San Diego’s Parakeet Cafe continues its push into LA County. Last year, I told you about the health-focused chain taking over the old Chin Chin space in Beverly Hills. Recently, window paper went up at 13050 San Vicente Blvd. suite 112, most recently home to a mysterious branch of Umami Burger ghost kitchen, announcing that a new branch of Parakeet Cafe is settling in at this address as well. Check out another location’s menu here to get an idea of what may be coming…
Well that certainly took a long time… I first told you that Santa Monica’s popular Italian staple Rosti Tuscan Kitchen was opening another location in Brentwood almost two years ago. Since then, people have been demanding answers. While I’m not certain as to what caused the delay, I can tell you that they have recently opened for business at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 104, in what had once been an outpost of Industry darling La Scala. I’m told the menu is the same as the Montana Ave. location.
(Thanks Eric!)
I’m hearing from readers that Brentwood’s beloved icy treat shop Yogurtland appears to have vacated its longtime location at 11706 San Vicente Blvd. I’m not sure what happened, but as real estate prices rise, the busy retail and food section along San Vicente appears to be undergoing a transformation. Kreation recently skedaddled, and so did Hollywood old school fave Vicenti, both with big splashy replacements on the way. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what may develop.
(Thanks Stephen!)
I’ve been hearing from shocked readers that after 25 years, under-the-radar Brentwood powerhouse Vincenti Restorante has closed up shop at 11930 San Vicente Blvd. Vincenti dazzled The Westside for 25 years with its combination of inventive Italian food created by Chef Nicolo Mastronardi and its sophisticated setting. The hard-working woman behind Vincenti, Maureen Vincenti, would greet you with a hug at the door and inquire about your life as she led you into the elegantly appointed dining room studded with old-school Hollywood A-listers and industry execs. And while the luster may have dulled a tad recently, it’s easy to forget that Maureen’s late husband, Muaro Vincenti, along with Piero Salvaggio and others, revolutionized the way Los Angeles and America experienced Italian food. Its closure feels like the end of an era of classic Italian fine dining. Read Maureen’s and Chef Mastronardi’s parting message here.
Wasting no time whatsoever, it appears that Telefèric Barcelona will be throwing their hat into the ring of the recent tapas craze by taking over the space. Telefèric Barcelona hails from Spain and has a smattering of locations in NoCal. They offer a “truly authentic Spanish Tapas concept and experience”. Check out their menu here.
Erratum: This story was originally published with the misspelling of Vicenti instead of the correct Vincenti. My apologies.
Ever since Pizzicotto and Kreation moved out of their respective spaces at 11758 and 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, people have been contacting me demanding answers. Thanks to the clever investigative work of a reader (Thanks Eric!), I may have an answer. Eric discovered that the two spaces will be joined and become the home to Planta. (Their website does confirm a Brentwood location, but doesn’t give an address, so I don’t have confirmation on this.) Planta restaurant group has locations across America and Canada and promotes a celebration of ‘the power of plants” with a 100% plant-based dining concept. It looks like another location is coming to Marina del Rey as well.
It appears that juice and cleanse experts Kreation Organic has cleared out of its location at 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. That leaves another gaping hole in a block that used to contain many eateries. I’ll keep my eye on the location to see what may develop. And yes, I’m still watching the former Pizzicotto space which appears to have been leased. (Thanks Eric!)
I’m a little late in reporting this, but I’ve been hearing from shocked readers that Chin Chin has closed its doors at 206 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. I’m not entirely sure what happened, but the Asian-ish eatery has been a staple of the Beverly Hills dining scene for 25 years. One reader (Thanks Steve!) claimed it was due to leasing issues, and noted that the nearby branch in Brentwood is getting a much-needed scrub-up so don’t count Chin Chin out yet. It appears that the space is already leased, and as always, I’ll keep an eye out to see what may develop.
Update: While I have not confirmed this, a reader (Thanks Robin!) reports that this will be a branch of San Diego’s own Parakeet Cafe.
The C3 Restaurant Platform is having a moment… It was only last week when I told you about the arrival of Umami Burger to Venice. Now it seems Brentwood is getting lucky as well. Umami Burger is currently moving into the old Le Pain Quotidien space at 13050 San Vicente Blvd Ste 114 (corner of 26th), consequently the same shopping center that is the home to the new swanky bento box restaurant Imari. A company spokesperson contacted me to let me know that this location, as well as the new Venice location, will also host a ghost kitchen for Sam’s Crispy Chicken, Krispy Rice, Kumi.
The hidden little space at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 104 has had a bumpy ride since its under-the-radar glam industry spot La Scala quit the location. For a while it was a short-lived French eatery called Meet In Paris, but mostly it has sat empty. That’s about to change. There’s an ABC application posted on the front announcing that this space will soon be a branch of Santa Monica’s perpetually popular Italian powerhouse Rosti Tuscan Kitchen. (They also have a branch in Calabases as well.) Brentwood sure does love its Italian restaurants…
Good people of Brentwood, carbs are heading your way! With one other pop-up store in Culver City, Pop’s Bagels is moving into the space that used to be home to Alfred Tea Room at 11928 San Vicente Blvd. And what makes Pop’s special? Their three flavors of bagels (plain, everything, and cinnamon raisin) are made in small batches throughout the day ensuring crispy, hot perfection. They also make their own cream cheeses and cultured butter from scratch. We wish them the best of luck.
I heard from a number of devastated readers that beloved quiet neighborhood powerhouse Pizzicotto had permanently closed its doors at 11758 San Vicente in Brentwood, so I went by to have a look. Sure enough, the Italian bolthole has papered over their windows, and Yelp has pronounced them closed. They will be sorely missed by their legions of fans. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what may develop.
Back in September of 2018 I told you about the opening of Alfred Tea Room at 11928 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. Recently, I heard from a reader (Thanks Jill!) that there was a for lease sign hanging on the front so I went by to have a look. Sure enough, the sign is there indicating that Alfred is vacating the space. I’ll keep watching to see what may develop.
After being peppered with questions from curious readers who noticed activity at the erstwhile location of local bolthole Le Petit Café at 2842 Colorado Ave., I went by to have a look. Sure enough, a brand new awning declares the new restaurant to be Le Petit Chez Mimi. Fortunately, I was able to have a chat with the delightful proprietor, Micheline Hébert (nicknamed Mimi), the beloved and irrepressible force behind the Chez Mimi empire. (Chez Mimi closed at 26th and San Vicente almost 10 years ago.) She explained that she is excited by this new project: They have retained the chef from Le Petit Café and the menu will be similar as well… as in, thoroughly French. Think sole meunière, truite amandine, and boeuf bourguignon. They are planning on a March opening. In the mean time, check out the photo Ms. Hébert provided to get a glimpse inside this new French charmer.
Update: Le Petit Chez Mimi is now open. Read more here.
Brentwood’s neighborhood fave Italian hideaway for celebrities, Toscana, has temporarily closed as of January 1st at 11633 San Vicente Blvd. According to a notice on the front door, they will apparently be having the kitchen renovated. The notice also promises a March 1st reopening. In the mean time, Bar Toscana, right next door, will remain open for lunch and dinner.
Well THAT didn’t take long… It was only back in May when I told you that Culver City’s Meet In Paris was expanding into the old La Scala space at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. (At the time, I was told the name was going to be Café Parisien) I’m not sure what happened, but readers have been letting me know that after only a few months, Meet In Paris has closed down. I’ll keep watching the space to see what develops.
If you’ve noticed all the construction on the building at 11601 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, on the corner of Wilshire, you may be wondering what’s coming… Window paper recently went up letting us all know that the prominent location will soon be the home of Brentwood’s first branch of rapidly-expanding Australian coffee chain Bluestone Lane. Where to find parking on the busy corner is anyone’s guess…
For a long while now a teaser in the window of the space just to the right of Brentwood’s perpetually busy Katsuya let us know that a new “experience” was heading our way. Now we know what it is. Plywood just went up around the space announcing that a new branch of SBE’s S Bar at Katsuya is moving in. While I can’t tell you exactly what to expect, I think we can get an idea by looking at Miami’s S Bar Brickell.
Thanks to a tip from a reader, I went to check out what was going on at the former La Scala space at 11740 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, after La Scala’s recent relocation to Wilshire Blvd. Sure enough, a new ABC application is posted on the front. While no business name is listed, the applicant tracks to a location in Culver City, which happens to be French charmer Meet In Paris. So I called Meet In Paris and spoke to a source who told me that the Brentwood space will soon be the home of a second branch of Larchmont Village’s Café Parisien, sister restaurant to Meet In Paris. I’m told that the menu will be similar to the Meet In Paris menu, but with a stronger emphasis on dinner, like Café Parisien. They’re shooting for an end of May opening, “fingers crossed”. We wish them the best of luck…
Back in April, I told you about the new Kreation Kafe coming to the old Gaucho Grill location at 11754 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. At the time, I noticed an ABC application on the front, something unusual for the healthy chain better known for their “pressed juices” and “cleanses”. Kreation Kafe officially opened today at 7am. (If you rush, you might be lucky enough to be one of the first 100 who will receive free juice.) But what’s different about this Kreation, is that they will be serving “Kreation Kocktails”, which are made with beer, wine, and their proprietary juice blends and are intended for people who “like to drink healthy but still get buzzed”. Kale yes!
Back in March, I told you about the impending arrival of cult coffee shop Alfred’s less-caffeinated offshoot Alfred Tea Room to the space at 11928 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. For all of you who have been eagerly checking for updates I have this happy news: Alfred Tea opened this week. Expect a menu of tea, milk tea, and matcha in a bright and cheery tiled setting with an outdoor patio.
Toddrickallen 