Maria’s Italian Kitchen Closes Up Shop On Wilshire: Brentwood Branch Reopens

Posted on June 9, 2015 by toddrickallen

When God closes a Maria’s, he always opens another… About a year ago I told you about Maria’s Italian Kitchen opening at 3001 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. They had taken over the troubled space that had housed the sports bar South. This was to be their temporary pop-up while they remodeled their Brentwood location. And now all of you Brentwood citizens who had to drive past 328 other Italian restaurants and a city boundary to get to your beloved Maria’s can heave a collective sigh of relief: The Maria’s in Santa Monica has officially closed and the Brentwood location has reopened at 11723 Barrington Court.

The Wooded Hollow Replaces Brilliantshine In SM

Posted on June 1, 2015 by toddrickallen

A simple banner posted on the front of the building is announcing that a new restaurant will be replacing Brilliantshine at 522 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. Eater reported back in Mid-April that the popular bar and restaurant closed due to a “partner split”. Not a lot of information out there yet, but it looks like the new bar and restaurant will be called The Wooded Hollow, but that’s about as much as I can find out….

Update: I got a gander at their chalkboard menu. Looks like classic bar food such as chicken quesadilla, mac & cheese balls, and pastrami sandwich. They appear to be open now and their hours are 6pm to 11pm nightly.

Yankee Doodle Space Will Finally Get A Tenant In SM

Posted on May 22, 2015 by toddrickallen

It’s been a long time coming but it appears that the old Yankee Doodle space at 1410 Third St. Promenade in Santa Monica will finally get a new restaurant. Ever since the sports bar closed due to a fire back in 2013, the space has mostly sat vacant. Construction recently began and signs went up declaring that the cavernous space will be divided into two spaces; one will be a T-Mobile, and one will be a new restaurant. I don’t think they’ve settled exactly on which restaurant as there is still a commercial lease notice online, but I’ll keep my eyes on it…

Haggen Food & Pharmacy Quietly Takes Over Albertsons In Santa Monica

Posted on May 7, 2015 by toddrickallen

You could be forgiven for not noticing anything different on the corner of Lincoln and Ocean Park in Santa Monica, but there has recently been a big change. As longtime LA resident grocery store chain Albertsons quietly slips off the scene, new arrivals are quickly filling in the gaps. After a closure of only two days, Haggen Food & Pharmacy opened a little over a week ago at 2627 Lincoln Boulevard, thereby unceremoniously taking out Santa Monica’s last Albertsons (the other location on Wilshire is now Bristol Farms). Founded in 1933 in Bellingham, Washington, Haggen has remained fairly local to the Pacific Northwest. But toward the end of 2014, the retail grocery chain purchased 146 West Coast branches of Albertsons and Safeway Inc.(Vons), so I think we can expect to see a great deal more Haggen outposts in the near future. Explore more about your new neighborhood grocery store here.

Juice Served Here Arriving Soon In Century City, Santa Monica

Posted on May 5, 2015 by toddrickallen

Another day, another juice bar in West LA. Apparently Westsiders can’t get enough. The latest? Rapidly expanding chain Juice Served Here is moving into the Westfield Century City Shopping Center as evidenced by the recently installed window announcements. Offering a menu that is cold-pressed, organic, and local, JSH is wasting no time moving across LA with many more upcoming locations including one at Wilshire and 6th in Santa Monica, Culver City, Beverly Hills, and Studio City. Read more about the “never conventional” company and find a location near you here.

Belcampo Now Pushing Meat In SM…

Posted on April 15, 2015 by toddrickallen

Well, it’s been a bit of a wait, and a whole lot of you have been closely tracking this story. Back in January of 2014, I first noticed signs up announcing that Belcampo Meat Co., the high-end butcher shop hailing from Northern California was taking over the space at 1026 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica that used to house Dakota Lounge. Then back in May of 2014, they briefly opened a pop-up restaurant while construction was going on. Well, after a full renovation of the space, Belcampo opened their retail butcher shop (complete with a Tiffany-style display window) in the front last week and the restaurant with a separate entrance officially opened on Sunday. Look for a menu that features meats that are grass-fed, organic, and humanely raised at their farm at the foot of Ms. Shasta that you can learn more about here.

The display window

Reds To Bring Swedish Pizza To Santa Monica…

Posted on April 6, 2015 by toddrickallen

Could Swedish pizza be the next big thing? Thanks to a tip from a reader, I checked out the space that used to house Perfect Blend juice bar at 707 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica, next to Samohi. Sure enough, a sign in the window announces that the storefront will soon be inhabited by Reds: A Swedish Pizza & Burger House. What the heck is Swedish pizza? Turns out, Swedish pizza is simply a pie, developed by immigrants to Sweden, with unusual and iconoclastic combinations and toppings such as béarnaise sauce, filet mignon, or banana and curry. Reds appears to be the offshoot of Cutter’s Pizza in Tarzana. Check out their Facebook page, or edify yourself and astonish your friends with your impressive knowledge of the history of Swedish pizza from their website here.

And The Name Of The New Restaurant Is… Estate

Posted on March 27, 2015 by toddrickallen

Back in late February, I told you about an ABC application posted on the vacant space at 1519 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica that used to house The Parlor. The applicant was listed as Estate 1519, which I assumed was a working name. Well, as it turns out, the new restaurant will indeed be named Estate as indicated by the sample menu that they recently posted in the window. According to the Yelp page, Estate is up and running (possibly a soft opening) as of this week and the (positive) reviews are trickling in. The menu, designed by Chef Hisashi Yoshiara (Buddha’s Belly) appears to be an eclectic mix of Asian influences and Californian cuisine that you can check out in the photo below.

Herringbone Coming Soon To Santa Monica

Posted on March 25, 2015 by toddrickallen

Nearby to the upcoming Joan’s on Third and eLOVate, I just noticed the plywood with a conditional use permit posted on it announcing the impending arrival of a new 245 seat indoor/outdoor restaurant in the new development at 1755 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica. The applicant listed is as “Santa Monica Eats LLC”, but if you track down the ABC application, it reveals that the new restaurant will be Herringbone, which I’m assuming will be a sister restaurant to the Herringbone at the Mondrian in West Hollywood. Not much news out there on an opening date and they’ve only recently posted job listings, but I’ll keep watching. In the mean time, check out Chef Brian Malarkey’s “Fish Meats Field” concept menu and read more about the company here.

Ox & Son Set To Open Today…

Posted on March 9, 2015 by toddrickallen

This is a big day for Westside restaurant openings… Back in November, I told you about a new restaurant taking over the old Café Montana space at 1534 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. To those of you (and there are many of you) who have been carefully following this story comes this welcome news: Ox & Son is expected to open its doors tonight, March 9th.

“Estate 1519” Coming Soon To SM

Posted on February 24, 2015 by toddrickallen

The space at 1519 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica has sat vacant for an extremely long time. For those with excellent memories, the space was built for Cinch restaurant and after that failed, The Parlor took over but went under after complaints from the neighbors. It’s been empty since about 2010. Well all that is about to change. Construction is underway and a new ABC license has posted indicating that we will soon see a new inhabitant. The license names the applicant as Estate 1519, but that’s probably just a working name. I can’t seem to uncover any information and the construction people have no clue, so we may have to wait to see what’s actually coming. Hopefully it won’t take long…

Hold On! There’s More To The eLOVate Story!

Posted on February 20, 2015 by toddrickallen

After I posted yesterday about the impending opening of yet another health food restaurant at 1705 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica, I could almost hear people collectively rolling their eyes. But there’s a lot more buzz to this story… I quickly heard from sources that I wasn’t in possession of all the facts. Turns out, eLOVate isn’t going to be some run-of-the-mill kale and quinoa joint, already so ubiquitous in Santa Monica. Rather, eLOVate will be the flagship restaurant for TV personality, cookbook author, and personal chef-to-the-stars Roberto Martin. Probably most famous for cooking for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, the passionate vegan chef is best known for American comfort food designed to please carnivores. And while no menu has been announced, glancing at his cookbook, I think we might expect such things as: southern fried chick’n; mac and cheese; tofu crab cakes; and chick’n and mole tamales. They’re shooting for a spring opening, but until then, read more about Chef Roberto’s vision in this Ecorazzi article.

Monsoon Cafe Ends Its Long Run In Santa Monica: New Restaurant Expected Soon…

Posted on January 13, 2015 by toddrickallen

Well I sure didn’t see this one coming, but it looks like one of Santa Monica’s favorite pan-Asian restaurants (and occasional salsa dance lounge) Monsoon Cafe, has ended its long run of 18 years at 1212 3rd St Promenade. According to the goodbye letter posted on the front door, those giant Nepalese Buddha eyes that have gazed down on this quieter section of the Promenade between Wilshire and Arizona will soon be painted over to make way for a new, unnamed “restaurant operation”. Whether this means the new eatery will be by the same owners or an entirely different company, I’m not certain. No word on what the replacement will be, but it appears they’re aiming at being up and running by April of this year.

Beaming Now Open On Montana Ave. In SM

Posted on January 7, 2015 by toddrickallen

Beaming opened in the completely redone sunny space at 1426 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica yesterday (Tuesday January 6th). This is the third branch of the organic superfood cafe that offers a menu of juices, smoothies, salads, bowls, and baked treats. Look for an upcoming branch to open in West Hollywood later in the year, but until then, read more here.

Forma Restaurant And Cheese Bar Shoots For A February Opening On Montana…

Posted on January 5, 2015 by toddrickallen

Back in April, I told you about a new Italian restaurant taking over the 17th St. Cafe/Jack’s on Montana/On Montana space at 1610 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Brought to you by the people behind Pecorino in Brentwood, at the time, it was reported to me that the new eatery was to be called Formaggio. We have since learned that the name had been shortened to Forma. Originally I was told that they were hoping for a September opening, but this being Santa Monica and all, restaurants seldom make their projected opening dates. But we do know that Forma Restaurant and Cheese Bar is shooting for a February opening as indicated by the announcement that was recently placed on the plywood covering the space. I’ll keep checking…

Update: Forma is now open. formarestaurant.com

Viet Noodle Bar Now Open On Pico In SM

Posted on December 30, 2014 by toddrickallen

Landing softly in a neighborhood restaurant scene that runs the gamut from Valentino to Weinerschnitzel, Viet Noodle Bar has now opened at 3221 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica. The space used to be the home of now-defunct Bite Bar & Bakery. The humble little Southeast Asian eatery already has one location in Atwater Village and offers a menu of rice and noodles, pho, and sandwiches that you can check out here.

Sunny Blue Bringing Omusubi And Frozen Yogurt To CC Soon…

Posted on December 23, 2014 by toddrickallen

With one location already on Main St. in Santa Monica, it looks like cheery little Sunny Blue is expanding into Culver City, right next to the upcoming Humble Potato at 12608 West Washington Blvd. (corner of Mildred). Sunny Blue specializes in omusubi (otherwise known as onigiri) which are Japanese-style balls of rice filled with various fillings and eaten with the hand, hence their tagline “this place has balls”. But the environmentally aware mini-chain also offers salads, noodles, and frozen yogurt. No word on an opening date, but until then, read more here.

Juice Crafters Now Open On Ocean Park In SM…

Posted on December 11, 2014 by toddrickallen

The cold-pressed organic juice craze continues its inexorable conquest of the Westside as evidence by the expansion of local chain Juice Crafters into the storefront at 2811 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. Still in their soft opening, you can get 50% off through this Saturday. Read more about their menu and find other locations here.

Ox & Son To Take Over Cafe Montana In SM…

Posted on November 25, 2014 by toddrickallen

You may have been wondering what was going on over at neighborhood fave Cafe Montana at 1534 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Recently, they closed down. Then a sign went up in the window that announced they were remodeling and promising to reopen soon. That sign quickly disappeared. Then came the black plastic covering the windows… According to a source, Cafe Montana will not be reopening, ending a 20 year long run. The space is being developed for a new venture, tentatively named Ox & Son by businessman, restaurateur, and owner of Westside Rentals Mark Verge, who recently opened Art’s Table in Cafe Montana’s sister restaurant, the now-defunct Babalu. No details on an opening date or menu, but I’m told the concept will be “high-end”.

Kye’s Now Pushing “Kyeritos” in SM…

Posted on November 6, 2014 by toddrickallen

Well that didn’t take long… Back in June, I told you about a new “superfood” concept restaurant poised to take over the space at 1518 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica that used to house pizza restaurant BricoLA. And by some miracle of planetary alignment (for that’s what’s needed to open a restaurant this quickly in Santa Monica), Kye’s opened yesterday (November 5th). Look for varied menu of salads, shakes, smoothies, breakfasts offerings, and their proprietary “kyerito”, which is essentially a wrap of such favorites as BBQ pork, reuben, paleo tuna, as well as many veg and vegan options such as bean taco, and “Nahm Jim“, the latter consisting of “assorted veggies, herbs, lotus root, woodear, Nahm Jim fish sauce or Veg Nahm Jim sauce, hemp seeds, macadamia nuts, sliced almonds, red/black rice blend, and nori” (whew!). Read more and check out their complete menu here.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Tag Archives: Santa Monica