Brentwood’s Changing Landscape Means Another Restaurant Closure

Brentwood no more

The once-popular Kay ‘n Dave’s Cantina on 26th Street in Santa Monica has closed. The location sits just next door to Holy Cow BBQ, and across the street from the Brentwood Country Mart, which is still going strong after seventy years in business.

The restaurant micro-chain still operates locations in Culver City and the Pacific Palisades, but now shows the words “we’re on break” on the company website. What’s more, a tipster writes in to say there is a fully closed sign on the door, which reads in part: “We decided to close this location. It wasn’t an easy decision. But we think the right one.” The neighborhood also recently witnessed the closure of a Gaucho Grill, while others like Baltaire and Pizzana continue to thrive.

Great Plate

Deep End Dining checks out Plate & Petal, a hidden gem in Glendale that focuses on quality-looking casual new American fare, from salads to oysters to some distinctive brunch dishes like lobster eggs benedict.

Drinks all night

The Cinco de Mayo party details are starting to show up in force, like this tequila and taco-focused party going down at Las Perlas.

Dinner on Wilshire

Chef Bernhard Mairinger is partnering up with Brendan Collins of Wilshire for a dinner on May 11. The evening will focus mostly on Mairinger’s Austrian leanings, plus seafood, snacks, and more. The five-course meal runs $65 a head.

Top Chefs for charity

Top Chef producer Dan Cutforth is hosting a charity event with his wife that will feature a variety of nationally-known chefs cooking to raise money for the children of Haiti. Expect bites from Michael Cimarusti, Brooke Williamson, Bryan Voltaggio, Bruce Kalman, and more for the $200 event, which goes down May 12 at Neuehouse in Hollywood.

Spanish learning

L.A. Taco has a great new Gustavo Arellano piece up on the confluence of food and education. It’s actually a conversation with Sarah Portnoy of USC, who says she teaches her students about the finer points of Los Angeles cultural history through food — specifically making those students profile area restaurants on a blog that must be written in Spanish.

Luke on the move

Ever wonder what it’s like to cook a cannabis dinner inside a Los Angeles Chinese restaurant? Just ask chef Luke Reyes.