Social Eats Bringing Choices To Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on May 21, 2019 by toddrickallen

It looks like they’ve figured out what to do with the last remaining open stalls in The Gallery Food Hall at 1350 Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. With such high-profile tenants as Dialogue, STRFSH, and Paperboy Pizza, I’m sure they chose carefully. At any rate, the still-undeveloped part of the first floor is now under plywood proudly declaring that Social Eats is moving in. Social Eats is a K2 project (STRFSH, Paperboy, Nighthawk), and will be a collection of five different eateries, or so I’m told. As you can see, expect beer and wine as well.

Update: More on Social Eats here.

Update 2: Social Eats opens July 19th, 11am.

Viva Vegan Replaces Golden Mean In Santa Monica

Posted on May 10, 2019 by toddrickallen

I recently noticed a sign change at Santa Monica’s popular plant-based bastion Golden Mean Cafe, so I popped in to check out what was going on at their 1028 Wilshire Blvd space. New owners have taken over from Golden Mean and renamed it Viva Vegan. But besides the rebranding, I was assured that everything else will remain the same. And yes, you can still get the much-lauded “works” burger.

Le Petit Café Bids A Sad Adieu To Santa Monica…

Posted on May 9, 2019 by toddrickallen

The Lord giveth French restaurants, and the Lord taketh away French restaurants… In sad news, it appears that after 25 years, quiet neighborhood charmer Le Petit Café will be closing their doors for good on May 11th. Here is their gracious good-bye note to their devoted fans:

“It is with sadness that we inform you that our last day of business will be Saturday, May 11th, 2109. After much deliberation, we have decided to close. This was not an easy decision by any means, as Le Petit Cafe is our second home, our loyal employees and customers are our second family. We have had the pleasure of serving you all for these last 25 years and they are 25 years we will forever hold close to our hearts. Thank you for your support.

Affectuesement.

Robert Bourget.”

We wish them the best of luck…

À La Couch Delivering Delicious To Santa Monica Soon…

Posted on May 3, 2019 by toddrickallen

It looks like a new meal delivery shop is settling into the space at 2311 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica. Window displays are announcing the impending arrival of À La Couch to the diminutive spot. They describe themselves as a delivery restaurant group with “chef driven food concepts” which, if I understand, are separate restaurants with whom they partner such as MAC’D (a build-your-own macaroni and cheese restaurant with locations in San Francisco and Oregon), Holy Cluck (a specialty wing restaurant), and a bowl restaurant and a Keto Restaurant as well. Sounds interesting…

LDH Kitchen The Robata Closed In Santa Monica?

Posted on April 27, 2019 by toddrickallen

I first noticed that a new restaurant was coming to the erstwhile Cadet space at 2518 Wilshire Blvd. back in April of 2016. It took a while, but LDH Kitchen The Robata opened in the Summer of 2018. Known for their wild light displays, LDH Kitchen was a branch of massive Japanese lifestyle brand LDH (Love+Dream+Happiness). Sadly, in less than a year, it appears that the love may be gone. While I don’t have any confirmation that they’ve quit the location, I’ve noticed that the restaurant is dark in the evenings, and Yelp is listing as it as closed, so I think its safe to say that they have. I’ll keep watching to see what develops…

Shake Shack Coming To Santa Monica

Posted on April 9, 2019 by toddrickallen

I LOVE a good tip… Ever since Panera disappeared from its space in the iconic building at 501 Wilshire Blvd., I’ve been hearing from mourning carb fans who are wondering what will take its place. A reader passed on the skinny: @retailroundrobin sent me a link to a real estate company Instagram post clearly showing that the space will soon be a branch of ever-poplar Shake Shack. See for yourself here.

P.F. Chang’s Finished In Santa Monica?

Posted on April 5, 2019 by toddrickallen

And while we’re on the subject of P.F. Chang’s, here’s more bad news… A sharp-eyed reader (Thanks E.R.!) noticed that P.F. Chang’s building at 326 Wilshire Blvd. was listed as up for lease last week. There aren’t any obvious signs that it will be closing, and they certainly still seem busy, but if the if the LoopNet ad is to be believed, they’ll be out before July 1. I don’t know what’s going on at P.F. Chang’s, but this certainly doesn’t look good following the recent closure of their El Segundo location as well.

Café Crepe Caput In Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on April 2, 2019 by toddrickallen

Café Crepe has long anchored the corner of Broadway and The Third St. Promenade, and was perpetually crowded with tourists. So it comes as a surprise that they have abruptly and unceremoniously closed up shop. A brief note on the door bids a quick Au Revoir, and mentions the Canadian company’s other LA location, at Union Station.

Panera Bread Decamps From Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on March 28, 2019 by toddrickallen

I’ve been receiving loads of messages from panicked Santa Monicans lamenting the demise of their beloved Panera Bread, in the landmark building at 501 Wilshire Blvd. that used to house Polly’s Pies. What’s more, a demolition notice now hangs in the window. Panera appears to be losing its presence on the Westside, with now-vacated locations in Westwood and Beverly Hills as well. I’m keeping an eye on all three to see what may develop…

Office Luck Taking Over Musha In Santa Monica: The Name Of The New Restaurant Is Shirubē

Posted on March 22, 2019 by toddrickallen

Many of you were in shock when I first told you about the disappearance of beloved Japanese restaurant Musha at 424 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. Now it looks like a new tenant is going to give the diminutive space a go. A new ABC application is posted on the front. It doesn’t give much information, just an applicant name of Office Luck USA. There is no business name listed. I can’t locate anything on Office Luck, likewise the officer named on the application doesn’t reveal any insight. If you have any more information, let me know…

Update: Indeed a reader did know more (Thanks Ryan!): The restaurant’s name will be Shirubē. It will be an izakaya style restaurant that appears to be past their projected opening date. Check out their Instagram page here.

Update: Eater has the full skinny here.

Reds Ceases Serving Swedish Pizza In Santa Monica.

Posted on March 21, 2019 by toddrickallen

It was back in 2015 when I first told you about the buzzy arrival of Swedish pizza to the Santa Monica food scene. Reds Pizza has made a valiant four-year run of it at 707 Pico Blvd., but sadly it appears that they have thrown in the towel. I’m not quite sure when it happened, but the storefront is boarded over. There’s no clear indication of what may take over the space, but I’ll keep watching.

Broadway Baker Bringing Brownies Beloved By Oprah To Santa Monica

Posted on March 19, 2019 by toddrickallen

Santa Monica is about to get a whole lot sweeter… It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about the disappearance of Beach City Creamery (formerly Beachy Cream) from its address at 1209 Wilshire. Paper is now up on the windows telling us about another treat shop moving in. With one location in the Arts District Downtown, it looks like Broadway Baker is taking over the space. And what’s on offer? Known for their gift boxes, Broadway Baker prides itself on hand crafted, all natural premium baked good from three generations of family recipes, including their salted caramel brownies, once prominently featured in O, The Oprah Magazine.

Trader Joe’s Lands In MDR

Posted on March 16, 2019 by toddrickallen

Everyone’s fave grocery store Trader Joe’s is expanding its footprint on the Westside. I’ve been watching all the new construction along Admiralty in Marina del Rey to see what may develop. A large notice attached to the fence around the new building on the corner of Admiralty and Mindanao Way lets us know that this will soon be a branch of TJ’s. Don’t forget that there’s a brand new one going up on Wilshire and 23rd in Santa Monica as well. The Beach Communities will be spoiled for choice…

TJ's.jpg

Hollywood Burger Starring In Santa Monica Soon

Posted on March 1, 2019 by toddrickallen

It was a sad day when, after a brave effort, the people behind Chou Chou French Patisserie decided to pull the plug at 313 Wilshire Blvd. Now a new tenant is poised to move in. With one location on Hollywood Blvd., it appears that Hollywood Burger will soon be delivering “gourmet-style burgers” to the good people of Santa Monica.

Sweetgreen Opens Today On Montana Ave.

Posted on February 22, 2019 by toddrickallen

And while we’re on the subject of openings… Ever since I first told you about popular salad chain Sweetgreen‘s expansion to Montana Ave. in Santa Monica back in July, a great many of you have been checking for updates. So here ya go: Sweetgreen officially throws open its doors today (Friday Feb. 22) at 1517 Montana Ave. You’re welcome.

New Eateries Coming To Downtown Santa Monica… Halo Top, La Colombe, More!

Posted on February 15, 2019 by toddrickallen

I love good detective work… A reader (Thanks SK!) sent me a pdf of a recent Downtown Santa Monica Market Report, which, on face value isn’t that riveting. But if you scroll down to page 11, the document lists upcoming restaurants slated to open in Downtown. Many I’ve already reported, but here are the ones I didn’t know about: Halo Top Scoop Shop (304 Santa Monica Blvd.), La Colombe (604 Santa Monica Blvd.), Fresh Corn Grill (720 Wilshire), and Gyu-Kaku (231 Arizona Ave).

Enso Tea/Acai Now Closed In Santa Monica

Posted on February 7, 2019 by toddrickallen

The diminutive space at 725 Broadway is hard pressed to keep a tenant. In the distant past it was Bowl of Heaven, followed by Enso Tea/Acai. But the acai craze is beginning to look a little tired lately, and Enso has vacated the location. I’ll keep watching the troubled spot to see what may develop.

Trader Joe’s Lands A Second Location In Santa Monica

Posted on February 5, 2019 by toddrickallen

I had assumed that everyone knew about Trader Joe’s impending arrival to the new development on the corner of Wilshire and 23rd in Santa Monica, so I didn’t bother to write about it. But a surprising number of you continue to ask me, so here you go… A recently posted ABC application confirms that Santa Monica’s second Trader Joe’s will soon set up shop at 2300 Wilshire Blvd., unit 101.

Crimson Replacing Inotheke In Santa Monica

Posted on February 2, 2019 by toddrickallen

It looks like Santa Monica kale and kabob expert Crimson Mediterranean Cookhouse is expanding westward. An ABC application pasted on the front of the erstwhile Inotheke space, at 606 Broadway suite 101, spills the beans. The name on the application, well-known restaurateur Eiman Shekarchi, confirms that this is an offshoot of the Crimson on Ocean Park. As for Inotheke, a gracious note on the door says that they plan on relocating.

Fuddruckers Disappears From Santa Monica; Collective Freak-Out Ensues

Posted on January 30, 2019 by toddrickallen

I wouldn’t necessarily expect this type of response… My inbox has been flooded recently with people who are losing their sh*t over the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Santa Monica’s branch of burger chain Fuddruckers on the corner of Wilshire and 20th. Popular with the weekday professional lunch crowd and families on weekends, the closure caught many by surprise. I don’t have any information on what happened, but I’ll monitor the situation to see what develops.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

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