But all is not lost: The notice on the door lets us know that they have a new location at 1800 Highland in addition to their other two locations and are looking to expand further. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what develops…
Back in 2015, I noticed that a new pizza concept, originally billed as Daniele Pizza, was taking over the old Adoteca space at 11712 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Later, we learned that the new restaurant was associated with the people behind Sprinkles Cupcakes, and we learned that the name was going to be Pizzana. Since then, a great many of you have been carefully checking for updates, so here you go… According to a spokesperson, Pizzana will officially throw open its doors on April 21. 
The little strip mall on the corner of Montana and San Vicente in Brentwood seems to have run into a spot of trouble… A while ago, diminutive coffee shop Brew-N-Beans gave up the ghost. More recently, one of the Westside’s last few remaining carb palaces, Noah’s Bagels, quit their location there. And now, it appears that smoothie experts Jamba Juice has closed down. That leaves only scrappy Souplantation in the increasingly vacant mall.
I only just recently noticed that artisanal coffee experts Caffe Luxxe has boarded up its location at 11975 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. I think the closure wasn’t unexpected as the entire shopping complex that this branch anchored has also boarded up in anticipation of an upcoming project. But if you count yourself among the legions of devoted fans of the popular purveyor of caffeinated drinks, don’t worry that you’ll have to drive to Santa Monica to get your fix: According to their website, they are planning on moving just a little east to a new location at 11640 San Vicente. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
Just in time to get back on track for your New Year’s resolution… It was only back in early October that I noticed that a branch of Sweetgreen was soon to grace the corner space in the Brentwood Gardens at 11677 San Vicente. Wasting no time whatsoever, they are now dishing healthy bowls and salads to the grateful people of Brentwood.
It was only just back in August when I noticed that something was taking over the erstwhile Chang’s space at 11726 San Vicente Blvd. Wasting no time whatsoever, Simply Salad is now open and dispensing kale to the good people of Brentwood. They may get some competition from the upcoming Sweetgreen just a few blocks up the road…
I just noticed plywood covering the corner space in the Brentwood Gardens, at 11677 San Vicente, that informs us that a branch of healthy bowl expert Sweetgreen is soon heading that way. The notices only just went up, so I imagine they’ve a way to go. Until then, check out their menu here.
I just noticed that long-term Brentwood fixture Chang’s has served its last egg roll at 11726 San Vicente Blvd. And replacing it? Apparently we can expect a branch of the expanding chain Simply Salad.
Neighborhood artisanal hand-crafted coffee and espresso expert Caffe Luxxe is turning 10 years old. To celebrate, they’ve created a special 10th Anniversary Blend, that you can sample for free starting today (Wednesday). And according to their website, tomorrow (August 4th) they will be handing out “FREE drinks all day” at all three locations in Santa Monica and Brentwood.
Could this be a sign of the times? Cast your memory back to a simpler age, when frozen yogurt was king and Pinkberry its crowned prince. Things seem to have changed somewhat. I just noticed that the branch of Pinkberry at 11711 Gorham Ave. in Brentwood has closed its doors, only to be replaced by a branch of uberhealthy Pressed Juicery. Now that’s gotta hurt…
It was only back in March when I noticed that Asian shaved ice shop Sweet Crush had closed its doors at 11753 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Wasting no time whatsoever, Moo Greek Yogurt quickly moved in and threw open their doors this week. Moo offers a menu of home-made yogurt gelato and yogurt bowls in a variety of sweet and savory options as well as build-your-own.
I’ve been watching the space at 11712 San Vicente Blvd. that once housed Adoteca and Osteria Latini before that. The last news was the ABC license application posted on the front that indicated that something called Daniele Pizza was moving in. Eater did a little digging and discovered that the people behind Daniele were none other than the founders of the cupcake empire Sprinkles, Candace and Charles Nelson. Well, plywood recently went up on the space informing us that the real name of the new restaurant will be… Pizzana. The ABC license still lists the business as Daniele, however the owner is now listed as Pizzana LLC instead of Daniele LLC. But it’s still the Nelsons who are behind the venture. Their website hasn’t been developed yet, so I can only speculate about what they have in mind. But I will definitely keep an anticipatory eye on this development…
The Greek yogurt craze seems to be building momentum… After a nearly four-year run at 11753 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, Asian shaved ice shop Sweet Crush abruptly closed its doors back in March. Wasting no time whatsoever, it appears a new treat shop is taking over. Signs are up announcing that the space will soon be inhabited by Moo Greek Yogurt. Not a lot of information out there, just a job listing describing Moo as an “upscale yogurt shop” and “ice cream café”.
It was only back in 2012 when I first noticed that a new frozen treat shop was going into the space at 11753 San Vicente Blvd, near Whole Foods. Sweet Crush Ice Bar opened that year and has been doling out Asian shaved ice ever since… until recently. Sadly, they have closed, leaving this hopeful message taped to their erstwhile front door promising us that they are not gone for good.
Snazzy upscale coffee purveyor Alfred Coffee has the perfect idea for your last-minute stocking stuffer. If you can’t make it into one of their stylish branches on Melrose, in Brentwood, or in Silverlake, just pop into the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. There, you’ll find The Alfred Coffee gift box, essentially a vending machine filled with bags of coffee, gift cards, and Alfred gear. You’ll find these little treasures near J.Crew.
Well that sure didn’t take long. I know that this is Brentwood and all, but this space doesn’t sit idle for long… You may recall that back in late 2013, Adoteca replaced Osteria Latini in a matter of weeks. Then only two weeks ago, I told you and Eater confirmed that Adoteca had bitten the dust. And now, an ABC application is up in the window announcing that a new venture, Daniele Pizzeria will be taking over the busy space at 11712 San Vicente Blvd. I don’t know much about this business yet, but I’ll keep you posted.
People continue to ask me what is taking over the Café Rockenwagner space on the corner of Barrington and Wilshire in Brentwood. An ABC application posted in the window confirms what Eater reported earlier in the month: That Studio City’s Maradentro will be taking over the space. Maradentro, which means “the sea inside”, offers a menu of Mexican seafood that you can read more about here.
Some of you have been wondering and asking if Adoteca, the Brentwood branch of the mini Ado empire had closed. You may remember that Adoteca was up and running in a matter of weeks in late 2013, replacing Osteria Latini at 11712 San Vicente Blvd. So I went by to check it out. Signs hastily posted in the window say that the Italian restaurant is only closed for a remodel. But nothing has been touched and mail is piling up inside the front door so I’m a bit suspicious. I’ll keep my eye on it…
Update: Eater is reporting that Adoteca is closed for good.
Recently, I noticed that signs have gone up on space #200 in Brentwood Gardens that used to house Daily Grill at 11677 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood announcing that a brand new entity, Bottlefish appears to be moving in. I couldn’t track down much on Bottlefish until I checked the ABC license application. It indicates that the familiar names behind Bottlefish are Richard Rosenfield and Larry Flax, the founders of California Pizza Kitchen (they have since sold CPK a number of years back). I’m not sure what the concept here will be, but I’m going out on a limb and guessing that fish will feature heavily, and possibly bottles too. No word on an opening date, and construction is only just beginning, but I’ll keep watching.
Update: Bottlefish is now open as of 12/08
I had high hopes for Café Rockenwagner when I first noticed back in 2013 that it was coming to a new development in Brentwood: It had a bright, mod interior; a fantastic location on the corner of Barrington and Wilshire; and the pleasing Germanic/Californian comfort food of longtime LA chef Hans Röckenwagner. But slowly over the subsequent months, you could see fewer and fewer people sitting at its tables. Sadly, the Café has served its last pretzel burger. The signs are covered over and the place is deserted. No word on what may be replacing it, but until then, Rockenwagner still maintains a few other places around town that you can locate here.
Toddrickallen 