There has been a flurry of openings and announcements in the last week, some of which seem to have been rushed as owners scrambled to get that precious summer tourist traffic. I’ll go by city from south to north and then clue you in to upcoming events…
BBQ On The Way: Crazy Fish didn’t last long, and their space will host a barbecue powerhouse – a new location of the acclaimed Holy Cow chain. I have visited their Culver City location and found both meats and sides to be excellent. I’m not the only one – Texas Monthly Magazine praised the place, and Texans are notoriously picky about that sort of thing. This will be the chain’s fourth location. It’s scheduled to open in mid-June. (NOTE: I originally said this would be at a different location, and apologize for the error.)…
The Vegan Alternative: Those who prefer plant-based foods don’t have to wait for another option to be available. Lil’ Vegerie recently opened in a strip mall on PCH, replacing the Taqueria Supremex that never got much traction. Lil’ Vegerie has a short menu of bowls and salads that are surprisingly multicultural, with cauliflower shawarma, pumpkin curry, even a mushroom Philly cheesesteak. If you ever wondered what vegetarians in Pennsylvania are eating, you might want to order that when you visit. It’s takeout only, so whatever you get, you’ll be eating it somewhere else (800 S. PCH, Suite A, RB)…
Crafting A Mystery: A sign at the former Party House Liquor in Riviera Village has been up for months, announcing “Something Awesome is Coming,” and now we know what that is. The new business will be called The Craftsman, and is not affiliated with a place by the same name in Santa Monica. It’s owned by local businessman John Safar, who has two other restaurants in Torrance, and will offer American food along with wine and beer in a casual atmosphere. Opening is scheduled for late 2022 or early 2023…
Other items of note in Redondo include the construction of another El Tarasco on Artesia near Inglewood. The El Tarasco is noteworthy because there are already seven places serving Mexican food between Hawthorne and PCH, a distance of just over two miles. It seems to be a curious decision to build another one, but the Tarasco chain has been successful so we assume they know what they’re doing. The outlook for another Artesia spot is looking less certain, as Slider Stop still hasn’t reopened from what was supposed to be a brief closure. The restaurant had strange hours back when they were open, scheduled as Thursday through Sunday but not always following through. I thought their made-to-order fried chicken was the best in the South Bay, but it looks like I have to look for a new fave locally… Finally,
And In Hermosa: The former Greenbelt Restaurant at 36 Pier Plaza just flipped to a new owner and concept but a very similar name – it’s now Greenspot. Contrary to some rumors, this is not a vegetarian restaurant, but a casual modern cafe that will be open from brunch through dinner. The ownership is the same as nearby Café Bonaparte , so if you ask them for recommendations for a place to get a pastry after your meal, I can predict the answer. Bonaparte has been working to get a sister restaurant open in Redondo, but that will take a bit longer than planned. They are waiting on permits, so probably not until early July…
El Segundo Updates: Manhattan Beach has been strangely quiet with two exceptions – the opening of Pure Bean coffee at the corner of Artesia and PCH, and the reopening of Marine Ramen. This restaurant closed for three months due to difficulties with staffing, and at one point the people at their sister restaurant in Culver City said it wouldn’t reopen. However, they’re dishing out the ramen, sushi, and simple starters at the corner of Marine and Highland again… Much is happening just across the line in El Segundo. The famed Fogo de Chao chain has opened a Brazilian barbecue on Rosecrans in the former Grimaldi’s. I have been to their locations in Beverly Hills and downtown Los Angeles, and a rodizio meal there is always an experience. Servers in gaucho-inspired uniforms bring skewers to your table and slice to order, a style of dining they pioneered in the USA. Even someone who doesn’t like barbecued meat can enjoy the place, because their “market table” buffet is lavishly stocked with hot and cold dishes. The reduced number of people in Rosecrans office spaces caused many, including me, to predict a crash for restaurants in the area, but the downturn has been milder than expected. Many local eateries had a strong enough following to keep them open even if the businesses around them were running with skeleton staff. Fogo is enough of a destination restaurant that I expect them to draw from a wide radius (2121 Rosecrans, ES)… Another restaurant that opened recently has an unusual location and pricing structure. Everytable is inside a corporate building and invisible from the street, and despite their address on Aviation it’s only accessible from Utah Street. While the menu at every location is the same, the prices aren’t – the mission-driven company sets them according to the prevailing wages in the neighborhood. It’s an unusual approach to food justice issues, but it’s evidently working because they have 26 locations around LA (555 S. Aviation, ES)… Finally, the new occupant of the former Second City space has been announced, and from the name “Porterhouse: Bourbon and Bones” we might guess what they’re going to serve. News about new American barbecue, Brazilian barbecue, and a steakhouse in the same edition of this column seems to indicate that despite a general consensus that meat consumption is dropping, the South Bay is bucking the trend…
Event Alerts!… Most of the food and wine events that usually enliven the summer have been canceled, but some restaurants have been stepping up to provide their own. Mama Terano in Rolling Hills Estates will host an event on June 5 featuring winemaker Greg Allen of Quattro Dias winery. There will be five courses and six wines for $70 plus. T&T – call the restaurant at 310-377-5757 to reserve… Radici in Hermosa will host an event featuring Battaglini Wines on June 9th – price is $95, and reservation may be made by phone or via the email contact form on their website at radicihermosabeach.com… And there’s another interesting event from a place that usually serves a limited menyu and no alcohol, but is preswenting a three course dinner at a brewery. Tigres Fuego, the little taqueria from the team behind Baran’s 2239, will be serving at King Harbor Brewing’s facility on 182nd Street near Hawthorne Boulevard on June 13th. The menu hasn’t been announced yet, but they mentioned that they will be debuting a new collaborative beer. Tickets and more information are available at kingharborbrewing.com…
And in closing: I heard about many of these restaurants from readers like you, and I appreciate every one of them. If you know a restaurant opening I might’ve missed, or a culinary event that should be covered, please send the information my way. I’m at richard@richardfoss.com. And as long as you’re on the internet, check out past restaurant reviews on our website at Easyeadernews.com. ER
