Osteria Bigoli Opens On Montana Ave.

Posted on December 8, 2016 by toddrickallen

It was only back in September that I told you that clandestine celeb fave Vincenzo Ristorante Italiano at 714 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica was going to be taken over by a newcomer. I’d known for a while that hard-working restaurateur Vincenzo Nicoletta was looking to move on. Now it’s official: Osteria Bigoli has thrown open its doors and is now serving pasta to the good people of NoMa. Even though I’m hearing from readers who are lamenting the loss of their old favorite dishes from Vincenzo, check out what the new restaurant offers here.

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Vanilla Bake Shop Heads East…

Posted on December 3, 2016 by toddrickallen

It appears that the Westside’s fave go-to spot for mini cupcakes is heading east. Signs are up in the window and their website confirms that Vanilla Bake Shop will soon be opening at 88 E. Colorado Blvd. in Old Town Pasadena. No word on when that opening date will be, but you can still pick up your macarons at their Santa Monica or Culver City locations.

Espresso Cielo Finally Opens In Santa Monica

Posted on November 29, 2016 by toddrickallen

It was way back in October of 2015 when I first noticed that a new outpost of coffee, tea, and patisserie purveyor Espresso Cielo was moving into the space at 1431C on 2nd Street in Downtown Santa Monica. Originally they had predicted a Fall 2015 opening, but then it sat largely untouched for an extraordinarily long time. Espresso Cielo has finally thrown open its doors for business. Why it took so long to open is anybody’s guess, but I’m looking at you City of Santa Monica…

The Hungry Cat Closes In Santa Monica, Closing In Santa Barbara As Well!

Posted on November 25, 2016 by toddrickallen

Recently, a reader pointed out to me that Santa Monica’s outlet of David Lentz’s seafood joint, The Hungry Cat appeared to be closed. When I went by to inspect last week, a note in the window stated that they were closed for renovations (frequently restaurant code for permanently closed). However, in the past week, a prominent sign announcing restaurant space available went up that lets us know that they have indeed closed. Any mention of the Santa Monica branch has been scrubbed from the website and Yelp lists it as closed. But that’s not all: The website also declares that the Santa Barbara branch will also be shutting down. They list a number of reasons including; declining business, the current economic climate, and an offer they couldn’t refuse. They will be open until Christmas. The Hollywood branch will apparently remain open.

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Panini Café Miraculously Opens In Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on November 17, 2016 by toddrickallen

I’ll never completely understand the process of opening a restaurant in Santa Monica. Many restaurateurs that I’ve spoken with over the years have complained of endless red tape and countless inspections with the result being an extraordinarily long time from inception to completion. But every once in a while, I’m astonished when an eatery opens in the blink of an eye. It was only just back in late August that I noticed the first signs of life stirring in the old Fraiche space at 312 Wilshire Blvd. Wasting no time whatsoever, Panini Café has officially thrown open its doors and is now serving “healthy Mediterranean” to the good people of Santa Monica. I’m sure many would love to get their hands on the magic charm they used to accomplish this feat.

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Ippudo Restaurant Bringing Famous Ramen To Santa Monica?

Posted on November 9, 2016 by toddrickallen

I noticed a few weeks ago that something was moving into the vacant space that used to house erstwhile tapas joint Taberna Arros Y Vi at 1403 2nd St. in Downtown Santa Monica. A recently posted development application lists the new tenant as Ippudo Restaurant. I can’t confirm it, but could this be an upcoming branch of the famous cult tonkotsu ramen chain from New York, that is also moving into the Bay Area? I guess we’ll have to wait and see what develops…

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Cava Grill Expands Into Downtown Santa Monica… More Locations On The Way!

Posted on November 1, 2016 by toddrickallen

DC’s Greek/Mediterranean restaurant chain Cava Grill continues to expand. After opening their Westwood location only a couple of months ago, they are adding another location in Downtown Santa Monica. Paper is covering the windows of the recently constructed building housing the Chelsea apartment complex at 1320 2nd Street announcing the impending arrival. If you check out their website, you’ll see that they are also opening soon in Venice, Culver City, and Irvine.

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Buca Di Beppo Gives Up The Ghost In Santa Monica

Posted on October 17, 2016 by toddrickallen

I recently noticed that after a long run at 1442 2nd St., Santa Monica’s branch of the kitschy old school Italian chain Buca di Beppo has finally pulled up stakes. I didn’t see this coming and I’m not sure what happened. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what the future holds, and in the mean time, if you find yourself craving ginormous portions of red sauce pasta, you can locate one of their other branches here.

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Carvery Kitchen Looking To Add Beer & Wine

Posted on October 15, 2016 by toddrickallen

Ocean Park Boulevard’s popular sandwich shop is about to up its game. An ABC license posted in the window informs us that Carvery Kitchen is looking to add beer and wine to their repertory of drinks. Hopefully, the libations will begin flowing soon…

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Spumoni Back In Action On Montana Ave. With A New Look… And A New Wood-fired Pizza Oven!

Posted on October 12, 2016 by toddrickallen

Popular neighborhood restaurant Spumoni, at 713 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, ran into a spot of trouble a little over a year ago when a car crashed into the next door Café de Paris and sparked a fire that shut the Italian eatery down. Rising from the ashes, Spumoni threw open its doors last night (Tuesday) for the first time since the fire. Having taken over the Café de Paris space, the plucky always-crowded café is now larger with an extensive remodel. The feel is still cozy and friendly, with a dining room bedecked in warm wood paneling. You’ll continue to find many of the classics on the menu, but if you haven’t thought about Spumoni as a destination in a while, it might be time to reconsider. They built a spiffy wood-fired pizza oven brought from Napoli and flew in a pizza expert, Pizzaiolo Massimo Caso to serve some the crispest (perhaps best) Neapolitan-style pies anywhere in this neck of the woods. We wish them the best of luck.

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Stout Burgers & Beers… And Cocktails?

Posted on September 29, 2016 by toddrickallen

Recently, I noticed a pending conditional use permit pasted on the front of Santa Monica’s branch of Stout Burgers & Beers at 111 N Santa Monica Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. An employee confirmed that they are looking to add a full bar to their selection of beers and wine. Hopefully the cocktails will begin pouring soon…

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Osteria Bigoli Taking Over The Vincenzo Space On Montana Ave.

Posted on September 23, 2016 by toddrickallen

I’ve long heard whispers that a change was coming to secret celeb hideaway Vincenzo Ristorante Italiano, that has inhabited the small space at 714 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Apparently, hard-working and gregarious Chef Vincenzo Nicoletta has decided it’s time to move on. Recently plywood has covered the front, and a change of ownership ABC license application is letting us know that the name of the new restaurant will be Osteria Bigoli. Tortano LLC and the name on the application indicate that perhaps Osteria Bigoli will have some relationship with a restaurant in Covina called Osteria Pane e Vino. In the mean time, Vincenzo remains open. I’ll keep following this for more details.

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KC Chocolatier Bringing Belgian Ice Cream And Hot Chocolate To Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on September 13, 2016 by toddrickallen

It was back in December of last year that I noticed printing on the door of the diminutive space next to upcoming Espresso Cielo at 1431 B 2nd St. in Downtown Santa Monica informing us that something called KC Chocolatier was moving in. A little digging revealed that KC Chocolatier has a flagship store in Chicago, and is an offshoot of Kim’s Chocolates from Tienen, Belgium, that according to their website is the “number 1 chocolate exporter to Canada and the United States”. Then the space sat idle for months, with no activity. Finally, a flurry of construction and a flashy new sign confirm that KC is indeed coming soon, and that they will be bringing with them “fresh Belgian chocolate”, ice cream, and hot chocolate. We with them the best of luck.

Caffe Luxxe To Sell Beer And Wine?

Posted on September 9, 2016 by toddrickallen

A sign recently went up in the window of artisan coffee purveyor Caffe Luxxe at 925 Montana Ave. indicating that they are seeking to expand to much stronger stuff. The notice posted in the window informs us that they are requesting an ABC license, and that the City of Santa Monica is currently reviewing their request. But before you get excited about the prospects of a glass of cab with your cappuccino and croissant, the license they are requesting is an ABC type 20, meaning the beer and wine will only be “off-sale”, or purchasable to be consumed off the premises.

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More Changes To Santa Monica Place…

Posted on September 8, 2016 by toddrickallen

It looks like one of the last enduring restaurants in the challenged Market at Santa Monica Place is finally pulling out. But for once, the news isn’t catastrophic. Tenacious farm-to-table hold out The Curious Palate is moving from the space inside The Market, to the outside space directly opposite (space 331), just to the right of The ArcLight Cinemas. The space has mostly sat empty since the post-remodel orginal restaurant Ozumo pulled out back in 2012. They are apparently not using the entire Ozumo space, and construction has yet to begin, so it may take a while yet…

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Tumbi Bar And Restaurant Landing In Santa Monica Soon

Posted on August 30, 2016 by toddrickallen

I’ve been watching the space at 115 Santa Monica Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica for a while. Early last year, the Yelp-eviscerated Gate of India pulled up stakes and the windows were papered over. Finally, an ABC application taped to the front informs us that something called Tumbi Bar and Restaurant will soon be moving in. I can’t find out much information on the new eatery, but I’ll keep watching…

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Panini Café To Take Over The Fraiche Space In Santa Monica

Posted on August 26, 2016 by toddrickallen

I’ve long known that something was taking over the old star-crossed Fraiche space at 312 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica. But for whatever reason, it has taken a ridiculously long time. Well, construction has finally begun, and an ABC application posted high above the door indicates that a branch of Panini Café will soon occupy the troubled address.

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Pizza Antica Closes After Labor Day In SMP

Posted on August 25, 2016 by toddrickallen

Sadly, the sputtering food scene that is the third floor of Santa Monica Place is about to produce another casualty. According to a spokesperson, after a 6 year run, Pizza Antica will permanently shut down the ovens the day after Labor Day, September 5th. (That means your last day for the Tuesday half-priced wine deal will be August 30th.) No word on what may take its place, and if you’ve grown fond of their seasonal salads and crispy pies, you’ll have to travel a bit as all their other locations are in the Bay Area.

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Caffe Luxxe Celebrates 10 Years With Free Drinks This Thursday

Posted on August 3, 2016 by toddrickallen

Neighborhood artisanal hand-crafted coffee and espresso expert Caffe Luxxe is turning 10 years old. To celebrate, they’ve created a special 10th Anniversary Blend, that you can sample for free starting today (Wednesday). And according to their website, tomorrow (August 4th) they will be handing out “FREE drinks all day” at all three locations in Santa Monica and Brentwood.

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Frozen Fruit Company Now Dishing All-Fruit Soft Serve To Montana Ave.

Posted on July 21, 2016 by toddrickallen

Just what you need as the temperature continues to climb… Back in September of last year, I first noticed that a new shop offering a frozen alternative to yogurt was moving into the space at 729 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. After what seems like a long time, the Frozen Fruit Company is now up and running. Originally hailing from the UK, FFC offers a soft serve made entirely from fruit in flavors such as pineapple & passion fruit, mango & strawberry, raspberry & orange that you can read more about here.

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