About a year ago, I told you about the expansion of a decadently rich yogurt shop to the tony space at 1431 Ocean Ave. (in the Pacific Plaza building) in Santa Monica. It took a while, but Go Greek Yogurteria recently opened and is dishing dairy to the good people of Santa Monica. Read more about their fresh yogurt bar and self-serve frozen yogurt here.
Almost exactly one year ago, I told you about an ABC license posting on the old La Cachette Bistro space at 1733 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica announcing that a branch of popular West Coast watering hole Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern would soon inhabit the address. It took a while, but they are now up and serving lunch, dinner, and brunch. Check out their menu of “artisanal regional American classics” here.
It appears that wine and gift shop Venokado has given up the ghost in The Market at Santa Monica Place. And The Curious Palate will be jumping ship from its Market space to across the way, just to the right of the ArcLight. That means that soon, the only soldier left standing will be La Gourmandise School. But we’ve been promised that something new will be coming…
Back in December of 2015, I told you about the impending arrival of KC Chocolatier to 1431B 2nd St. in Downtown Santa Monica, right next to the new Espresso Cielo. After what seems like a very long time, they are now up and running, serving chocolates, ice cream, and hot chocolate flown in from Belgium. KC Chocolatier has a shop in Chicago, and is an offshoot of Kim’s Chocolates from Tienen, Belgium, which according to their website, is the “number 1 chocolate exporter to Canada and the United States”.
After an extensive renovation, the formerly dusty Gallery Food Hall, at 1315 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica, reopened with a fresh new design and look back in Spring of 2016. Subway was open, and previous occupant McDonald’s moved back in, and expectations rose… then began to sink. McDonald’s soon pulled up stakes. And recently, on a tip from a reader, I dropped by to discover that the last remaining eatery, Subway, had indeed vacated its second floor location. The Gallery now sits completely empty, without a single tenant or notice of a future occupant. I’m not quite sure what troubling events are going on here, but I’ll keep watching…
Ever since short-lived Aestus vacated their space at 507 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, I’ve been carefully watching to see what would move in. Well, now we know… The windows were recently papered over informing us that the good people of Santa Monica will soon be able to partake of “modern organic Mexican” at an upcoming branch of Tocaya Organica. With branches in West Hollywood, Venice, and Miami, it looks like in they will also be expanding to Westwood and Hollywood as well, according to their website.
I only just recently noticed that artisanal coffee experts Caffe Luxxe has boarded up its location at 11975 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. I think the closure wasn’t unexpected as the entire shopping complex that this branch anchored has also boarded up in anticipation of an upcoming project. But if you count yourself among the legions of devoted fans of the popular purveyor of caffeinated drinks, don’t worry that you’ll have to drive to Santa Monica to get your fix: According to their website, they are planning on moving just a little east to a new location at 11640 San Vicente. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
Santa Monica is about to get its fourth Whole Foods. But this one has a difference… According to the notice of pending requested applications attached to the fencing at the front of the new Whole Foods Market complex being built on the corner of Cloverleaf and Pico, not only with they be selling alcohol, but they will also be having “instructional tasting”, and “beer and wine on premise consumption”. Organic shopping in Santa Monica is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
Local institution J & T Gourmet Deli has apparently vacated their 1128 Wilshire Blvd. space. Long a favorite among the Polish and Eastern European communities, I had been hearing whispers that the quality had changed somewhat after a recent ownership change. Not sure what will replace the deli, but I’ll keep watching…
Culinary wonderland Penzeys Spices appears to have vacated their Santa Monica digs at 1347 4th St. Not sure what happened or what may be taking its place. I’m certain that home cooks across the Westside mourn the loss…
Icy treat specialists Yogurtland continue their inexorable march across LA. A new branch just popped up in the shopping center on the corner of Lincoln and Pico in Santa Monica. Because no one should have to walk more than a block for frozen yogurt…
The shop that replaced Santa Monica’s dubious branch of Joan’s on Third appears to have closed at 1705 Ocean Ave. While there are no obvious signs, the shelves have been stripped and there is no activity at H B Daisy, and I when I called their phone number, I received a message that the number is unassigned. Please let me know if you have any further information, but until then I’ll keep my eye on the troubled corner space at Ocean and Olympic…
When I popped into buzzy Erven, the eatery that inhabits the old RFD space at 514-516 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica, to sample the much-lauded beer battered tofu sandwich, the staff that evening looked particularly chuffed. I assumed that was because of the recent attention being showered on the vegan restaurant, and a good review from Jonathon Gold. So when I congratulated them on their review, I got this response: “Which one?” While it’s not out in print yet, turns out that Erven has just been named #1 of Los Angeles’ Best New Restaurants of 2016 by Los Angeles Magazine. You can see for yourself here. Congratulations!
The good folks of Santa Monica and environs are fiercely loyal to their small independent markets such as Vicente Foods, Bob’s Market, and The Farms. But the king of them all? That would have to be Co+opportunity Market and Deli, with its fanatically dedicated local following. I recently noticed that Co+opportunity will soon be spreading the love in Culver City, with a second location going into a bright and airy space in the new Access development at 8770 Washington Blvd., across from that palace of all things culinary, Surfas. Expect an opening sometime next year.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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…
Toddrickallen 