Breaking News: Citrin Opens On…

Posted on December 6, 2019 by toddrickallen

Many of you have been asking for answers about what is happening behind the construction at LA’s legendary fine dining space Melisse. This just landed in my inbox: Josiah Citrin’s highly anticipated new restaurant is named Citrin and will open on December 12th at the Melisse location (1104 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica). The food is being described as “modern Californian” and the space a “fun, welcoming, and approachable room” with a large bar and an a la carte menu. Reservations are now being accepted here. And we’re being told to expect a new “Melisse experience” soon. I’ll keep you posted…

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Cowabunga Republic Wipes Out In Santa Monica

Posted on November 29, 2019 by toddrickallen

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.

Trader Joe’s Wilshire Will Open On…

Posted on November 15, 2019 by toddrickallen

What must be the Westside’s worst-kept secret, Trader Joe’s arrival to the heart of Santa Monica has long been established. Ever since I first confirmed it to you earlier this year, I’ve been deluged with questions about an opening date from adoring fans who were geographically challenged by not having one in their backyard. So here ya go: Trader Joe’s Wilshire officially opens tomorrow, November 16th at 2300 Wilshire Blvd. You’re welcome.

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Pinkberry Disappears From Downtown Santa Monica…

Posted on October 25, 2019 by toddrickallen

Once a darling with posing celebrities, Pinkberry lead the pack in the frozen yogurt explosion a number of years back. Could this be an indication that times and tastes have moved on? I was surprised to see that Pinkberry has vanished from its prime location at 1456 Third Street Promenade. I’ll keep watching to see what may take over the space.

NC’s Jazz Shack Swings Into Santa Monica

Posted on October 18, 2019 by toddrickallen

I’ve been watching the commodious space at 1413 5th St. in Downtown Santa Monica ever since its longstanding tenant, Wokcano, disappeared about a year ago. It finally looks like a new venture is moving in. An ABC application recently went up announcing the impending arrival of NC’s Jazz Shack. I can’t seem to find much information out there on NC’s, but I’ll keep watching…

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Swingers Diner Folds In Santa Monica

Posted on October 2, 2019 by toddrickallen

Well this came as a bit of a shock… After what seems like, well… forever (in reality, 26 years), it appears that Santa Monica’s branch of retro diner Swingers has thrown in the towel at its 802 Broadway location. So what happened to the neighborhood’s fave late night hang out joint? A note affixed to the front door cites rising labor and food costs, and operating expenses as the culprits.

Il Fornaio Triumphantly Returning To Santa Monica…

Posted on September 15, 2019 by toddrickallen

You may recall that a branch of Il Fornaio used to anchor the corner of Ocean Ave. and Colorado (where Del Frisco’s Grill now resides) until its closure many years ago. But now it appears that the beloved Italian bakery/restaurant is about to make its return to Santa Monica. The space at 401 Wilshire Blvd, suite 150, has just completed a major renovation, turning it into a bright and airy storefront with a large deck and a mid-century feel. Recently an ABC application was affixed to the front informing us that this will be the location of Osteria Del Fornaio, a slightly different business name, but the applicant is listed as the Il Fornaio America Corporation, parent company of Il Fornaio and Canaletto Ristorante Veneto. Right now, the space is completely gutted, so we may have to wait a while to find out more…

Café De Mundo Bringing World-Inspired Coffee To Santa Monica

Posted on September 8, 2019 by toddrickallen

Santa Monica is white hot for new eateries right now… Now it looks like they’re about to get a new neighborhood caffeine joint. Construction appears to be nearing completion on Café de Mundo at 1502 Broadway. Crafted coffee drinks “inspired by how the world drinks it” and Farmshop pastries and sandwiches will be on offer. They’re shooting for a Fall opening.

Tartine’s Santa Monica Location Will Be…

Posted on September 5, 2019 by toddrickallen

We first got tipped off about Tartine’s expansion into Santa Monica by Eater, but no location was given. Then an excited reader recently spotted this, which seems to imply that Tartine will be landing in a new development on the corner of 20th and Arizona (1925 Arizona to be exact), site of the former Gates, Kingsley & Gates Moeller Murphy Funeral Directors building! So I went by to check things out. The funeral parlor closed a while ago, and the lot was sold. The expansive corner space is currently under construction, and an application posted out front indicates that a five story building will eventually stand on the corner. There’s no indication from the permits that Tartine will be part of the new development. So I reached out to a rep for Tartine, who confirmed that yes, they will be opening at this location. The medical/residential neighborhood at first seems an odd choice for San Francisco’s darling of rustic bread and pastries. But remember that Susan Feniger’s and Mary Sue Milliken’s upcoming project Socalo is only a block away, and sleek The Rooster is two blocks away, so it appears the area is turning into a something of a food destination.

Kameo Shave Ice Joins Social Eats In The Gallery, Santa Monica

Posted on August 21, 2019 by toddrickallen

What was in distant memory once a dusty old Third Street Promenade tourist pit stop, The Gallery Food Hall, has been systematically transforming into a remarkable food destination over the past few years. Joining such lofty names as STRFSH, Paperboy, Dialogue, and the fascinating Social Eats concept, there’s now another name to add to the list. Kameo Shave Ice has opened in the old Everytable space on the ground floor. But you’d better hurry, the website promises a “limited time” only.

Pita House Sets Up Housekeeping In Santa Monica

Posted on August 17, 2019 by toddrickallen

About two years ago, the strip mall popular with SaMoHi students on the corner of Lincoln and Pico in Santa Monica underwent a major remodel. Some of the storefronts mysteriously remain vacant, but it appears that is changing. Work is fast and furious on a new restaurant moving into the corner location. A new sign promises us that Pita House will soon be bringing us “Mediterranean cuisine”.

ELA Greek Eats Landing In Venice

Posted on August 2, 2019 by toddrickallen

Construction is fast and furious on a new Greek restaurant landing in the strip mall on the corner of Rose and Lincoln in Venice. A new sign lets us know that ELA Greek Eats is well underway. ELA is a project from the man behind the erstwhile Waterloo & City in Culver City and Inotheke in Santa Monica, Carolos Tomazos. We wish him the best of luck.

Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine Now Open In Santa Monica/Brentwood

Posted on July 12, 2019 by toddrickallen

It was back in November that I told you about the impending arrival of Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine to the tricky location that was previously occupied by Kayndaves, at 262 26th St. in Santa Monica, across from the Brentwood Country Mart. To those of you who have been following this story for updates, I have good news: Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine has officially thrown open its doors for business. This is their third location. Look for an extensive menu featuring Nepali, Tibetan, and Indian food. No liquor license yet, but they’ll let you bring in wine with no corkage. We wish them every success…

Pure Food Bringing Organic, Plant-Based Falafels To Santa Monica

Posted on July 6, 2019 by toddrickallen

I’ve been watching the space that used to house the little diner Tulip Cafe at 1314 Colorado Ave. in a desolate industrial part of Santa Monica. It’s been idle for a while, then a notice appeared maybe a year or two ago that an experimental new eatery was moving in. Then that notice disappeared. Now a plucky new restaurant is going to give the quirky location a try. A banner over the door announces that Pure Food will soon inhabit the diminutive space. You can read the menu here, but it looks like falafels are the star of the show, as well as other Mediterranean specialties.

Everytable Closes In Century City, Santa Monica

Posted on July 4, 2019 by toddrickallen

Trouble for Everytable? With a visionary concept of bringing fresh, nutritious, made-from-scratch meals to a fast food world, Everytable ambitiously sought to transform the food scene along the lines of what McDonald’s did a half century ago. But sadly, their location in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center is now vacant, and so is their spot in Santa Monica’s mercurial The Gallery. Other locations appear to be open.

Everytable Century City…

Everytable Santa Monica…

Erin Mckenna’s Bakery Now Dishing Donuts In Santa Monica…

Posted on June 26, 2019 by toddrickallen

Back in August of last year, I told you about a new treat shop landing in the old Blue Plate space at 1415 Montana Ave. You wouldn’t know it from the lack of signs, but Santa Monica’s branch of Erin McKenna’s Bakery opened over the weekend, joining locations in New York, Orlando, and on Larchmont. Look for a menu of donuts, muffins, cakes, and other sweets, as well as breakfast and lunch items that are vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and kosher.

SaMo PRIDE Events At The Gallery…

Posted on June 13, 2019 by toddrickallen

Downtown Santa Monica’s premier Food Hall The Gallery is hosting Pride events this weekend to correspond to the first ever SaMo PRIDE Festival. All this week we are promised “unicorn food specials”. On Friday (June 14), from 7pm-10pm on The Deck, there will be Drag Bingo hosted by Pandora Boxx with prizes and giveaways. And on Saturday, during PRIDE on The Promenade, The Gallery will have food and drink booths set up. Read more about the events here.

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Signs Of Life At Melisse…

Posted on June 11, 2019 by toddrickallen

LA fine dining legend Melisse closed it doors at 1104 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica back in March with a vague promise of reopening soon. At the time, there were a lot of unanswered questions (including whether or not the name of the establishment would continue to be Melisse), and Chef Josiah Citrin wasn’t spilling the beans. But things appear to be moving forward. A note on their website promises a Fall 2019 opening and a “whole new menu and concept”. And late last week a new ABC application appeared, hidden in the front entrance, that continues to name the business as “Melisse“. I’ll keep watching…

Carl’s Jr. Now Open In Santa Monica… You’re Welcome.

Posted on May 30, 2019 by toddrickallen

Every once in while, one of my posts attracts a great deal of interest for reasons I can’t completely understand. That appears to be the case when I first told you about the closure of the Carl’s Jr. on the corner of Harvard and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica. Ever since then, a great many of you have been checking for updates, and even though they completed their remodel a bit ago, a lot of you are still asking me questions. So here ya go… Carl’s Jr. is now open and dishing burgers and fried zucchini to the fast-food starved people of Santa Monica.

Breadblok Landing On Montana Ave.

Posted on May 28, 2019 by toddrickallen

It was almost a year ago when I noticed that Spazio Caffe had vacated its space at 1511A Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. After an extensive build-out, window paper is announcing a new tenant. With locations in SoCal farmer’s markets, it appears that Breadblok is looking to get a brick-and-mortar. Expect a menu of Provence-inspired artisan breads, pastries, and tartines that are “organic, gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, gum-free, [and] refined sugar-free”.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Tag Archives: Santa Monica