This was a surprise. After 22 years, Santa Monica institution and local fave DiDio’s Italian Ices has abruptly quit their location at 1305 Montana Ave. as of last week. A gracious goodbye note affixed to the front of the shop explains that they intend on focusing on their expanding wholesale operation. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what may move in…
I noticed recent activity at the in-store restaurant on the third floor of Santa Monica Place’s outpost of Nordstrom. It appears that what was formerly Blue Stove is transforming into a “casually sophisticated” bistro, Bazille. It looks like they’re not too far from opening, but until then, you can compare menus here.
It wasn’t that long ago that The Little Door Santa Monica turned into L’Ami in their sunny location at 246 26th St. in Santa Monica. Well, I don’t know what happened, or exactly when it happened, but I recently noticed that they have pulled up stakes entirely. The website says that they are closed for renovations, but that is all too frequently code for “permanently closed”, which is precisely what Opentable says. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
I’ve been watching the space at 1128 Wilshire Blvd. that used to house a Polish deli to see what would develop. Paper recently went up in the window informing us that First Spoonful is moving in. First Spoonful is currently operating as a home meal delivery system designed with busy parents in mind. In their first retail location, you’ll be able to find meals, snacks, and take cooking classes with your kids. They’re shooting for a Fall opening.
The other day I noticed an interesting sign recently installed on the upstairs space in The Gallery at 1315 3rd Street Promenade where Subway used to reside. Still covered with plastic, the sign resembles a license plate and bears an inscrutable jumble of consonants that appear to say “starfish”. It also bears a very famous name, Voltaggio. After much online searching, I was able to uncover only one single clue: On page 35 of the Downtown Santa Monica Annual Report (you’re welcome for searching this document, it’s written on the very last page.), you’ll see this single sentence, “Two new and exciting chef-driven concepts will follow, James Beard Award winner Dave Beran’s Dialogue and STRFSH by the Voltaggio Brothers.” And that’s as much as I can find…
Update: Eater has more details here.
Further Update: Voltaggio STRFSH is now open.
I recently saw a notice at the construction site at 2800 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Harvard) in Santa Monica that lets us know a branch of natural foods grocer Erewhon in intent on inhabiting the new building. This will be their fourth location. I’ll keep checking their progress, but as you can see, it looks like they’ve got a ways to go before opening.
You could be forgiven for not seeing much happening in this photo. But looks can be deceiving… Hiding behind this humble and signless façade, at 2821 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica, is the Westside’s newest and much-anticipated Vietnamese restaurant Blossom, that I first told you about back in April. You’ll be pleased to know that they are now open and dishing noodles Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. 
Well this was a bit of a surprise… After 20 years, consistently popular Blue Plate has quit their busy location at 1415 Montana Ave. as of last week. Not sure what happened, but nearby Blue Plate Taco and Blue Plate Oysterette remain open. Read their goodbye message here, and I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
The strip mall on the corner of Lincoln and Pico in Santa Monica is a popular one: It sits close to SaMo High. Many of the restaurants vacated their spaces as the complex closed for a major remodel. Now the fast food is beginning to trickle back in. It looks like the burger chain about to release its IPO, Fatburger, is diving in, as is Buffalo’s World Famous Wings, and Firehouse Subs.
Well that took a long time… Well over a year ago, I first noticed that food truck folks Bobaritto were finally putting down roots at 1321 Third Street Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica. I’m not sure what the hold up was, but they have recently thrown open their doors and are dispensing sushi burritos, poke, and boba tea to the good people of Santa Monica.
Could the stumbling food scene in Santa Monica Place be recovering? Z Pastabar recently opened, The Curious Palate jumped locations but not the ship, and The Cheesecake Factory appears constantly busy. Yet there are still four cavernous restaurant spaces that remain idle. But soon you can make that three. Signs are up on the front of the space that used to house Pizza Antica informing us that Torrance’s craft beer specialists The Dudes’ Brewing Company will soon be moving in. We wish them the best of luck.
It was almost three years ago that I first noticed that a branch of Caffe Primo was intending on moving into the corner space at 7th and Arizona in Downtown Santa Monica, across the street from wildly popular Cassia. But all that appears to have changed. Recently, all the window announcements were pulled down, and a for lease sign has gone up on the vacant space. It looks like the West Hollywood location is gone as well. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
A solid year ago, I told you about a new French pastry shop moving into a corner space on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica that used to house French fragrance folks L’Occitane. I’m not sure what took so long, but Le Macaron is now open and offering sublime creative confections from their charming spot at 1301 Montana Ave. With locations throughout the US, this is the first LA area shop for the Florida based chain. Besides macarons, look for a selection of pastries, breads, chocolates, and coffees.
Bowls, those complicated combinations of über-healthy ingredients commingling in a container, remain hot commodities. The latest to try their hand at attracting the attention of the yoga set in Downtown Santa Monica is Backyard Bowls. With a smattering of locations across Santa Barbara and LA, they look fairly close to opening at 1317A 7th St. Expect a menu of açaí bowls, smoothies, hot porridges, and toasts, that you can read more about here.
I’d thought we’d seen a slow down in the poke phenomena that has descended upon us in recent years, but apparently not. Another contender is vying for our attention in Santa Monica. Signs are up on the space that once was occupied by Rita’s Frozen Custard, at 2307 Main St., announcing that self-described “King of Poke” PoKing will soon be moving in.
It’s often been said that when God closes a frozen yogurt joint, he opens a fast food pasta restaurant… Here are the latest changes to the stumbling Santa Monica Place food scene. Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt has closed up shop just outside the food court. And plucky contender Z Pastabar has opened inside the food court, which is now completely occupied.
Along Wilshire Blvd. In Santa Monica, drive-through fast food is a rarity. And it got even rarer when Jack In The Box closed down at 2423 Wilshire. But fear not time-pressed commuters! The building will eventually be converted into a Del Taco according to the design review notice posted in the window.
A sad day for Indian food on the Westside… Longstanding Santa Monica institution Nawab of India has vacated its cavernous space at 1621 Wilshire Blvd. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about the closure of N.Y.&C. Pizzeria at 1120 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. Wasting no time whatsoever, it looks like a new contender has taken over the spot. Rock’n Pies Pizza Co. is currently in soft opening for lunch, with the eventual goals of an expanded menu, late-night delivery, and beer and wine.
What was once a very quiet section of Downtown Santa Monica is quickly transforming into a restaurant destination. Just to the right of Cava and the upcoming HiHo, at 1320 2nd St. Suite A, a brand new handmade pasta joint calling itself Uovo Pasta will soon be joining the list. And it looks like they’re fairly close to opening…
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