A while back I told you that Raising Cane’s was moving into the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Here is the new location at 1401 Third St. Promenade, on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd, formerly the home of Bibibop. It looks like they are working on a complete build-out. This is part of a major expansion into the California by the beloved Louisiana-based poultry provider known for chicken finger meals and noontime lines out the door.
It appears that after 10 years, smoked fish experts Wexler’s Deli have closed up shop at 616 Santa Monica Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. This is not the end: A gracious note on the front door explains that they are pivoting to a wholesale business and you will soon be able to find their proprietary lox at hotels and restaurants. In other exciting news, the note also explains that “Sichuan Superette” Suá, will be taking over the space. If you haven’t had a chance to visit their charming Larchmont location, you can expect delightful hand-stirred matcha and coffee drinks, organic Sichuan grab-and-go, Asian snacks, and carefully curated pantry and home goods.
From my Inbox:
I have it on good authority that popular chicken finger restaurant Raising Cane’s is coming to Westwood Village. What you are looking at in the photo is the build-out for the beloved poultry purveyor at 10948 Weyburn in Westwood Village. Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s is (thankfully) expanding in California, with yet another location planned for nearby Third Street Promenade.
Congratulations Santa Monica, cartoon-themed pizza is heading your way! People are writing to tell me about the plywood on the space at 1444 3rd Street Promenade announcing the arrival of the first official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizzeria. This location was once home to Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria, which closed nearly 10 years ago. And what can we expect? This announcement promises a “classic New York-style cheesy slice… worthy of the sewer squad”. Hmmm…
Buzzy Beverly Grove charmer Florence Osteria is opening a Downtown Santa Monica branch. Their website confirms it, and signs have recently gone up on the space at 413 Santa Monica Blvd. Florence Osteria boasts “authentic flavors of Tuscany”, while the sign on the front promises a focus on “pizza & vino”. They appear close to opening, but until then, get more details here.
Construction is fast and furious at the site of the old Craftsman bar at 119 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. An ABC application on the front lists the new business as SoCal Vibes Co. This is the tap room/restaurant branch of Carson’s very own Honest Abe Brewery. With locations in the South Bay and Venice, SoCal Vibes Co. offers “unique food and beverage offerings in a beachy, chill atmosphere” with live music and game nights.
There’s construction and a new ABC application at 123 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. This address has been a number of different eating places over the years with the most recent being Monty’s Good Burger and Thai Dishes before that. The ABC application lists the new “beer & wine eating place” as The Courtside Lounge. Other than what I would imagine will be a sports theme, we’ll have to keep watching for more details.
People go crazy for the luscious gelato at Bacio di Latte in The Westfield Century City Shopping Center, Brentwood, and other locations. Now fans in Santa Monica won’t have to drive so far. Window paper is up on the corner space that was once the home of Jamba Juice, at 331 Santa Monica Blvd #A in Downtown Santa Monica, proclaiming the triumphant news that Bacio di Latte is moving in. You’re welcome.
While this is being widely reported in other sources, I’m hearing from excited readers that Santa Monica’s hotly anticipated branch of dumpling experts Din Tai Fung is about to throw open their doors on the third floor of Santa Monica Place in Downtown Santa Monica, across from always-busy The Cheesecake Factory. According to the website, they are soft opening with a limited preview menu on February 20th, with a grand opening scheduled for February 28th. Hours are 11am to 9pm, and you can reserve a spot here. With its sleek, stylish design and loads of space, could it bring a revival to the sputtering mall?
With its much-lauded tonkotsu ramen that once caused a sensation in New York, award-winning Ippudo has been slowly making inroads into the West Coast. A sharp-eyed reader noticed that they are moving into the space at 3847 Main St. in Downtown Culver City. Founded in 1985 in Fukuoka City, Japan, they opened their first US location in 2008 in New York and have since spread to locations in Bay Area and West Hollywood. This will be the second LA location for the exacting noodle chain (although there was briefly a Santa Monica outpost).
(Thanks Mitch!)
Here are some upcoming changes coming soon to The Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax: Eastern European experts Stara are bringing pierogi and kielbasa the mix. Here’s a look at their menu. And on the Northern side of the food court, there’s a banner up declaring the new inhabitant to be none other than beloved iconic Italian sandwich chain All’Antico Vinaio. Their website also spills the beans of a new Santa Monica location as well. SMDP has the full skinny on the upcoming Downtown Santa Monica location here.
This from my inbox:
Tue., Dec. 31 / Various Santa Monica Bars / 6pm-2am / $20+
Say goodbye to boring and hello to a night filled with VIP treatment, exclusive drink specials, and a whole lot of fun!
Spend the night hopping between the hottest bars in Santa Monica with VIP entry and drink deals as low as $4 drafts and 2-for-1 premiums & champagnes!
Here’s the scoop: Registration: 6-10pm @ Barney’s Beanery or Jameson’s Pub, party till 2am, free entry to multiple hotspots, VIP access to exclusive after-party, unforgettable happy hours, no cover charges, and deals all night!
Whether you’re a local or just here to party, we’ve got the best NYE plans!
Tickets and more information here.
It’s that time of year again… More info and tickets here.
inally)Ever since I first told you about an exciting new Indian concept moving into the old Herringbone space at 1755 Ocean Ave Ste 103 in Santa Monica, I have been peppered with questions about an opening date. I have it on good authority that Fitoor will soft open with “limited seating” on Monday, December 9th. With another location in San Jose, Fitoor (Hindi for ‘Passion’) is the highly anticipated restaurant from the tech people behind San Fransisco’s buzzy Rooh. Read my original story here for more information.
Well, that didn’t take long… It was about a month-and-a-half ago that I told you about the arrival of San Francisco chocolatier Ghirardelli to the space at 1541 Ocean Ave. in Downtown Santa Monica. Wasting no time whatsoever, they will be hosting the opening ceremony of the new “Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop” on Wednesday November 20, with a ribbon cutting at 1pm. The first 100 guests will receive a “World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae”.
Ever since well-regarded Lotus Dim Sum Dumpling House ended its short life in the old P.F. Chang’s space on the corner of Wilshire and 4th in Downtown Santa Monica, people have been peppering me with questions about what was taking over. Construction began very quickly, and just last week, window paper went up announcing the new tenant. Mikomi Sushi was founded in Monrovia in 2007 with a mission to “provide food made with quality ingredients and equally quality service”. They offer a solid menu of sushi, sashimi, and rolls. This will be their third location, and they are aiming for an opening in early 2025.
A new Mexican restaurant has suddenly appeared in the old Mercado space at 1416 4th St. in Downtown Santa Monica. Desvelados Cantina officially threw open their doors on Friday (Nov. 1). This is their sixth location, with the other branches being mostly east of here. Self-described as “An elevated taste of Mexico”, look for an extensive (and delicious looking) menu of classic food and drinks with an emphasis on tacos. We wish them the best of luck.
Combining art with food/drink appears to be a trend in Santa Monica. I recently told you about The Splatter Studio, and now there’s another new venture as well. Billing itself as a “paint-your-own-pottery studio and cafe”, Clay Cafe is moving into the space at 620 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. Their website reveals that, in addition to the clay studio, they will operate a coffee shop that “serves a wide variety of hot and cold beverages and light snacks”.
Los Angeles’ first branch of Atlanta’s immersive art experience, The Splatter Studio, is coming soon to 321 Santa Monica Blvd in Downtown Santa Monica, previously home to Dragon Herbs (and long ago home of Hooters). Billing themselves as “a contemporary action painting studio”, the idea here, as I understand it, is to create art by splattering it Jackson Pollock-style across a canvas (and each other?) as a social event and “stress reliever”. Why am I covering this since I normally write about restaurants? Because according to the window paper and website, this location will also carry beer and wine to enhance your artistic and social experience.
Toddrickallen 