People often ask me to predict what will be the next hot dining scene in the South Bay, and for most of the time I’ve been writing, I’ve had some kind of answer. I really don’t any more, because it’s like trying to find the hottest spot in an oven. The whole area is fermenting, and places are opening, changing hands, and changing concepts in a blur. Rumors are flying about some major developments, but I’m only printing what I can substantiate.
The biggest news involves the sale from one of Manhattan Beach’s biggest restaurant entrepreneurs to the other. Mike Simms of The Kettle, Simmzy’s, Tin Roof, and MB Post has bought Circa from Mike Zislis, and the restaurant will close on October 12 for remodeling. It was a sad end for a daring concept – Circa offered adventurous food and a stellar cocktail program. The restaurant lasted only a year and a half and followed Mucho, a high-style Mexican concept that also had trouble finding an audience. Was it the location a bit south of the major action in town? We’ll see when Simms gets the new place up and running. The concept and name haven’t been announced yet…
And An Unlikely Success Story… When Doma Kitchen opened last year in a space that had been the graveyard of many other restaurants, I hardly dared hope that they would succeed. The Central Asian-inspired food was delicious but obscure to most South Bay denizens, and they had no indoor seating, very little parking, and no alcohol license. The restaurant has prospered, and it was recently announced that they will soon be moving to a larger location with amenities like parking spaces and a roof. They’ll be closing this location on October 12, hopefully for a very short time, and announcing the new address soon…
A Culinary Chameleon Changes Again… The management at Banzai Beach have had a rocky few years, with the restaurant changing concept several times – from Italian to sushi to tiki within four years. The teppan and tiki concept did not attract enough people to this difficult upstairs space, so they’re remodeling again, into a Mexican cantina. This is an interesting choice given that Hermosa Mexican Cuisine, Dia de Campo and Palmilla are all within a few blocks, but John and his crew must believe that they have a niche that nobody else is serving…
Uncertain Future For A Classic… Several readers have asked about the sign announcing that El Indio on Artesia is up for sale, and they want to know what is happening there. The people who own and work at El Indio would like to know too – the building is for sale, not the business, and they’ll be at the whim of the new landlord. They’ve been making handmade tortillas, tacos, and other Mexican staples since 1960, and it’s hard to imagine them not being there…
An Opening For Those Who Enjoy Exotic Desserts… Is your sweet tooth tired of all the conventional offerings around the South Bay? Okrumong may be the answer – this new establishment on Sepulveda in Torrance specializes in Korean-style shaved ice and desserts. The flavors include red bean, sweet black sesame, pumpkin, and green tea, and the atmosphere is simultaneously modern, exotic, and serene. It’s pricey but worth it if you want to think differently about how to finish a meal…
For Those Who Haven’t Forgotten How To Cook At Home… Down the street on Hawthorne Boulevard near Lomita is the area’s newest and largest Indian and Pakistani grocery. International Market and Spices is neat and well-organized, and will be a great resource to anyone who enjoys South Asian cooking. There are established Persian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean markets nearby, so a great day of exotic shopping could be arranged within the area…
And Back To The News… After many months of uncertainty, Casa Arigato has finally closed, and though they had planned to move to a new space the reopening date is uncertain. They opened in 2002 and had a long and successful run, and their many fans hope they’ll bounce back. The new restaurant in that space will reportedly be called Bottega Romana, and will be a high-style Italian restaurant. Remodeling is scheduled to start soon, with a 2015 opening…
A Good Start… Business is brisk at Fat Tomato Pizza, which replaced Mama’s in the strip mall at 446 PCH in Hermosa. They offer over thirty toppings plus gluten-free pizzas, and were packed when I stopped in. It looks like this unpromising location may have found someone who can make it work…
Any new openings, any events I should know about? I’m at Richard@richardfoss.com.
