I heard from a saddened reader (very sorry JS) that the diminutive Japanese restaurant popular with locals, Necco, has closed up shop over the weekend in Westwood. Necco burst onto the scene in 2014 with a concept of healthy Japanese tapas and a minimalist interior. The website gives no explanation, but confirms the closure. All may not be lost though: The website also promises new projects. We wish them the best of luck.
It was an astonishing 3 years ago that I told you about the development of the space at 1001 Gayley, erstwhile home of a Coffee Bean. Qwench Juice Bar has officially thrown open its doors and is now dishing juices, smoothies, bowls, sandwiches to the good people of Westwood. What on earth took so long? According to a spokesperson, investor issues and city permit problems are to blame.
This doesn’t happen very often… It appears that the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has closed its popular free-standing location at 1500 Westwood Blvd. I’m not sure what happened, but there is construction going on at the location. We’ll have to wait and see…
If you’ve been reading this blog, you’re aware of the recent mass exodus of restaurants from Westwood. But the news isn’t all doom and gloom… One plucky eatery appears to be doing just fine. A banner above the recently deceased Lollicup at 1131 Westwood Blvd. is announcing that longtime Westwood fixture Headline’s Diner is moving into the front and center location.
As you can tell if you read this blog, it’s been a hard Summer for restaurants… But seriously, what’s going on in Westwood? A quick jog around the Village left me gobsmacked, with no less that four restaurants recently deceased. Last week I told you about the disappearance of long-standing Westwood anchor Tanino. But add to the list Nushii, Lollicup, and perhaps most surprising, Spireworks. If you recall, Spireworks burst on the scene back in 2016 and caused a stir by introducing The Westside to its signature Turkish döner (spit-roasted meat). I’m not sure why the sudden exodus, but I’ll keep watching.
Well this came as a bit of shock, but longstanding red sauce joint Tanino Ristorante Bar appears to be finished at 1043 Westwood Blvd. Tanino anchored the mercurial Westwood food scene for 20 years, but sadly paper is now covering the windows. I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what develops…
It was only back in May when I told you about the demise of the short-lived branch of Mediterranean eatery Grilliant from their space at 10861 Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood. Wasting no time, a new ABC application has appeared on the front. The business name is listed as Toranj, a word that, depending on what part of the world you are in, can mean different things. But since the applicant is listed as Chicken Chick Corp., I think its a safe guess that poultry will be on the menu. We’ll have to wait and see what develops…
This is sad news… It was only in January of last year that I noticed that a branch of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern mini-chain Grilliant was taking over the old Panini Café space at 10861 Lindbrook Dr. in Westwood. They opened shortly thereafter. And now, after a little more that a year, it appears that they have given up the ghost. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but a note in the window confirms the closure and extends their gratitude.
On a tip from a reader, I went to check out what was going on at 1145 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village, site of the erstwhile Panera Bread. Window decals and a large banner let us know that something called Brewin’ Coffee is on the way. (Brewin’/Bruin, get it?) I can’t seem to locate too much on Brewin’, so if you have more information, let me know…
Dumpling expert Northern Café is expanding its brand in Westwood. With the original restaurant just around the corner, they are opening a new Northern Café at 10965 Weyburn Ave., a space previously occupied by Koala T Café. There will be a difference: I’m told the new restaurant will have a different menu of “authentic Chinese”.
I first reported on the new Tocaya Organica moving into the space at 1140 Gayley Ave. back in June of 2017. I’m not sure what happened, but it’s taken a long time to open. Tocaya will begin dishing healthy Mexican to the good people of Westwood this Friday, February 22nd.
Pizza competition is stiff in student overrun Westwood. It’s the ideal grab-and-go for the academic set and bolthole pizza restaurants abound. A large for lease sign on the front lets us know that one casualty is Extreme Pizza at 1067 Glendon Ave. Not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching to see what may move in.
We all know that Westwood has a fickle food scene. So we probably shouldn’t be surprised that mysterious The Poke, opened a little over a year ago at 935 Broxton, has thrown in the towel. And taking its place? A banner announcing Sharetea is hanging on the front. Sharetea is a massive boba tea brand from Taiwan with an astonishing 450 stores in 18 countries.
Considering the amount of time they spent on renovating the space, this is certainly sad news… D1 Café has unceremoniously vacated its location at 10959 Kinross Ave. in Westwood. I took almost a year and a half from the time I first noticed the extensive construction until their opening. The space is now gutted. I’ll keep watching to see what, if anything, moves into the tricky spot.
Update: A reader let me know that a fire took out D1 in August. Perhaps they’ll reopen…
It was a sad day when revolutionary pizza purveyor 800 Degrees closed up shop in its flagship location at 10899 Lindbrook Drive in Westwood. Now, according to window paper, a new “neighborhood pizza eatery” is moving into the spot. According to this article in Daily Bruin, Pizzari will differentiate itself from the myriad of other Westwood pie joints by offering “organic, healthy pizza”.
It looks like the lucky students at UCLA are about to get a new eatery. An ABC application taped to the front of the space that used to be the home of Saks Teriyaki at 1121 S Glendon Ave in Westwood let’s us know that a new restaurant, Violet, is moving in. Not sure of an opening date, or much else for that matter including whether or not it is related to previous restaurants bearing the same name, but I’ll keep watching…
Update: Eater got the skinny of Violet. Read the details here.
Last year, I told you that the name of the new brewpub taking over the cavernous and iconic Yamato space, at 1099 Westwood Blvd., was going to be Broxton. Since then, a great many of you have been checking for updates and asking me for an opening date. And now we have one: A notice taped to the front door lets us know that Broxton is shooting for a grand opening on October 7th. Check out Eater’s recent article for peek inside. You’re welcome.
It appears that Pasadena’s popular frozen treat shop Bloomfield Creamery is expanding west. A small sign in the window promises their arrival to the former nail salon space at 1427 Westwood Blvd. (Although a large “coming soon” banner was recently removed). Not sure of an opening date, but it looks like we can expect “artisanal ice cream, edible cookie dough, and frozen yogurt” soon…
Could this indicate a slowdown in the build-your-own pizza trend? On a tip from a reader (Thanks Joey!), I went to check out what was going on at Pieology Pizzeria at 920 Broxton Ave.in Westwood Village. As it turns out, it has closed down. A note taped to the front door confirms it. I’m a bit surprised by this. Even in pizza saturated Westwood, it’s hard to comprehend why ever-popular Pieology, of all places, would pull up stakes. I’ll keep watching to see what may develop…
It wasn’t that long ago that I told you about the sudden demise of Boba Loca in boba-laden Westwood. Wasting no time whatsoever, a new contender has arrived to the humble space at 10946 Weyburn Ave. It’s Bobatime is now up and slinging neon multicolored teas to the thirsty students of UCLA.
