A fresh new dining option opened last Friday (April 19th) in community “smart kitchen” The Colony at 11419 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA.  Plant-based sushi specialists Niku Nashi Vegan Sushi has partnered with Kakkoi Sushi to create an exciting menu that combine’s Kakkoi‘s “Russian-Spanish-European fusion” with Niku Nashi‘s innovative vegan sushi.  Hours are 11am to 9pm and you can dine in on their patio or opt for take-away or delivery.  We wish them the best of luck ..read more

This was certainly a surprise…  I’m hearing from shocked readers that Culver City’s branch of classic health food store Co-opportunity Market has disappeared from their location at 8770 Washington Blvd.  The Co-op began life in 1974 in Santa Monica, where it continues to exist.  This location opened in 2017 and appeared to be tracking a more Erewhon vibe than its old school hippie predecessor.  I’m not sure what happened, but I’ll keep watching the space to see what may develop. (Thanks again, Andrew ..read more

Something new is coming to the Shore Hotel at 1515 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica.  There’s plywood up and an announcement naming the new spot to “Dine. Lounge. Celebrate.” as Shoreside.  Near as I can tell, Shoreside will be a new dining terrace and bar.  It looks like they’re aiming for a summer opening ..read more

Cozy local java joint Gnarwhal Coffee Co. is apparently branching out from its buzzy Main Street location to an even buzzier neighborhood.  There’s an ABC application up at 1700 Lincoln Blvd. in Venice, previously home to the troubled Double Zero, letting us know that Gnarwhal is moving in.  I’m sure that organic, socially responsible coffee will be on the menu, but so will beer and wine according to the ABC app, so this may be a slightly different concept that their Main St. branch ..read more

It looks like a new specialty drink spot is setting up housekeeping at 10911 Lindbrook in Westwood Village.  There’s a large banner over the former Yogurtland space announcing the arrival of Le Phant Milk Tea Co.  Not much on social media yet, but we have this from the Westwood Village Business Directory: “We are 2 quirky twenty-agers who want to share our best version of milk teas. We brew premium loose-leaf teas, mix it with our house creamer (no preservative-filled powders utilized), and add on made-from-scratch muscovado brown sugar boba. We can’t wait to serve you all.”  We ..read more

A well-known farmer’s market fixture appears to be getting a brick-and-mortar in Palms.  A very sharp-eyed reader noticed the (very faint) window paper up on the space at used to be the home to C&M Cafe, at 10640 Woodbine St (corner of Overland).  Daniel’s Bagels offers a solid menu of hand-made bagel standards that have quickly become local favorites. (Thanks Daniel ..read more

While there is already a (sort of) branch of British powerhouse sandwich chain Pret a Manger at Tom Bradley in LAX, Los Angeles is about to get its very own stand-alone location.  Also simply known as Pret, there is new window paper up at 901 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village announcing the happy news.  If you are unfamiliar with the brand, Pret a Manger (which means ready to eat in French) is a popular grab-and-go prepared sandwich chain that began life in 1983 in London and has since spread to many countries and locations across the globe (including New York and Chicago), and soon ..read more

The old Wokcano Space at 1413 5th St. in Downtown Santa Monica has sat empty for quite a while.  But the commodious location is about to get a new tenant.  An ABC application lists the new business as Nic’s.  I don’t have any information on this business, so if you know more, pass it along ..read more

We’ve known for a while that cozy neighborhood darling Met Her At A Bar was expanding to Santa Monica.  Now we know where.  There’s an ABC application posted on the front of the extensive build-out at 2615 Main St. in Santa Monca that lets us know this is the future branch of Met Her At The Bar.  The self-described “hip little neighborhood cafe” has a location on S. La Brea Ave. and is known for Belgian waffles and coffee ..read more

People have been demanding answers from me ever since crazy-popular boba shop Odd One Out Craft Milk Tea announced on their website that there was to be another branch opening in Santa Monica.  They didn’t give an address, but the map on the website gave the impression that it was going to be located in the Third Street Promenade.  Now we know: Fencing and ‘Odd One Out” banners are now up on the “Market Pavilion” kiosk just to the north of Santa Monica Blvd (1260 Third St. Promenade).  With a location in Sawtelle Japantown, Odd One Out hails from Taiwan and was previously the wi ..read more