Brentwood is white-hot for new restaurants. I spied a new ABC application on the front of the Contempo Floor Covering store at 908 S Barrington Ave. in Brentwood. It names the new ‘general’ eating place as Sora. A little more digging reveals that this will be the future home of a branch of Sora Temaki Bar. Sora has a location in The Grove, and one on the way in Thousand Oaks, and offers a wide menu of temaki that “brings together innovation and heritage in every hand-rolled bite”.
The triumphant return of the carbohydrate continues with its inexorable victory march across The Westside… There’s window paper up on the space at 11710 San Vicente Blvd in Brentwood declaring the impending arrival of PopUp Bagels. (Not to be confused with Pop’s Bagels just up the street.) They began as a backyard pickup window and have since spread to locations up and down the East Coast. PopUp Bagels has a simple goal: To offer “best, freshest bagels. No frills, plainly perfect: crispy crust and soft crumb center, just the right size and with a perfect proportion of seeds.” This new location, and another in La Jolla, appear to be the first on our side of the Country.
While I’ve known this for months, I’ve held off on telling you as I didn’t have concrete proof. But now, so many people have written to tell me, I’m just passing it on as fact. If you’re tired of waiting in the perpetual line at Montana Avenue’s branch of crazy-popular La La Land Kind Cafe, a second nearby location may bring some relief. It appears that La La Land is moving into the old Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 11698 San Vicente Blvd in Brentwood. La La Land has six other locations across LA, with more in Texas, and offers “valuable support and opportunities for fostering youth and individuals in need“, as well as an excellent French Toast Latte.
It appears that Brentwood Gardens, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd in Brentwood, is continuing its transformation into a proper food destination. Along with Ospi, Sweetgreen, and the upcoming Pérse, and Cafe Landwer, we can add one more eatery to the mix. Their website confirms that Go Greek Yogurt is setting up housekeeping in the ground floor space #117. Go Greek Yogurt began in 2012 and has since opened locations across California, Florida, and the Middle East. They offer a made-to-order concept of European imported yogurt that honors the “traditions and values” of Greek culture.
(Thanks Maddie!)
It was back in October of 2022 when I told you that national plant-based chain Planta was opening a gorgeous location in the old Pizzicotto and Kreation spaces at 11758 and 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Sadly, it appears that Planta has pulled up stakes at the address. A gracious note on the door doesn’t give a reason, and it directs fans of plant-based to Planta Cocina in The Marina. I’ll keep an eye on the space to see what may develop.
A reader found out more information here.
I usually don’t write about news that I can’t confirm, but I’m hearing this from so many sources that I’m going to pass it on. Brentwood Gardens, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd., is becoming a dining destination. There is already an outpost of pasta expert Ospi (which consequently has a new location in Montecito), and lunch spot Sweetgreen. Recently, I told you about the possible arrival of Cafe Landwer. And on the third floor, construction is underway on what may soon be Pérse. I don’t have much information other than the name, so if you have more, let me know.
Yet more Brentwood news… I heard from a sharp-eyed anonymous reader that a new sandwich spot will be taking over the old New York Bagel spot at 11640 San Vicente Blvd, in the Town & Country shopping center. While there’s no signage up yet, the website confirms that GGiata is moving in. With five other locations around LA, GGiata bills itself as an “East Coast-style Italian deli”. Check out their menu of sandwiches, salads, breakfasts, and seasonal items here.
There is a lot of news coming out of Brentwood lately. I had been hearing that Beverly Grove’s crazy popular coffee shop Community Goods was opening in Brentwood, but I couldn’t find any proof. There’s nothing visible from the street. Thankfully, a sharp-eyed reader sent me the evidence. If you look carefully at the floorplan of the shopping center that is being remodeled on the corner of San Vicente and Montana Ave, the location is revealed. Community Goods in moving into a back space of The Lawn, at 11911 San Vicente. Expect a focused menu of coffee drinks and breakfast and lunch choices such as breakfast sliders, turkey or tuna sandwiches, toasts, and banana bread. Read this review to get a glimpse of what is coming. Watch this space for more Brentwood news soon…
Ever since the beloved California Pizza Kitchen in the Brentwood Gardens, at 11677 San Vicente, closed their long-standing second floor location last year, readers have been demanding answers. The space has been leased, and the directory on the ground floor lists the new tenant as Cafe Landwer. This real estate website appears to confirm this. With a nearby location in Century City, Cafe Landwer started out as a coffee bar in Germany in 1919, later moving to Israel, where it continues to roast coffee and operate a number of locations. Expect a menu with a variety of choices including shakshuka, bowls, schnitzel, burgers, pizza, and pasta.
To The Good People of Brentwood comes this unhappy news: I’ve confirmed that beloved local institution, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, at 11698 San Vicente Blvd, will permanently close this Sunday, March 23rd. While many disheartened fans have written to tell me this news, one reader (Thanks Steve!) reminded me that CBTL actually began in Brentwood, albeit not at this location. He also informed me that this address was previously home to the All American Burger featured in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. You have just a few hours left to drop by and grab one last oat milk latte… and contemplate the historic neighborhood loss.
It appears that Santa Monica/Brentwood are getting a new vegan burger joint. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Tony!) spotted a piece of paper on the door at 262 26th St. in Santa Monica, just across from the Brentwood Country Mart, most recently home to Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine. The name and signature frowning logo appear to let us know that philanthropic plant-based burger brand Mr. Charlie’s is setting up housekeeping at the address. Mr. Charlie’s, with its yellow and red signage, is apparently a TikTok sensation with locations in LA, San Francisco, and Sydney, and has been described as a “vegan McDonald’s“.
A charming new taco spot has landed at 11714 San Vicente Blvd., just to the right of Pizzana in Brentwood. Serving from a counter with outdoor seating, Tu Madre opened on Friday to excited patrons. Tu Madre has five other locations across LA and is known for their innovative tacos and burritos including the signature fried chicken taco, as well as margarita flights.
With a location in The Original Farmers Market, it appears that loaf experts Gone Bananas Bread is expanding. There’s a banner and new signage up at 13016 San Vicente Blvd. announcing the news. This address had previously been the home of local favorite A Votre Sante since 1987. Read about Gone Bananas Bread’s story here and check out their menu of proprietary quick bread loaves such as the Big Banana here.
Update: Thanks, Jay, for doing the footwork on this. Beloved local institution A Votre Sante is NOT closed. They remain open and will share the location with Gone Bananas Bread.
The two second floor restaurants in Brentwood Gardens Plaza, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd, have always been a bit problematic. I’ve long wondered if perhaps it is due to the fact that they’re not street-level. The space currently operated by Ospi has been through a number of excellent iterations over the years. But the other space has been home to California Pizza Kitchen for a very long time. Sadly, that chapter has come to a close. Readers have been letting me know that CPK has vacated the space. While there are still many locations around, this location was dear for many as it was their first encounter with the revolutionary California Cuisine brand that invented “The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza“.
We have a plucky new contender throwing their hat into the ring of a very competitive pizza market in Brentwood. Window graphics are up on the space 11684 W San Vicente announcing the arrival of Flour Cafe and Pizzeria. Their website gives a wildly different address in the heart of a residential neighborhood in Santa Monica but confirms a Brentwood location. Flour has a location in the Palisades and offers a solid menu of New York style pies, as well as salads and sandwiches. 
It appears the people behind Beverly Hills’ popular sophisticated steakhouse Matū are bringing their passion for exceptional beef to Brentwood. A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Jack!) noticed an ABC application on the front of a former men’s clothing store at 11777 San Vicente Blvd. Ste 134, just to the right of Katsuya. While the application doesn’t give away the business name, the applicant is Grass Fed Wagyu LLC, the parent company behind the stylish steakhouse. The online application does appear to confirm that this will be the location of a new Matū. Construction is underway, so an opening may be a way off, but until then, read about restauranteur Jerry Greenberg‘s (UOVO, SUGARFISH, HiHo Cheeseburger) pursuit of steak perfection here.
A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks Michael!) noticed an ABC application on a not-easy-to-spot build-out in Brentwood. It appears to reveal that breezy coffee and casual dining spot Great White is setting up housekeeping at 11660 Darlington Ave, right behind A.O.C. Great White bills itself as an “all day cafe” at its three other choice locations across LA, and offers a menu of breakfast, sandwiches, bowls, share plates, and pizza that you can check out here.
It looks like the good people of Brentwood are getting a fresh new dining option. Window paper is up on the space at 11753 San Vicente Blvd, once home to Moo Greek Yogurt, announcing the arrival of LA Sushi Co. LA Sushi Co has locations in local event stadiums, so it appears this will be their first standalone brick-and-mortar. 
Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine threw open their doors in July of 2019, at 262 26th St. in Santa Monica, just across from the Brentwood Country Mart. At the time, the introduction of Himalayan food to the tony neighborhood caused quite a stir. Sadly, readers are reporting to me that Tara’s has since disappeared from this location. Apparently, fans can still order from the Venice location.
Cheery lifestyle brand SunLife Organics is bringing their signature message, “to love, heal, and inspire”, to the Good People of Brentwood and Santa Monica. There’s window paper up on a commodious corner space in the Brentwood Town Center on the corner of San Vicente and 26th St. announcing the happy news. Expect a menu of their proprietary juices, shakes, bowls, and coffee/tea.
Toddrickallen 