The neon cow has been spotted in Century City. It’s covering the second floor space in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, next to HaiDiLao Hotpot, and is assuring us that pudding experts Pudu Pudu are moving in. It looks like they’re planning on a Summer opening. No idea what Pudu Pudu is? Read my post about their location in Venice for more information.
It appears that cafe/pub St. Marc has departed its location on the first floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. I’m not sure what happened as there’s no message on their website, but all the signage has been pulled down. Seizing the opportunity, long-time Century City Italian restaurant Toscanova is appropriating their outdoor dining space.
They’re on a roll… It was only last month that Zinqué opened a location in Century City. And now, as Lincoln Blvd. in Venice continues its gentrification, it looks like the increasingly buzzy street is getting its own branch of the cheery French charmer. Plywood is covering the front of the space at at 1440 Lincoln, informing us that a new Zinqué is coming soon.
Ever since I first told you that breezy French charmer Zinqué was moving into the second floor space of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center that was previously occupied by Petros, I’ve been peppered with questions asking when it would open. So, for all the people eagerly following this story comes this happy news… Zinqué opened yesterday (01/29) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with patio dining and take-away or delivery. You’re welcome.
Opening a new restaurant during COVID is dicey. One plucky contender throwing caution to the wind is Potato Chips Deli. They are moving into the space formerly occupied by Wexler’s Deli in the food court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. Potato Chips Deli currently operates two other locations (Beverly Grove and Culver City). Sandwiches are their specialty: check out their menu here. We wish them the best of luck.
It appears that after a solid run in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, Italian cheese specialist Obicà Mozzarella Bar Pizza e Cucina has vacated its second floor location. Windows are papered over and signs are pulled down. I bellieve that means that only two locations in New York are the last U.S. vestiges of the international chain, known for flying in fresh Mozzarella di Bufala weekly.
We all wait with bated breath for Los Angeles’ branch of celebrated Italian emporium Eataly to return to its pre-COVID glory. I’m told, however, that there will be at least one significant change. One of the signature restaurants, Il Pesce Cucina, is apparently being axed. The replacement? Sources say the new eatery is being described as “Mediterranean”. Here’s hoping we can explore it ourselves soon…
I first told you about the arrival of seafood bar Shuck House to the food court of the Century City Shopping Center back in 2018. Sadly, it appears they have given up the ghost. Plywood is now covering the space. I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
We could all use more good news right now… While many restaurants are challenged or closing, it’s encouraging to see new eateries on the way. On the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, in the erstwhile Petros space, plywood is covering the front with an announcement that Zinqué is bringing its sunny vision of French charm to the mall. Looks like they’re shooting for a Fall opening.
Plywood is up on a commodious space on the first floor of the Westfield Century City Shoping Center announcing the arrival of Cafe Landwer. The Cafe, which has two other US locations in Boston, started out as a coffee bar in Germany in 1919, later moving to Israel, where it continues to roast coffee and operate a number of locations of Cafe Landwer. Expect a menu with a variety of choices including shakshuka, bowls, schnitzel, burgers, pizza, and pasta.
The recent turnover in the food court of the Century City Shopping Center is breathing new life to into the dining scene there. Plywood is up on the space that used to house Bibigo Kitchen (which has moved locations in the mall) announcing the impending arrival of Bok Bok Mediterranean. And that’s not all: According to their website, they will be opening a location at 235 Main St. in Venice as well. Look for a menu of panini, pitas, and plates of shawerma, falafel, rotisserie chicken, with other Mediterranean specialties.
With all the bad news about restaurant closures in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, it’s refreshing to see that a new venture is taking a chance. Plywood is up on the food court spot that used to house Everytable declaring that West Hollywood’s “simple European-style nook” La Créme Café is planning on a Spring opening. Look for a menu of organic coffee & smoothies, waffles, crêpes, and panini.
Yikes! Still more closures… Westfield Century City Shopping Center food court is starting to look like a ghost town. Spice Affair is now boarded up. And longtime resident Ajisen Ramen has closed its doors as well.
Unless you looked very closely, you might not have noticed that Fala Bar quietly transformed into something now called Beleaf Café in the food court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. While I’m told there is no relationship between the former and the latter, the look of the eatery and the menu are very similar. Beleaf Café has one other location in the Westfield Topanga Mall, and features a 100% plant-based menu of burgers, sandwiches, falafel, and salads.
After the major overhaul of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, Greek eatery Petros snagged one of the choice locations on the second floor. Sadly however, it appears that they has quietly vacated the commodious space. Not sure what happened, but you can still visit their other locations in Manhattan Beach, Solvang, or Santa Barbara.
And while we’re on the subject of Century City… It was back in early September when I told you about the arrival of Palm Springs’ Brandini Toffee to the space vacated by Yagourt & Bougatsa on the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. For those of you who have been waiting to try to celebrated sweet treats comes this happy news: Brandini Toffee officially threw open their doors on Tuesday, November 19th.
When hometown low-calorie ice cream expert Halo Top laid down brick-and-mortar locations, people went crazy. Recently however, I’ve been hearing from readers that the locations have abruptly closed. So, I went by the Westfield Century City Shopping Center to check things out. Sure enough, a notice on the front proclaims the sad news that all Halo Top Scoop Shops are now finished. Could it have something to do with the recent acquisition of Halo Top by Wells Enterprises, the people behind Blue Bunny? But all is not lost: You can still find Halo Top in local grocery stores.
While it can take months (or even years… Hello Honeymee?) for some shops to open in the Westfield Century Shopping Center, some arrive almost overnight. One that snuck in while no one was looking is a branch of Taiwanese chain Wushiland Boba, which is now open on the second floor near Petros. Expect a menu of various teas and sweet or savory waffles. Oh, and that flying fish with a cup on its back logo? Eater reported a few years ago that his name is Larry.
It was only last month that I told you about the disappearance of Yagourt & Bougatsa from the free-standing kiosk on the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. But it looks like the space is about to get a new tenant. Window paper is announcing that Brandini Toffee intends to set up housekeeping. Based in Palm Springs, this is the first LA location for the almond toffee makers featured on Oprah Winfrey’s O List, The Martha Stewart Show, and the Food Network.
Plywood on the second floor of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center is announcing the impending arrival of Bake Cheese Tart. Originally hailing from Japan, the chain has locations throughout Asia and another US location in San Francisco. The website explains that the tarts start with a double-baked crust, into which goes fresh cream cheese from Hokkaido. They are produced in Japan, then flown around the world where they are baked in their retail stores. Apparently, they’re so popular that they sell one tart per second worldwide.
Update: Bake Cheese Tart opened on Saturday, October 5 to long lines and big crowds.
Toddrickallen 