The news was first reported on this two years ago. And then nothing happened. But just this week, an ABC application has appeared on the front of the space at 202 Main St. in Venice confirming that Melrose’s Standing’s Butchery IS moving into the address after all. This means Standing’s selection of ethically sourced local meats, with burgers and beer and wine, but you can read the full skinny on what this will mean for the Seaside Neighborhood on Eater’s original story here.
This landed in my inbox: This Sunday, May 29th from 12-5pm is the 7th annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street. This event is a pet-friendly, boardgame-themed culinary walking tour of Main Street’s fave neighborhood eateries, coffee spots, and treat shops. Attendees will use “MAINopoly dollars” and are encouraged to dress in “Monopoly-inspired or patriotic Memorial Day attire”. There will be a “Go to Jail” beer garden, cocktails, DJ, and prizes. Some (but not all) of the restaurants that will be participating are: Ashland Hill, Sweet Rose Creamery, June Shine, and Holey Grail Donuts. The event takes place between Navy and Bay St. (check in at Ashland Hill) and benefits The Main St. Business Improvement Association. Read more and get your tickets here.
A reader (Thanks Andrew!) wrote to tell me that he had noticed an ABC application in the window of the erstwhile location of The Drift Kitchen at 2917 Main St. in Santa Monica. The application lists the name of the new restaurant as Vamos Vamos. I can’t find any definitive information on this new eatery, so if you have any, let me know. As for The Drift Kitchen, their website says they are searching for a new location, but in the meantime, they have a pop-up at their sister restaurant Rocketship Coffee on Melrose.
Update: Read more about Vamos Vamos here.
There are notices in the window of the two spaces at 1330 and 1380 Main St. in Venice that let us know that coffee is coming soon. The notices also tell us that this is a new project from @superdomesticcxc. Super Domestic Coffee is a coffee and cyclery concept that has a location in Culver City and a location in LA. Besides coffee, tea, and kombucha, Super Domestic offers a menu of pastries, bagels, burritos, tartines, and cycle accessories.
It appears a new burger joint is close to opening in Santa Monica. Almost overnight, signs went up at 2307 Main St. announcing that a branch of Urban Skillet is moving in. Urban Skillet hails from Minnesota with a location in The Valley as well, and is known for their Halal burgers, as well as chicken burgers, wings, fries, and hand-blended shakes. They will be throwing open their doors on Friday, March 11th at 12pm. For their Grand Opening, they are offering a free burger when you buy a burger with this coupon.
There’s window paper up on the space that used to be home of Ben & Jerry’s, at 2441 Main St. in Santa Monica, announcing a new fried confectionary shop is on the way. Holey Grail Donuts has locations in Hawaii as well as a pop-up in Culver City and specializes in donuts made with “Hawaiian grown taro root [that] has been pounded and fermented to create a dough base” which is then fried in coconut oil and sold individually or in weekly “tasting boxes”. Coffee, matcha, and chai are also on the menu.
I’ve been keeping my eye on what has been happening at the former home of longtime iconic Indian standard Dhaba at 2104 Main St. The location has been a hive of activity recently with construction and upgrades… And now we know what’s going on. A new sign has gone up announcing the arrival of Cobi’s at Dhaba, which soft-opened last night and is opening to the public on Thursday. Cobi’s used to operate a restaurant at 8422 W 3rd St. that closed earlier this year. This is a fresh start for the Southeast Asian eatery that is being described to me as “a new creation with ‘partial honors’ to the old Dhabba”. Check out their menu here. Reservations can now be found on Resy. We wish them the best of luck.
You know the old saying; When the Lord closes an ice cream shop, somewhere he opens another. People were devastated by the recent closure of Santa Monica’s longstanding and beloved branch of popular icy treat brand Ben & Jerry’s. But from out of nowhere, a brand new location has opened at 253 S Beverly Dr. (formerly home to Creamistry). You’re welcome.
The space at 235 Main St. in Venice has sat vacant ever since Komodo moved out. But that’s about to change… Window paper is covering the location announcing a new branch of Umami Burger. Umami caused quite a stir when it burst onto the scene at its flagship LA spot in 2009 and has since spread to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, The Bahamas, and Japan. And they are offering “free burger days” when they eventually open, so you may want to keep a look out.
I noticed new window covering on the diminutive space that used to house short-lived Astro Donghnuts & Fried Chicken at 2309 Main St. in Santa Monica. Upon closer inspection, the covering reveals that something called Alfalfa is moving in. And what is Alfalfa? As it turns out, the only other branch is in Hoboken, New Jersey, so this will be their first LA area branch. Look for a menu of salads, soups, breakfast burritos, and doughnuts served in a “warm atmosphere”. While it looks like they’re still developing the Santa Monica menu, you can check out the menu of their Hoboken location here. We wish them the best of luck.
Recently, I’d been keeping my eye on the space at 2645 Main St. in Santa Monica, a space previously occupied by Amelia’s Espresso & Panini. Readers were noticing that something was going on, but I couldn’t get any confirmation. Then one reader (Thanks Joe!) let me know that the new java joint was none other that innovative coffee purveyors Go Get Em Tiger. They wasted no time and threw open their doors two days ago (10/06/2020), pretty remarkable at a time like this. We wish them the best of luck.
Late last year I told you about the exit of popular burger joint Cowabunga Republic from it’s tiny spot at 2912 Main St. in Santa Monica. Now it looks like a new eatery is willing to give the space a go. A banner on the front is announcing that something called Edobox is on the way. I’ve attempted to reach them but have so far been unsuccessful, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see what will be on offer.
Update: I heard from a number of readers on this restaurant who had sharper eyes than mine. Here’s what it says on their FB page, “Design your own Bento Box at chef Makoto Okuwa’s fresh new fast-casual restaurant on Main Street in Santa Monica with breezy outdoor dining.” Thanks to all who reached out to tell me…
Despite this difficult time, a charming new eatery has descended to earth to spread a little love. Meet Papille Gustative (“taste bud” in French), which recently opened its bright and sunny storefront at 2823 Main St. in Santa Monica. The menu was described to me as modern farm-to-table healthy California cuisine using regionally-sourced ingredients. Currently, they are only open for breakfast and lunch, but plans are underway for dinner and a liquor license as well. And with the repurposing of Main St. to accomidate outdoor dining, there are also tables for al fresco eating. Check out that menu, and read more here. We wish them the best of luck.
I’ve been watching the mass extinction of The Westside’s beloved Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. It appears yet another one may have bitten the dust. The popular CBTL at 2901 Main St. in Santa Monica appears to be closed. While it doesn’t have the poster announcing the closure as the other ones have had, the windows are papered over and the equipment has been removed. What is going on?
I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but a new noodle joint has quietly slipped into the location that once housed the self-described “King of Poke”, PoKing at 2307 Main St. in Santa Monica. An awning has appeared that lets us know Ensoku Ramen now resides at that address. What’s on offer? Rolls and ramen with “authentic broth, fresh ingredients”, and a “wide variety”. And they’re open for take away.
It appears that something new is taking over the Rick’s Tavern on Main space at 2907 Main St. in Santa Monica. An ABC application posted on the front lists the business name as Station 26. Station 26 just happens to be the closest lifeguard station on the beach. I couldn’t find much information on this new eatery, so if you have any details let me know.
Three years ago, I first told you about a Josiah Citrin (Melisse, Charcoal) project moving into the old Santa Monica Electric Co. at 2428 Main St. Since then, furtive signs of work have continued on and off for Dave’s Doghouse, which led me to believe that the restaurant was still in progress. I know that many of you have been checking for updates on this project, but it appears it may have been abandonned. The review signs and ABC application have been taken down, and the space was being inhabited by a pop-up shop selling goods for an elephant charity prior to the shutdown. If you have any information, let me know…
The recent turnover in the food court of the Century City Shopping Center is breathing new life to into the dining scene there. Plywood is up on the space that used to house Bibigo Kitchen (which has moved locations in the mall) announcing the impending arrival of Bok Bok Mediterranean. And that’s not all: According to their website, they will be opening a location at 235 Main St. in Venice as well. Look for a menu of panini, pitas, and plates of shawerma, falafel, rotisserie chicken, with other Mediterranean specialties.
It appears that casual outdoor burger spot Cowabunga Republic has closed up shop at 2912 Main St. in Santa Monica. The giant for lease sign on the front confirms the sad news. Cowabunga Republic burst on the scene earlier this year with a lot of initial attention from locals. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching the unusual space to see what new venture may take a chance.
Having opened in 2013, Kippy’s! Non-Dairy Ice Cream Shop had high hopes when they moved their location from Lincoln Blvd. to 245 Main St. in Venice. Last week, however, a sad note was taped to the front door pronouncing Kippy’s! as closed. A more detailed notice on their website graciously thanks their customers and promises a comeback. We wish them the best of luck.
Toddrickallen 