It was back in June of 2013, when I first noticed a new Italian restaurant gearing up to cater to the hungry tourist trade on the Santa Monica Pier. Sadly, it appears that Ristorante Al Mare has closed up shop… Making haste to replace it will be Seaside On The Pier, at least according to the plywood covering the remodel. Looks like they’re installing a grill, sandwich shop, and a rooftop lounge.
This week I heard from a reader (Thanks FG!) who told me about the closure of O & O Sicilian Kitchen & Bar at 1705 Ocean Ave Suite #111 in Santa Monica. I went by to check it out… While there is no notice posted and their website is still functioning, Yelp is reporting them as closed and the space is being gutted. Courageously opening in a challenging location back in 2016, it appears the foot traffic simply wasn’t on their side. Sad to see them go…
What’s going on behind those imposing wrought iron gates at 246 26th St. in Santa Monica that used to hide L’Ami, and before that The Little Door, and before that Villetta? It has sat empty and idle ever since L’Ami disappeared sometime in 2017. But a carefully tucked away ABC application reveals that there are signs of life. The app lists the applicant as Operation Success LLC and gives no business name. A search reveals few clues. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what develops…
Back in September, I first noticed that something new was moving into the erstwhile Polish deli space at 1128 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. The paper covering the window listed the new business as First Spoonful. They have since opened as Citizen Sprout and offer home delivery meal services and school lunch programs, as well as in-store selection of sandwiches, salads, and snacks.
It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about a new boba shop going into an erstwhile juvenile hair salon at 1328 Wilshire Blvd. Wasting no time whatsoever, Boba Tea & Me has thrown open their doors for business. This is apparently their first storefront, after having operated for a while as a truck. Look for a menu of milk teas, smoothies, and all manner of brightly colored treats.
Thanks to a tip from a reader, I went to check out what was happening on the corner of 20th and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica. Signs are up announcing that a branch of the popular Calabasas bicycle-themed restaurant and coffee shop Pedaler’s Fork is landing a spot at 1919 Santa Monica Blvd. (The northwest corner of the intersection, not the recently vacated Rudy & Hudson Diner spot.) And while the non-responsibility notice taped to the front door lists Pedaler’s Fork as the tenant, at least according to the recently posted signs, this outpost is going to be 10 Speed Coffee, which is the name of their house coffee. It looks like they have a way to go yet, so I’ll keep watching for an opening date.
While no one was looking, Stickhouse, at 223 Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, slipped out of existence and was replaced my another treat shop Merci Clement. If you read this blog, you may remember Merci Clement from its opening in Beverly Hills earlier this year. (Interestingly, it may already be closed: A spokesperson at the Santa Monica location reported it as closed and it doesn’t appear on their official website, but I cannot confirm this.) It looks like this incarnation retains Stickhouse’s array of frozen treats, and adds some French pastries as well.
Taco Bell closed down its location at 2207 Lincoln Blvd. in Santa Monica a few months back and I ‘ve been watching to see what would move in. Now we know. An extensive reconstruction of the building is underway to make room for Santa Monica’s first branch of well-known poultry pusher Chick-fil-A, who are slowly but surely conquering the Westside.
Update: Chick-fil-A opened 05/17/2018
A new Taiwan-inspired tea shop is moving into the space once occupied by juvenile tonsorial salon The Yellow Balloon at 1328 Wilshire Blvd. A small notice in the window is the only indication that something called Boba Tea & Me is moving in. Currently operating in a truck, it appears that this will be Los Angeles’ first storefront location. Not sure when they plan on opening, but until then, check out their menu of milk teas, smoothies, and the Technicolor extravaganza named butterfly blossom tea here.
Planet Smoothie has locations across the US, but relatively few outposts in LA. The closest one to the Westside resides in Santa Monica, and opened back in 2015. But that’s about to change. There’s a notice in the window of the space 193 1/2 S. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills announcing that another Planet Smoothie is on the way. No word of an opening date and it looks like they’ve got a way to go.
Well that didn’t take long… A remarkable thing in red-tape Santa Monica. It was only back in September that I noticed that longstanding local fixture DiDio’s Italian Ices had given up the ghost at 1305 Montana Ave. Then in October, a small now hiring sign was placed in the window informing us that Miami’s Gelato-Go was soon on the way. Wasting no time whatsoever, as of this week, Gelato-Go is now open and dishing icy treats to the good people of Santa Monica.
Self-described “healthy supply company” Earthbar appears to be expanding rapidly. With one location just over a block away in Equinox, they are opening a storefront at 1447 Ocean Ave. in Downtown Santa Monica, facing the beach. Find out if you are an “Earthbar Earthling“, and read more about their proprietary supplements, herbal formulas, and sports nutrition here.
It was back in June when I first noticed an ABC application on the front of the erstwhile Santa Monica Yacht Club at 820 Santa Monica Blvd. While the app didn’t give us many clues as to the name of the new restaurant (it listed the name as Santa Monica Yacht Club), it did inform us that Top Chef and former Leona chef Nyesha Arrington was going to be in the kitchen. Since then, I’ve been watching carefully and can now report that the new restaurant’s name is Native. They opened for friends and family over the weekend, but Native will officially throw open its doors on Tuesday, November 14, at which time they will begin accepting reservations. Look for a California inspired menu with such things as chestnut capellini with forest mushrooms, snow peas, and buratta; honey mustard black cod with cauliflower apple puree and mizuna; and rabbit sugo with semolina spatzle, pickled green tomato, and sauce diable.
And while we’re on the subject of openings… It was back in March when I discovered that Carlo’s Bake Shop, of Cake Boss fame, was opening a branch at 1354 3rd St. Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica. So, for all you who have been eagerly awaiting a chance to get your hands on their confectionary creations, it is my pleasure to tell you that Carlo’s Bake Shop threw open their doors on Monday. Again, you’re welcome.
Ever since I first told you about the new project from the Voltaggio Brothers, that was coming to The Gallery at 1315 3rd Street Promenade, a great many of you have been anxiously checking for details. (Eater filled in the gaps.) Well… cue the stampede: Voltaggio STRFSH is now open as of two days ago. Currently, they are only open for lunch, but they plan on dinner service soon. The concept? You start with a choice of swordfish or salmon. Then choose a rub, a smear, and toppings before it all lands on a toasted potato roll. Or pick one of their already designed sandwiches. An ABC license is posted, so libations are on the way. You’re welcome.
About two years ago I told you about the impending arrival of Bowl of Heaven to the space at 725 Broadway. Sadly, they have vacated the yoga-centric community. But lament not, good people of Santa Monica! You can get your bowl fix at BoH‘s replacement, Enso Tea/Acai, which has another location in Las Vegas.
The windows on the space at 2715 Main St. in Santa Monica, formerly the home of the erstwhile lobster specialists Knuckle & Claw, is preparing to have a new tenant. A small notice taped to the front door references something called Fresh Bowls. An online search reveals that there are a number of unrelated restaurants across the US and a small chain in Canada utilizing that name, so I don’t have any conclusive evidence as to what exactly will be moving in, or even if that will be the name of the new restaurant. As always, I’ll keep watching…
It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about the intention of Korean food chain Bibibop to take over erstwhile locations of Southeast Asian eatery ShopHouse. The Santa Monica branch of Bibibop Asian Grill, at 1401 Third St. Promenade, is now officially up and running. The concept is similar to ShopHouse‘s, where you build your bowl out of rice, noodles, or greens and then add a choice of protein, sauce, and various hot and cold toppings.
Well that didn’t take long… It was only a couple of weeks ago that I told you about the sad disappearance of Santa Monica’s beloved gelato shop DiDio’s at 1305 Montana Ave. Wasting no time in trying to fill the icy treat void, a new tenant is quickly moving into the spot. A notice on the window informs us that Gelato-Go is on its way. Billing itself as “the best gelato in Miami”, the new contender is looking to make inroads into Los Angeles. According to the now hiring sign, they are also opening a second location at 252 S. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills.
The last remaining tenant of the failed Market at Santa Monica Place is pulling out. Culinary educators The Gourmandise School are moving to a new third floor location in the mall, just to the right of the recently moved The Curious Palate. What’s next for The Market? I’ve heard whispers that it will be turned into a multi-use space, but I cannot confirm that, so we’ll just have to wait and see…
Toddrickallen 