Last summer, a car crashed into Cindy's Restaurant on Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock, and after a couple months and a decent patch job, the diner reopened. But now Cindy wants to retire and rejoin family, so Cindy's is up for sale. Calling all hipster would-be restaurant operators: The hope is that the classic diner---built in the 1940's as an early Route 66 roadhouse---will be kept intact. Someone can finally do something about the food, too. Interested? Call 818.755.2737 for more info.
· Car Crash Closes Cindy's in Eagle Rock [~ELA~]
· EaterWire: Cindy's Reopened [~ELA~]
Once again, we round up some of the latest openings in The Dish. See something debut? Let's hear all about it. Via Eating L.A.
MID-WILSHIRE: The fate of Doughboys on Third Street is still up in the air---we just called the Highland location for info yet again and got a pause, more hesitation, then "yeah, I don't really know what's going on over there"---but a new Doughboys will open next to the El Rey Theatre tonight. We asked about this new location and were told: "You know, everyone's really busy getting a new restaurant open, and I have tables waiting for me, so I have to go." And yet we still throw business their way. (5515 Wilshire Blvd, Phone TBA)
NORTH HOLLYWOOD: We prepped you in July for Bank Heist, the dual personality restaurant-nightclub housed in a 1926 bank. Chef Jorge Gruener fires up the Bank half tomorrow with breakfast, lunch and dinner, but we'll have to wait a bit for Heist's bottle service and name-brand DJs. Upstairs, a lounge will have weekly burlesque shows. Ah, just what we'd expect from the XES men. [5303 Lankershim Blvd., 818.760.1648] [Thrillist]
GLASSELL PARK: Cherith Spicer and a few of her pals/business partners took over what was a Raiders bar (uh oh, some people are gonna come by Sunday and be pissed) and turned it into Verdugo Bar, a more neighborhood-friendly joint. Full bar, lots of beers on tap, DJs, a huge patio, and a rotating menu of food that might be a hot dog truck, might be sushi, depending on the day. Plus, here's one we haven't heard before---a potential flea market? Great, you can sell your old Raiders jersey. [3408 North Verdugo Road, 323.257.3408] [EaterWire/Daily Candy]
WESTWOOD: After 20 years, the faded Greek frescoes at Delphi on Westwood are gone; now the walls are as white as a Mykonos villa. Van Evangelos, who opened Delphi with his wife in 1987, passed away in June, and his former manager, John Moudakis, is now owner. Moudakis and his wife gave the tiny spot some decorative TLC, updated the menu a bit, and cut a deal with Borders across the street for parking (generally a pain in the ass on that stretch). For a casual meal, Delphi's gyros, the salad, the hot bread, the creamy taramosalata always worked for us. As long as the galaktoboureko (mmmm...baked custard dessert) is still on the menu, all's well with the world. [EaterWire Inbox]
EAGLE ROCK: Everyone needs to grow up sometime. Table service was just added to hipster brunch favorite Auntie Em's. Owner Terri Wahl hopes that by streamlining her operation after six years, the long lines, waits and general craziness will be cut down. Just save a cupcake for us. [EaterWire Inbox]
SOUTH PASADENA: We're told that Gus's BBQ will soon be sold to Chris Bicos (whose father founded Tops) and his brother, and the two will close the restaurant in late October to revamp the space and menu. Red leather booths will stay, better barbecue will hopefully be brought in. [EaterWire Inbox]
LOS ANGELES: This year's Bon Appetit Awards are featured in the October issue of the magazine, a celebration of those who "made an indelible mark on the way we eat, drink, cook, read, and entertain." Only one person from Los Angeles made the cut: Designer Kelly Wearstler. While Wearstler has done wonders for hotel design, and we loved her wacky-ass outfits on Bravo's Top Design show, her blurb touts Whist, a restaurant she designed in 2002, and Maison 140, which opened in 2000. These are the 2007 awards. What gives? [EaterWire]
MID-CITY/BEV CTR: It was an equal case of vermin infestation and 'remodling' that closed the original Doughboys last month. The current outgoing message says the restaurant is closed "due to a long overdue renovation" and that the staff at the Hollywood location will know the status of the original cafe "and will be happy and able to answer any questions you might have." While the young chap who answered the phone when we called was pleasant, he didn't really know much more than, "It's closed" and probably will be "few more weeks." [EaterWire]
EAGLE ROCK: The kitschy Cindy's Restaurant, which got in the way of a speeding car in July, reopened a few weeks ago. Cheap greasy breakfasts are all yours. [EaterWire]
SANTA MONICA: Construction delays got the best of Valentino's new spruced-up V-vinbar. It didn't open by last month's final 5x5 Collective dinner. Good news though: The $100 seven-course, family-style "Re-Construction Mondays" dinner will be good through October. And once again, free corkage. [EaterWire Inbox]
Most online dictionaries define "gastropub" as a bar with good food, which is what The York, opened by two Edendale Grill alums in Highland Park, is going for. A nice exposed-brick urban design features a big bar in the center of the room, burlap-covered banquettes and leather booths on one side, high-top tables on the other, and windows that push open to the sidewalk out front. It's the perfect spot for low-key nights, just not the weekend after the LAT writes about it. While the crowd and music were great the other night, it seems that every Joe and Nancy from all over LA descended upon it leaving the staff---and especially the kitchen---a bit overextended. The order-everything-at-the-bar idea, a la Father's Office, isn't a perfect system. Draught beers toe the line, but Pasadena-brewed Craftsman is a nice addition. Bottled beer selection and small wine list amass some winners. A local took a territorial tone with us: "For this neighborhood, it's just right."
The kitchen uses quality ingredients for the small menu, but too much business all at one time got the best of them this weekend (skimpy amounts of pulled pork and ham in the Cuban sandwich; four finger-size pieces of fish with not-very-well homemade potato chips for $14?), which was probably the first really busy one. The burger looked like the winning order. Soon it will be FO of the East.
After death (The Shutter), there is life: Here we are at The Dish, the latest news on openings around town. Stumble upon a debut? Call. We'll talk.
EAGLE ROCK: After waiting and waiting and waiting and tasting and waiting some more, the day has arrived---Larkin's is finally open for business, at least softly. (Pictured above, in its unofficial soft opening phase). The official message came in yesterday: "We are having our soft opening this weekend. We will be serving dinner this Thursday-Saturday from 5pm-9:30pm, and Fathers Day Brunch from 11am-3pm. We will not be serving lunch until next week." Even better, it's BYOB until the liquor license comes through, which could take another forever. Here's an exhaustive review from LAist. [EaterWire Inbox]
WEST LA: Zagat says Qusqo (pronounced coos-koh) "looks more like an art gallery than a restaurant," but that's because it is an art gallery. But it's also a Peruvian/Latin-inspired restaurant that just opened on June 1. On the restaurant's MySpace page, 'qusqo' is said to mean "the naval of the world, the…" but it gets cut off. [Zagat]
HOLLYWOOD: We've been invited to Ritual's grand opening tonight, which we imagine will be quite the Hollywood clusterfuck. After we mentioned that co-owner Chris Breed has already departed, suggesting there's a rocky beginning for the reincarnated White Lotus, a reader says: "It's been open for private events, they had an after party there yesterday for You Kill Me with Luke Wilson and Tea Leoni...the buzz seemed positive but then again it could've been that they were just excited to see some famous people." People are still fazed by famous people? Whoddathunk? [EaterWire Inbox]
WEST HOLLYWOOD: In March we put Sopra on the Deathwatch, but it was already past the watching phase: The restaurant was sold to something called Tusk Enterprises. At the time, we called the restaurant and (apparently) broke the news to an unsuspecting employee, and the owners pretended everything was fine. In essence, it was a mess. So it came as no surprise to get the above photos in the Eater inbox showing that Tusk will replace it soon. We also got a few emails about the change, with our favorite: "Is it unfair to put a restaurant on deathwatch before it even opens? Hopefully they're not moving into the space where restaurants go to die." Seriously. Wouldn't you check on previous businesses before you open your own in the same spot? The name speaks nothing of food to us, but we do hear the faint drumming of Fleetwood Mac in the background. [EaterWire Inbox]
HOLLYWOOD: Both UrbanDaddy and Thrillist say that Ritual finally opens tomorrow. The pan-Asian-Zen spot is the reincarnated White Lotus; no idea if the owners can find that same must-go-now hotness the former had. Things might have a shaky start: We hear that Chris Breed, one of the major players behind that management group's venues (Cabana Club, Pig'n Whistle, White Lotus), might be saying sayonara. Huge since he's been on the scene way back when Cabana Club/Sterling/Sideways was the Sunset Room, but then again, maybe it's time. [EaterWire Inbox]
That LA Times article from last week---the one about the pain and anguish restaurateurs must go through to get permits and licenses from the city---put a fire under the asses of, well, the city. We notice that several spots (some mentioned in that article) have significantly moved forward in the last week. Alas, others still wait.
EAGLE ROCK: Why is it so tough to open a business in this neighborhood? We hear that Lemongrass finally opened "east of future site of Michaelangelo’s (from Silver Lake) and west of future Coffee Table Lounge sports bar (expansion from adjacent Coffee Table)." The Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce welcomes owners Ray and Jennifer Nguyen, who worked for two long years to open the Vietnamese spot. Hounds wondered if it was opening last fall.
CULVER CITY: Changes are afoot for BottleRock. One of the co-owners, Adam Fleischman---who did all the interviews, worked the room, talked the place up---is out. We're not exactly sure who the other owners are, and what, if anything, will ultimately change at BottleRock. Because there might be some litigation involved, we don't have all the details. But Fleischman doesn't sound too negative. "I am opening a high-end wine bar and several other fun projects. Stay tuned." [EaterWire]
WEST LA: A tipster sends word about Zu Robata, which we know is moving into the former Casa Antigua spot on Wilshire Boulevard. She heard the Japanese resto was opening by May 10, but that might be a bit ambitious. A call just revealed that "we're going through final inspections now, so we'll see." Hopefully within two weeks. [EaterWire Inbox]
DOWNTOWN: Another reader sends word about a restaurant going into the Sky Lofts (801 S. Grand Ave.) called Tranquility Base. The liquor license is pending, but that's about all we know. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? [EaterWire Inbox]
It's tough for a restaurant to assure an open date when there's lots of sticky red tape to cut through. Such is the fate of Larkin's, which has to postpone its Friday, April 13 debut. We just recieved this week's newsletter from the owners:
We tried to get everything done, but as you know or don't know we are at the mercy of others. We have muscled through our preliminary inspections. Our contractors are working on the corrections this week, but we still need final inspections and a final visit from the health dept. After that we open. So that said we don't think this week is enough time to get all of that done... We will keep you posted on our new opening date (very possibly next week).
We went over to Eagle Rock to check out the soft non-opening of Larkin's, "a contemporary soul food joint," for Sunday brunch. Technically the little-house-that-could isn't open yet, but they're holding "private events" (Friday and Saturday night dinners, Sunday brunch) for "friends" (sign up for newsletter, get an invitation to RSVP) until they open on Friday, April 13. To us, this is a brilliant way to tiptoe through the typical opening hassles, get the proverbial feet wet, and open when all your ducks are in a row. One of the co-owners admitted that he never owned a restaurant, so they're probably learning along the way. But so far, not bad. A few service kinks---everyone was very charming, but new arrivals occasionally waited at the door without any greeting---but we expect that stuff to smooth out before the official opening.
The menu is full of hearty Southern-style dishes, many with a vegetarian slant (the chef grew up eating and cooking veggie soul food). Who knew vegetarian-gravy smothered potatoes could rock? The brunch is reasonably priced (three items for $15), and we liked it enough to go back for dinner, but that menu looks more interesting: mac and cheese, fried chicken, candied yam ravioli, catfish and greens. It's small, friendly, and run by some very passionate people---a perfect fit for Eagle Rock.
· EaterWire: Larkin's Redefines the Soft Open [Eater LA]
· Plywood Report: Vanilla Bake Shop, Abode, Larkin's, and MORE [Eater LA]
Larkin's Soul food with a twist, casual, friendly
1496 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock, 323.254.0934 www.larkinsjoint.com/
Opening April 13, dinner, weekend brunch
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Know about a restaurant opening or closing in your neighborhood, or other LA scene gossip? Let's hear it.
WESTWOOD: After 20 years, the faded Greek frescoes at Delphi on Westwood are gone; now the walls are as white as a Mykonos villa. Van Evangelos, who opened Delphi with his wife in 1987, passed away in June, and his former manager, John Moudakis, is now owner. Moudakis and his wife gave the tiny spot some decorative TLC, updated the menu a bit, and cut a deal with Borders across the street for parking (generally a pain in the ass on that stretch). For a casual meal, Delphi's gyros, the salad, the hot bread, the creamy taramosalata always worked for us. As long as the galaktoboureko (mmmm...baked custard dessert) is still on the menu, all's well with the world. [EaterWire Inbox]
CULVER CITY: Changes are afoot for BottleRock. One of the co-owners, Adam Fleischman---who did all the interviews, worked the room, talked the place up---is out. We're not exactly sure who the other owners are, and what, if anything, will ultimately change at BottleRock. Because there might be some litigation involved, we don't have all the details. But Fleischman doesn't sound too negative. "I am opening a high-end wine bar and several other fun projects. Stay tuned." [EaterWire] 
It's tough for a restaurant to assure an open date when there's lots of sticky red tape to cut through. Such is the fate of Larkin's, which has to postpone its Friday, April 13 debut. We just recieved this week's newsletter from the owners:
