Tag Archives: Main St.

MAINopoly: A Taste Of Main Street, Sunday May 19th In Santa Monica

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This from my inbox: On Sunday, May 19th from 1pm-5pm is the 9th 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, bars, and treat shops.  Attendees will use “MAINopoly dollars” and are encouraged to dress in Monopoly-inspired costumes.  There will be a “Go to Jail” beer garden, free pedicab rides, pet adoptions, photo booth, and prizes.  Some of the restaurants that will be participating are: Ashland Hill, Holey Grail Donuts, Alfalfa, The Victorian, JuneShine, Jameson’s Pub, Tavern on Main, Papille Gustative, Pasjoli, Jinya Ramen Bar, MUD\WTR, Lula Cocina Mexicana.  The event takes place between Strand and Pier Ave. (Check in at The Victorian, 2640 Main St.) and benefits The Main St. Business Improvement Association.  Read more and get your tickets here.

Gnarwhal Coffee Co. Expands To Venice

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Cozy local java joint Gnarwhal Coffee Co. is apparently branching out from its buzzy Main Street location to an even buzzier neighborhood.  There’s an ABC application up at 1700 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice, previously home to the troubled Double Zero, letting us know that Gnarwhal is moving in.  I’m sure that organic, socially responsible coffee will be on the menu, but so will beer and wine according to the ABC app, so this may be a slightly different concept that their Main St. branch.

Met Her At The Bar’s Location In Santa Monca

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We’ve known for a while that cozy neighborhood darling Met Her At A Bar was expanding to Santa Monica.  Now we know where.  There’s an ABC application posted on the front of the extensive build-out at 2615 Main St. in Santa Monca that lets us know this is the future branch of Met Her At The Bar.  The self-described “hip little neighborhood cafe” has a location on S. La Brea Ave. and is known for Belgian waffles and coffee.

Rabano Bringing “Fresh And Healthy” To Main St.

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The space at 2507 Main St. in Santa Monica has been a bit of a mystery for the last few years.  Once the home of Novel Cafe, the space has been gutted with intermittent construction.  Readers assured me it was either going to be a restaurant, or bar, or something, but I could never verify anything… until now.  A sign recently went up over the door announcing the arrival of Rabano Handcrafted Food & Drinks.  Rabano has a location in Hermosa Beach and has a “fresh and healthy” menu of salads, bowls, and sandwiches that utilizes local ingredients and focuses on the environment.

MAINopoly: A Taste Of Main Street, Sunday May 27th In Santa Monica

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This from my inbox: On Sunday, May 27th from 1pm-5pm is the 8th 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, bars, 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, Pasjoli, Papille Gustative, JuneShine, Jameson’s Pub, and Holey Grail Donuts.  The event takes place between Navy and Bay St. (Check in at The Victorian, 2640 Main St.) and benefits The Main St. Business Improvement Association.  Read more and get your tickets here.

Standing’s Butchery Is Coming To Venice At Last

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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.

MAINopoly: A Taste Of Main Street This Sunday May 29th In Santa Monica

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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.

Vamos Vamos Replacing The Drift Kitchen In Santa Monica

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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.

Super Domestic Bringing Coffee And Cycling To Venice Soon…

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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.

Urban Skillet Opens In Santa Monica On…

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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.

Holey Grail Donuts Bringing Hawaiian Treats To Santa Monica

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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.

Cobi’s Replaces Dhaba In Santa Monica

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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.

Ben & Jerry’s Opens In Beverly Hills

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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.

Umami Burger Coming To Venice

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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. 

Alfalfa Opening LA’s First Branch In Santa Monica

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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.

Go Get Em Tiger Pounces On Santa Monica

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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.

Edobox Coming Soon To Santa Monica

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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…

The Best New Restaurant You Haven’t Eaten At… Yet

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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.

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Yet Another CBTL Gone?

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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?

CBTL

Ensoku Ramen Replaces PoKing In Santa Monica

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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.

Ensoku