The diminutive space at 725 Broadway is hard pressed to keep a tenant. In the distant past it was Bowl of Heaven, followed by Enso Tea/Acai. But the acai craze is beginning to look a little tired lately, and Enso has vacated the location. I’ll keep watching the troubled spot to see what may develop.
It looks like Santa Monica kale and kabob expert Crimson Mediterranean Cookhouse is expanding westward. An ABC application pasted on the front of the erstwhile Inotheke space, at 606 Broadway suite 101, spills the beans. The name on the application, well-known restaurateur Eiman Shekarchi, confirms that this is an offshoot of the Crimson on Ocean Park. As for Inotheke, a gracious note on the door says that they plan on relocating.
A banner is up on the old Monsieur Marcel space at 1260 3rd St. Promenade announcing a branch of Taiwanese shaved snow dessert people iSno Café. For those who are unclear, Taiwanese shaved snow is a milk-based “snow” topped with various toppings. What makes iSno different is that, according to their website, instead of copious quantities of condensed milk and canned fruit, theirs is made from “organic lactose-free, low-fat milk infused with organic honey and sugarcane” and using “real fruit with puree and superfood with no condensed milk”. ISno currently has one other location in Irvine.
Update: I heard from a company spokesperson who clarified: ISno is NOT a Taiwanese dessert shop, but rather their own brand with a uniquely “shaved snow creation”, as well as organic teas and coffees, and made-to-order croissant pastries. We wish them the best of luck.
Remember back in 2014 when I first noticed that Caffe Primo was intending on moving into the corner space at Arizona and 7th? This sleepy section of Downtown Santa Monica had been revitalized by the arrival of popular Cassia and Esters across the street. But something went wrong, and not only did Caffe Primo pull out of the space at 702 Arizona, but they closed everywhere. Since then the space has sat vacant… until now. A new ABC application announces that Izakaya Osen is moving in. At the time of this writing, I’m unclear if this is the same eatery as Silverlake’s Osen Izakaya. More to come…
Update: It will be the second branch for Osen Izakaya. Eater has the details here.
When a promising and plucky new French restaurant burst onto the scene early last year, I was hopeful that Air Food would be a new neighborhood favorite. But Downtown Santa Monica can be a tricky neighborhood. By all appearances, it looks like they have abandoned their location at 109 Broadway. Yelp is reporting them as temporarily closed, but the place is nearly gutted and… we’ve seen this before.
This is a bit mysterious… What was formerly a short-lived Bobarrito at 1321 Third St. Promenade in Santa Monica has morphed into something called Pink Sushi. I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
And while we’re on the subject of closures… I’m not sure when this happened, but I only recently noticed that Santa Monica’s popular sushi restaurant and after work bar scene Wokcano has quietly disappeared from its location at 1413 5th St. in Downtown Santa Monica. I’ll keep watching to see what hopeful contender may vie for the cavernous space.
Thanks to a tip from eagle-eyed reader Frank, who’s been keeping watch on the erstwhile home of O + O Sicilian Kitchen in Santa Monica, I went by to check things out. Easy to miss, a new ABC Application has gone up on the front door. It appears that a branch of Rakkan Ramen will soon be moving into the space 1705 Ocean Ave. Suite 111 (Behind the former Joan’s on Third). The Japanese chain has two other locations around LA, and is known for its plant-based dashi that is easily customized to accommodate vegans.
For all you who lament RFD’s club sandwich’s disappearance from Santa Monica, have hope! I have it on good authority that Real Food Daily will be triumphantly returning to Santa Monica sometime next year. Although I don’t have an actual address yet, look for a location somewhere along Ocean Ave. I’ll keep my eyes open…
I’ve long reported on the redevelopment of The Gallery, at 1325 Third St. Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica. What was formerly a fusty old collection of nondescript eateries has been transforming into a destination with some big names attached. You already know about Dialogue, and Voltaggio STRFSH, and recently you’ve been reading about Sumo Dog and Azulé Taqueria. And now add one more to the list. The Promenade-facing, second floor space is the future home of Paperboy. Paperboy appears to be the creation of Jeremy Fall (Nighthawk: Breakfast Bar), that in partnership with United Talent Agency, will deliver “a new innovative take on the classic pizza joint“.
Ever since I first told you about wine wonderland Wally’s impending arrival to the space at 214 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, a whole lot of you have been checking for details and peppering me with questions about an opening date. So here you go… A spokesperson informed me yesterday that Wally’s will officially throw open their doors on October 6th. You’re welcome.
Sadly, after a valiant effort, Santa Monica’s French charmer Chou Chou Café has closed up shop. A gracious note taped to the front of the troubled space at 313 Wilshire Blvd. thanks patrons and promises a relocation soon. We wish them the best of luck. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
Back in July, Eater let us know that Koreatown’s hip hot dog spot Sumo Dog was planning a move to Santa Monica, but they couldn’t confirm the location. Now it appears that we have evidence for their new digs. An ABC application taped to the wall of one of the interior spaces of The Gallery, at 1320 Third St. Promenade, provides the proof that Sumo Dog will indeed be landing in the same desirable location as STRFSH, Dialogue, and Sloan’s.
The last remaining soldier in the Market, that once promised us a Ferry Building-style experience atop Santa Monica Place, has finally found a new home. The popular culinary academy The Gourmandise School has now opened in their elegant new space across the way, next to the also recently relocated The Curious Palate. And what of the Market at Santa Monica Place? As I’ve already told you, it looks poised to become a children’s museum, thereby completely extinguishing any further gastronomic hopes.
In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a brief and cheery pop up that has landed in the Third Street Promenade. Celebrating 70 years of flavored milk, Nesquik Milk Stop is up and running at 1228 3rd Street. In a bright and playful space described as an “immersive, multisensory pop-up event”, expect multiple counters of treats, Instagram worthy photo ops, interactive activities, and giveaways. But you’d better hurry, the event ends on July 27th.
Loteria Grill abruptly vacated its prime Downtown Santa Monica location at 1251 3rd St Promenade back in late 2016. Since then, the space has sat vacant. But that’s about to change. Ocean Avenue’s humble tourist crowd pleaser Casa Martin is opening a branch at the location, at least according to a recently posted ABC application. No business name is listed, so I’ll keep watching for more details…
I recently noticed that long-standing local fave Japanese bolthole Musha Tokyo Cuisine has quit its Downtown Santa Monica location at 424 Wilshire Blvd. The windows are covered over and the restaurant appears to be undergoing renovation. I originally wondered if they were remodeling since there is no for lease sign on the front. But Yelp is reporting them closed and their website isn’t functioning, so I’m assuming the worst. Let me know if you have any information, but I’ll keep watching…
Back in August of last year, I told you about a sign of hope in the risky restaurant scene on the third floor of Santa Monica Place. An ABC application let us know that Torrance’s The Dudes’ Brewing Company was taking over the commodious space once occupied by Pizza Antica. So, for all you who have been patiently waiting and checking for updates, I deliver this happy news: The Dudes’ officially opened its doors last week and is now supplying craft-brewed suds and pizza to the good people of Santa Monica.
Still more signs of trouble for the consistently sputtering food scene in Santa Monica Place. It appears that another of the concessions on the third floor has disappeared. CrepeMaker has unceremoniously vacated its food court location. In other news… If you were hopeful that the failed The Market space might return with the promise of a new food venture, I’m afraid your hopes are about to be dashed on the rocks. In case you haven’t heard, the space is being converted into the Zimmer Children’s Museum, at least according to the new window displays. Perhaps the Dudes’ Brewing Company, currently under construction, will breathe new life into the third floor.
Bursting on the scene back in 2012, The Refinery specialized in brew-to-order drip coffee. Sadly, it appears that they have disappeared from their space at 413 Santa Monica Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. An impressive note on the door graciously says goodbye to many of their loyal customers, each listed by name.
Toddrickallen 