Air Food Bringing Contemporary French To Santa Monica On Wednesday

Posted on May 23, 2017 by toddrickallen

It was back in February that I first noticed the plywood covering the old Seaside Grill space at 109 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica. I was lucky enough to run into the owner, Marc Moubarak, who informed me that the name of the new restaurant was going to be Air Food, and the menu would be French. Air Food will officially open its doors on Wednesday, May 24th. Last Saturday night, I had an opportunity to have a look around during Air Food’s “VIP soft opening celebration”. The menu, designed by Chef Thierry, was still being finalized, but what was on offer on Saturday was decidedly French with some Asian influences. Scroll down on their Yelp page to read more information about the promising new restaurant. We wish them the best of luck.

Cava Grill Santa Monica Handing Out Free Lunches This Tuesday!

Posted on May 22, 2017 by toddrickallen

It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about a branch of the rapidly expanding build-your-own Mediterranean restaurant Cava Grill was going to land in Downtown Santa Monica. Now they’re ready to open. And to celebrate, they’re giving away free lunches this Tuesday (5/23) from 12pm to 2pm at their new 1318 2nd Street location. Thank you Cava Grill!

Greens Up! Changing Locations On Montana Ave.

Posted on May 17, 2017 by toddrickallen

Santa Monica’s popular purveyor of all things salad appears to be moving to a bigger location. There’s a sign up on the empty space at 912 Montana indicating that Greens Up! is vacating their old diminutive space near the corner of 7th and Montana and taking over the larger locale. And while the sign says “coming soon”, don’t expect the change to be overnight: I was told the move could take up to a year…

Nico’s Tacos Coming Soon To Santa Monica…

Posted on May 15, 2017 by toddrickallen

Thanks to a tip from a reader, I went to check out what’s happening on the corner of Pico and Lincoln in Santa Monica. A banner is up announcing that something called Nico’s Tacos is moving into the space at 801 Pico #5 that used to be home to a branch of Domino’s Pizza. There’s not much out there yet on Nico’s Tacos, but as always, I’ll keep watching…

Simples Replaces Candy With Super Nutrition On Main St.

Posted on May 11, 2017 by toddrickallen

A bit ago, I told you about the for lease sign pasted on the front of A Real Treat Candy Boutique at 2724 Main in Santa Monica portending doom for the natural confectionary. Wasting no time, it appears that Simples has moved in. And what precisely is Simples? “A line of hand prepared, plant based tonics” that you can read more about here.

Bibibop Asian Grill Taking Over ShopHouse Locations Across LA

Posted on May 9, 2017 by toddrickallen

I recently came across ‘now hiring’ notices posted on the papered-over windows of the erstwhile ShopHouse locations at 1401 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica and at 1059 Broxton Ave. in Westwood. The notices announce that both locations will be brand spanking new branches of Korean food chain Bibibop Asian Grill, headquartered in Columbus Ohio. According to LABJ, they intend on taking over all the old ShopHouse locations, including The Point in El Segundo, and West Hollywood’s branch as well.

N.Y.&C. Pizzeria & Bar Closes In Santa Monica

Posted on May 3, 2017 by toddrickallen

Neighborhood hangout spot N.Y.&C. Pizzeria & Bar appears to have closed at 1120 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. Paper covers the windows and the signs are coming down, though here does seem to be a lot of activity behind the paper. I’ll keep watching to see what develops…

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The Gables All Day Eatery Coming To Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on May 1, 2017 by toddrickallen

Downtown Santa Monica is a flurry of restaurant activity right now: Wally’s is on the way, as is a new North Italia, and Carlo’s Bake Shop. Add to that list a new “All Day Eatery” going into a defunct jewelry shop at 331 Wilshire Blvd. There’s not much out there yet on The Gables, just an undeveloped website and Facebook page. It looks like they’re shooting for a Fall opening.

Update: The Gables opens Wednesday, August 22. Read Eater’s story here.

Blossom Bringing Vietnamese To Santa Monica?

Posted on April 28, 2017 by toddrickallen

I only just noticed that there’s an ABC application posted on the front of the space at 2821 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica announcing that Vietnamese restaurant Blossom is intending to move in. But since the application was apparently posted late last year, absolutely nothing has been touched on the space. I’m not sure what the hold up is (I’m looking at you City of Santa Monica), or if they’ve changed their minds, but until we know more, you can locate their three other locations and try to figure out their inscrutable website here.

Tkyo House Closes In Santa Monica; New Ramen Joint Expected…

Posted on April 26, 2017 by toddrickallen

It looks like change is afoot at sushi bar Tkyo House at 2901 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. A goodbye letter posted on the door states that they have closed as of yesterday. But the notice also promises that a restaurant with new management will reopen later in the week. And the bill of fare? Apparently ramen. I’ll keep watching…

IHOP Exits Santa Monica

Posted on April 21, 2017 by toddrickallen

This is a bit surprising… Even though you’d think that they had a captive audience from the Best Western Hotel, the International House of Pancakes, or IHOP, has flipped its last pancake on the corner of 20th and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica. No word on what may replace it, but I’ll keep watching.

Wally’s New Location In Santa Monica Will Be…

Posted on April 17, 2017 by toddrickallen

Back in March of last year, I noticed a small pending development permit taped to the front of the old Hennessy+Ingalls bookshop at 214 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. The permit listed the applicant as Santa Monica Farmhouse. Recently a teaser ad went up on the front the space taunting us with, “You will never guess what’s coming soon.” Last week, the ABC applications were on display spilling the beans. The future occupant will be another branch of the ridiculously popular oenophile paradise Wally’s Wine and Spirits. Wally’s expansion into Santa Monica came onto Eater’s radar back in late March, but no details were revealed. Because there are two applications, one for ‘on sale’ and one for ‘off sale’, I think its safe to assume that this Wally’s will be similar in design to the one in Beverly Hills.

Dave’s Doghouse Destined For Main Street In Santa Monica

Posted on April 11, 2017 by toddrickallen

Recently, I saw that there was a notice of pending design review taped to the inside of the window of the erstwhile Santa Monica Electric Co. at 2428 Main St. in Santa Monica. Immediately, long-time LA restaurateur Josiah Citrin’s (Melisse, Charcoal) name stood out. Upon closer inspection, the notice’s artist’s rendering lets us know that this humble building will soon be the home of a branch of hotdog specialists Dave’s Doghouse. The ABC application confirms it.

Chou Chou French Pastries & Cafe Takes Over Z Garden On Wilshire In SM

Posted on April 3, 2017 by toddrickallen

It was about four years ago when I noticed that “fresh & healthy Mediterranean” restaurant Z Garden had opened a second branch at 313 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. I’m not sure what happened, but it appears that they have vacated this location. And wasting no time whatsoever, a hastily hung banner announces that Chou Chou French Pastries & Cafe have quietly slipped in. I’m not certain who’s behind this and there’s not a lot of information out there yet. If you’re missing Z Garden, their other location is still open on Pico.

Update: Read the comment below for more information…

Chipotle Mexican Grill Moving Into The Old Poquito Mas Space In SM

Posted on April 1, 2017 by toddrickallen

I’ve known for a while now that something was moving into the old Poquito Mas space at 2025 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica: The for lease sign came down a while ago. But now we know what it is… It looks like the former Mexican restaurant will be taken over by another, Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Is The Gallery In SM Under Construction… Again?

Posted on March 24, 2017 by toddrickallen

The mystery continues… Back in June of 2015 renovation began on the shabby old food court The Gallery at 1315 Third St. Promenade in Santa Monica. Excitement heightened when it reopened and restaurants started trickling in. And then something went wrong. The restaurants that had opened moved out and The Gallery sat empty. Then, last week, the windows were papered over and a required construction sign has appeared in the window. If anyone has any information, let me know as this story has been keenly followed by a great number of you…

TV’s Cake Boss Bringing Confectionary Creations To Downtown Santa Monica…

Posted on March 17, 2017 by toddrickallen

Sadly, it looks like retail shoe store Lorin is going out of business at 1354 3rd St. Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica. Why am I telling you this? Because if you look at the storefront carefully, you’ll see a notice of pending design review in the lower right corner. The notice informs us that “a new bakery” will be taking over. If we look closely at the artist’s rendering, the name of the new bakery will be Carlo’s Bake Shop. Apparently Carlo’s Bake Shop is another name for none other than New Jersey’s Carlo’s Bakery of TLC’s Cake Boss fame. This would be the chain’s first West Coast location.

North Italia Landing In Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on March 14, 2017 by toddrickallen

It wasn’t that long ago that I told you that Buca Di Beppo had closed its doors at 1442 2nd St, sparking a conversation about the viability of any restaurant in the pricey and complicated Santa Monica and LA market. Now it looks like another national Italian brand is going to give it a try. A sign is up on the construction plywood at the old Buca space announcing that it will soon be the home of a branch of North Italia. There’s reason to hope that they will have a better run than their predecessor: They know a thing or two about Downtown Santa Monica. Within a block in either direction are two other restaurants from North Italia’s parent company Fox Restaurant Concepts, Flower Child and True Food Kitchen. We wish them the best of luck.

A Reat Treat Candy Boutique Turns Sour In SM

Posted on March 10, 2017 by toddrickallen

A Real Treat Candy Boutique caused a sensation when it first opened as a pop-up in 2013, and later landed in Santa Monica. Offering “better” candy options that were free from artificial junk, they were lauded by LA Weekly in 2016. Sadly, it appears that things have gone sour, as a large for lease sign is now tacked to the front of their brick and mortar at 2724 Main St. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what moves in…

Air Food Set To Bring French To Downtown Santa Monica…

Posted on February 28, 2017 by toddrickallen

Walking around Downtown Santa Monica recently, I noticed plywood covering the front of the space at 109 Broadway that used to house defunct Middle Eastern restaurant Seaside Grill. I was lucky enough to catch one of the owners of the new establishment who informed me that the upcoming eatery will intriguingly be called Air Food, and the menu will be “French”, otherwise I don’t have any more information than that. They’re shooting for a mid-April opening, and this being Santa Monica I wish them the best of luck with that.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Tag Archives: Santa Monica