Tag Archives: Santa Monica

Mikomi Sushi Replacing Lotus Dim Sum In Downtown Santa Monica

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Ever since well-regarded Lotus Dim Sum Dumpling House ended its short life in the old P.F. Chang’s space on the corner of Wilshire and 4th in Downtown Santa Monica, people have been peppering me with questions about what was taking over.  Construction began very quickly, and just last week, window paper went up announcing the new tenant.   Mikomi Sushi was founded in Monrovia in 2007 with a mission to “provide food made with quality ingredients and equally quality service”.  They offer a solid menu of sushi, sashimi, and rolls.  This will be their third location, and they are aiming for an opening in early 2025.

Desvelados Cantina Opens In Downtown Santa Monica

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A new Mexican restaurant has suddenly appeared in the old Mercado space at 1416 4th St. in Downtown Santa Monica.  Desvelados Cantina officially threw open their doors on Friday (Nov. 1).  This is their sixth location, with the other branches being mostly east of here.  Self-described as “An elevated taste of Mexico”, look for an extensive (and delicious looking) menu of classic food and drinks with an emphasis on tacos.  We wish them the best of luck.

Clay Cafe Combining Art/Coffee Shop In Santa Monica

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Combining art with food/drink appears to be a trend in Santa Monica.  I recently told you about The Splatter Studio, and now there’s another new venture as well.  Billing itself as a “paint-your-own-pottery studio and cafe”, Clay Cafe is moving into the space at 620 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica.  Their website reveals that, in addition to the clay studio, they will operate a coffee shop that “serves a wide variety of hot and cold beverages and light snacks”.

The Splatter Studio Bringing Art, Beer, Wine To Downtown Santa Monica

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Los Angeles’ first branch of Atlanta’s immersive art experience, The Splatter Studio, is coming soon to 321 Santa Monica Blvd in Downtown Santa Monica, previously home to Dragon Herbs (and long ago home of Hooters).  Billing themselves as “a contemporary action painting studio”, the idea here, as I understand it, is to create art by splattering it Jackson Pollock-style across a canvas (and each other?) as a social event and “stress reliever”.  Why am I covering this since I normally write about restaurants?  Because according to the window paper and website, this location will also carry beer and wine to enhance your artistic and social experience.

Wake And Late Coming To MDR

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Epic breakfast burritos are heading to Marina del Rey…  There’s window paper up on one of the spaces in the Waterside Marina del Rey Shopping Center announcing the arrival of Wake and Late.  Wake and Late has four other locations across LA (with another in the works for Santa Monica) and is known for their breakfast burritos, “rip & dip bagels”, and coffee.  The promised Santa Monica branch of Wake and Late has languished for nearly three years.  I hope they have better luck with this location.

OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival This Sunday

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This from my inbox:

“OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival returns to the iconic Santa Monica Pier on Sun. Oct. 13 to celebrate the sea and raise awareness for Heal the Bay to help keep our local ocean and beaches clean!  This beloved ocean-inspired tasting event features the city’s top chefs and restaurants and their favorite underwater ingredients!  Attendees will enjoy seafood tastings, beer gardens, wine tastings, live music, oyster-shucking competitions, and more fun in the sun!”

General admission (Little Fish) is $85 and gets you access to seafood and drinks tastings.  VIP admission (Big Fish) is $165 and gets the tastings as well as early entry, access to a lounge, and exclusive tastings and cocktails.  I’m told tickets are selling out so you might want to move quickly.  Oh, and “yacht rock attire” is encouraged.

Read more and get your tickets here.

Ghirardelli Set To Make Santa Monica Sweeter Soon…

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Paper has gone up on the space at 1541 Ocean Ave ste 105 in Santa Monica proclaiming that famous San Francisco chocolatier Ghirardelli is moving in.  Obviously, the shop is super close to The Pier and will cater to tourists, as it does in San Francisco, New York, and Hollywood.  According to their website, Ghirardelli has been making quality chocolate for nearly two hundred years, thereby making it the “longest continually operating chocolatier in America”.  They’re aiming for a Winter 2024 opening.

(Thanks Frank!)

Kreation Coming To Malibu

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Congratulations Good People of Malibu, healthy juices are heading your way!  There’s a banner on the front of the Montana Ave branch of cleanse experts Kreation announcing an upcoming branch in Malibu Village, at 3836 Cross Creek Rd.  According to the banner, this will be their 24th branch.

Pacific Golf Corp. Opening An “Eating Place” In Santa Monica?

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A mysterious ABC application recently appeared on the front of the space at 828 Pico Blvd, Ste 5.  The business name on the application is Pacific Golf Corp.  A cursory search of the name and the names associated with this business produce no obvious results.  All we know is that this will be an “on-sale beer & wine eating place”.  If you have more information, let me know…

Companion Bringing Friendly Vibes To Venice

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On a tip from a reader (Thanks Jeff!) I went by the former location of Matthew Kenney’s ill-fated pizza restaurant Double Zero at 1700 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice to see what was going on.  You may recall that an ABC application went up earlier this year announcing the new business as Gnarwal Coffee Co., the socially conscious organic coffee purveyor with a location on Main Street in Santa Monica.  It appears the concept has pivoted slightly, and they have since opened under the name Companion.  The new self-described neighborhood cafe and restaurant is currently open from 7am to 3pm for coffee, pastry, and sandwiches with the promise of dinner and wine soon.  Until then, read more about their vision and food here.

Osteria Del Fornaio Disappears From Downtown Santa Monica

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This caught me by surprise, but I’ve been hearing rumors portending this for quite a while.  Sadly, after an extensive build-out that culminated in a triumphant return to Santa Monica, Osteria Del Fornaio has closed its doors at 401 Wilshire Blvd. Ste 140.   People were genuinely excited when they opened only back in April of 2022, with a bright fresh look and a popular happy hour.  I’m not sure what happened, but the space is currently being gutted.  I’m told this location is not destined to be empty for long.  More rumors are circulating about the new tenant, which I can’t confirm at this time.   Watch this space…

Luke’s Lobster Diving Into Downtown Santa Monica

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The corner space at 200 Santa Monica Blvd has gone through a number of changes in recent history.  It had been a Coffee Bean, then it was Jinky’s Coffee, and now it will be LA’s first branch of Luke’s Lobster.   Luke’s Lobster‘s founder, third-generation lobsterman Luke Holden, opened his first shack in New York in 2009, and has since spread to locations across nine states and Japan.  They are on a mission to provide the highest quality sustainable seafood from Maine and Canada and are devoted to coastal communities.  Look for a menu of lobster, shrimp, and crab rolls served in “Maine-style shacks”.  Definitely exciting news for Downtown Santa Monica.

H&H Bagels Bringing Famous NYC Bagels To Montana Ave.

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Ever since Marmalade Cafe closed up shop at its longtime location of 710 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, readers have been demanding answers as to what would take over the space.  Construction began quickly and the speculation was wild.  I’d been hearing whispers of the incoming tenant, but now we have proof.  New York’s celebrated H&H Bagels is taking up residence at this location, as confirmed by their website.  H&H began in New York in 1972 and uses the “artisanal water bagel method” that produces results for which fans go crazy and many consider to be the quintessential bagel.  They are in the midst of a national expansion, and this will be their first West Coast store.

Fogo De Chão, Gott’s Roadside Coming To Downtown Santa Monica

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Imagine my surprise when I looked at an official City website listing changes to Downtown Santa Monica and noticed two names on the list of which I was unaware.  The first of these was popular Brazilian carnivore paradise Fogo De Chão.  A little more digging revealed a trade website that appears to confirm that the churrasco steakhouse is moving into the old Del Frisco’s Grille location at 1551 Ocean Ave, a prime address facing the iconic Santa Monica Pier.  The second surprise on the list is Napa Valley institution Gott’s Roadside.  While I have a few suspicions, I am unable to confirm the address for Gott’s.  If you have answers, let me know.

Triple Beam Pizza Opens Today In Santa Monica

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Nancy Silverton and Matt Molina’s SUPER-anticipated Roman-style pizza restaurant is set to throw open its doors at their new location in Santa Monica.  Excited readers are rushing to tell me that, after a long delay, notices are up on the front of the new Triple Beam Pizza, at 2905 Main St., announcing the opening at 11AM today (June 20).  This is their fourth location.  Expect such beauties as roasted fennel & sausage with goat cheese, Korean BBQ chicken bulgogi, and roasted spring corn ezquite.  You’re welcome.

R.I.P. Santa Monica’s Gallery Food Hall….

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I’ve been covering the story of Santa Monica’s long-suffering food hall, The Gallery at 1315 3rd Street Promenade, for years.  It was a Promenade fast food sanctuary for a while, then and upscale destination including David Beran’s Dialogue, and in its last gasp, a ghost kitchen.  Now it is empty.  A sharp-eyed reader noticed a new ABC application in the window.  Sadly, The Gallery will no longer be exclusively a dining destination.  Holey Moley, which is an indoor miniature golf concept with a bar is moving in.  This will be LA’s first location.  Read more about this mysterious newcomer here.

(Thanks Jordan!)

Turn Dough Coming To Downtown Santa Monica

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Pink signs are up on the space at 215 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica announcing the arrival of Turn Dough.  The address was previously the longtime home of hostel favorite breakfast spot Interactive Cafe.  Turn Dough has two other LA locations (Venice and Hollywood) and offers a menu where “European traditions merge seamlessly with American creativity”.  Look for “18 signature Chimney cakes with Soft Serve Gelato… Milkshakes, refreshing Dole Whip, irresistible Homemade French Crepes, heavenly Belgian Waffles, and a delightful selection of espresso”.

Night Market At The Bungalow Bringing Summer Fun To Santa Monica

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This from my inbox… Just in time for summer.  Night Market at the Bungalow began this week and will run every Thursday this summer from 5pm to 11pm until August 29.  This event is free and open to the public and is promising “delectable cuisine, expertly crafted cocktails, live music, and vibrant ambiance”.  Check out the list of vendors here.  The Bungalow is at 101 Wilshire Blvd. in Downtown Santa Monica.  

Jinky’s Replacing The Independence In Downtown Santa Monica

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Neighborhood fave Jinky’s Cafe has had a presence in Santa Monica for a while.  First as a solid breakfast spot and then as a coffeeshop.  Both locations have been abandoned, but fans of Jinky’s are in luck.  The awnings are already up on the prominent corner spot at 205 Broadway in Downtown Santa Monica, previously home to The Independence, announcing the arrival of Jinky’s to this location.  Jinky’s has five other locations across LA, and this one will offer all-day dining with beer, wine, and cocktails.