Crumbs first West Coast location in Bev Hills

If you live near, in or love Larchmont Village, sit down: We've confirmed the replacement restaurant for La Luna Ristorante and another for the former Larchmont Photo space. It's not Panda Express, but they still might not be mom-and-pop enough for the locals. But objectively speaking, they might be the best compromise.

1) Crumbs Bake Shop, the New York cupcakery with sugar bombs like caramel apple, Oreo, and Fluffernutter flavors will open at 216 N. Larchmont in April. The good thing about Crumbs is that it's not a monolithic chain (there are only seven locations so far), whose owners still actively oversee daily operations. The first west coast Crumbs opened in Beverly Hills in September---and they gave away free cupcakes on day one. Yes, they're willing to buy your love.

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This story just got so much bigger in the last five minutes. Yes, the Hamburger Hamlet, which opened more than 40 years ago, closed unexpectedly in Brentwood on Friday, but the real story: We have it on good authority that Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne have dibs on the location for a new restaurant. We don't have specifics on the venture yet, but we do know the Hamlet group is a silent investment partner. As we understand it, they didn't want to just renovate this location and rebrand it as Hamlet, sans Hamburger, as it did with its other locations. It will be all Goin/Styne, something that fits the growing upscale dining scene in the nabe; don't expect a casual burger joint. Although a gourmet burger a la Goin doesn't sound half bad. Story developing.
· The Shutter: Hamburger Hamlet Brentwood [~ELA~]

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Not only did he leave Opus a couple weeks ago, but as planned, Josef Centeno will open something in Silver Lake. According to the LAT, that something is called Volver, which will have limited seating, a tasting menu only at the chef's counter, and bacos. Bacos! Wait...he's not eyeing the recenly shuttered Back Door Bakery is he? Just a few doors from LA Mill? Nah...that would be crazy. Or would it?
· Opes Update: Centeno's Not Leaving, But Soon [~ELA~]
· Restaurant Journal [LAT]
· Back Door Bakery, Finito [~ELA~]

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Photo via Yelp

Just as the Anaya brothers are celebrating the debut of Pinche Tacos on Sunset Boulevard, their Cha Cha Cha on Santa Monica Boulevard has closed. From a reader: "There is brown paper covering the windows and on the door hangs a sign thanking customers and telling them to visit the Cha Cha Cha in Silverlake and to check out Pinche Tacos on Sunset." Back in August, there was a bit of a lease war with the landlord, and it looks like the Anaya's lost. Rumor was that it started when Art and Allan Davis bought the club door and wanted the Cha Cha Cha space, too. Since the restaurant closed on December 31, this all sounds more legit. Longtime scenesters will remember that the Davis brothers opened Chi at the Hyatt on Sunset with Justin Timberlake in 2004, which closed in 2005. Before that, they had the nightclubs A.D. and The Lounge, where, yes, Timberlake and former flame Britney Spears had the famous post-breakup dance-off (ah, the innocence). Story developing.
· Lease Wars for Cha Cha Cha [~ELA~]

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The floorplan, courtesy Angelenic; full-size here.

The Kor Group is moving downtown, and according to Angelenic there are plans for a 8,580-square-foot restaurant and lounge on the ground floor of the building to be designed by Kelly Architects (The Edison, Royal Claytons, Seven Grand, Broadway Bar). That's a 353-seat venue with two dining rooms, a lounge, outdoor patio and a piano bar. Ginormous. We talked to a Kor rep who said the company moves next week (1212 S. Flower Street), but as of right now, it's unclear if they'll operate the restaurant as they do with some of their hotel properties: "We have been in talks with several parties and are promoting the space for restaurant/lounge use." Story, as they say, developing.
· Kor Group Planning New Lounge in South Park [Angelenic]

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From a reader earlier this week: "The 'space for rent' sign went back up on the oasis spot that Mark Peel was going to take over for his wine bar...any news? I live one block away and was eagerly awaiting its arrival!"

It turns out that Peel's plans for the La Brea wine bar and shop fell through. Not entirely, just for that spot. According to Jay Perrin, Campanile GM and partner in the new project, they were "offered an amazing space in Culver City that was too good to pass up." From the breadcrumbs (meeting with the designers; "a few months"), the project sounded well on its way. Blame the typical city red tape---the words "parking issues" were used. So Culver City wins again. Developing.
Mark and Jay's Excellent Wine Adventure [~ELA~]

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Last week we got a tip that La Fonda owner Nati Cano would reopen his mariachi haven to the former Hacienda Real in the Eastern Columbia building downtown. Then another tipster sent this: "Friends of the owner of Mia Sushi in Eagle Rock and Marty's in Highland Park have told me he is investing in the new La Fonda." The plot thickens. The downtown community rag Garment and Citizen throws in a few more details:

Word on the street says La Fonda could soon bring its menu of high-end Mexican food and world-class Mariachi bands to the below-ground space at the south side of the Eastern Columbia Building at 9th & Broadway…Word also has Rudy Martinez—who owns Mia Sushi in Eagle Rock and Marty’s Steakhouse in Highland Park—as a possible new partner in La Fonda, which recently ended a 38-year run on the 2600 block of Wilshire…The Eastern Columbia would be a homecoming of sorts for Martinez, whose dad ran a popular club in the same space some years ago.

Eastern clock from Curbed LA

Now that All' Angelo turned heads with positive reviews and topping "best of" lists in Esquire and the like, Stefano Ongaro and chef Mirko Poderno are ready for a new project: A casual wine bar "somewhere on the westide." We're pretty sure it's West LA and environs, but the duo hasn't completely settled on the location yet. The idea is to have lunch service, a varied wine list (especially in price), and later hours, possibly to 1am or so if they can. If all things go as planned, expect an early '08 opening. Consider this the first breadcrumb. Much more to come as the project progresses.
· Esquire's Best New Restaurants [~ELA~]

LOS ANGELES: Looks like Angelenos craving the New York vegan bakery Babycakes will have to wait until next year. From the bakery newsletter: "The Los Angeles bakery is taking shape and we are working hard to open our doors so the West Coast can get a taste what the East Coast is raving about. Due to construction issues, however, our grand opening date has been pushed back a bit. We project an early winter ’08 opening. We apologize for the delay, but we promise it will be worth the wait!" Word came in (via comments and tip line) that the new location is just a few blocks away in an old tire store on Beverly at Gardner.
· Babycakes NYC and LA Update [Cupcakes Take the Cake]
· EaterWire: No Babycakes [~ELA~]

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HOLLYWOOD: So Ivan Kane will not open a Forty Deuce in New York as planned. Things apparently, uh, didn't work out. But here was a little tidbit we found in one report:

Kane, who moved his family to New York while building the club, has returned to Los Angeles to open his Hollywood restaurant and lounge, Café Was, and will focus on opening Forty Deuces in San Diego and — pending negotiations, we’re told — perhaps Atlantic City.