Westside Food Scene January 14, 2021
By Kerry Slater
Bakery Santa Monica, 65, about to close
A beloved bakery in Santa Monica, 65, is about to close.
Vienna Pastry (1215 Wilshire Blvd) for 65 years has been making sweets, tarts and sweets enjoyed by generations of Santa Monica residents. In 1988, the Khadavi family took over the bakery after fleeing the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The family has run the business ever since, with three sisters taking care of the bakery and family members taking care of other operations. Now, with the bakery earning 40% less, the rent delayed and the owner wanting to increase the rent, the bakery is about to close.
To attract new customers, Vienna Pastry is expanding its menu to include vegan and healthier offerings, along with a social media campaign. In addition, customers and friends at the bakery have created a GoFundMe to help cover late rent.
“The 3 sisters who ran the business over the past 35 years did their best to continue cooking and serving the families in our neighborhood during this difficult period. Several generations celebrated their happiest occasions with Vienna’s cakes and treats. His family’s story is a true American dream of success. They left Iran to escape tyranny and discrimination, hoping to provide a better life for their children and future generations. Seeing them struggle to keep the store open has affected all of us deeply, ”says GoFundMe, which is trying to raise $ 50,000. On Thursday, more than $ 4,000 was raised.
Wide donut shop in Westside
A popular donut shop in Westside is expanding its presence in Los Angeles. As reported by And now Los Angeles, Sidecar Donuts & Coffee will open in Manhattan Beach and Fairfax Avenue. Since starting in a Costa Mesa location in 2013, the chain has become popular on the Westside by opening stores in Santa Monica and Del Mar. Promoting “the freshest donut in the world”, Sidecar makes its donuts daily from scratch, frying in small batches all day long. Donuts were acclaimed, including Food chain who included them in their The best things I’ve ever eaten. The Fairfax site is set to open this month. Manhattan Beach’s opening date has yet to be set.
‘No Gimmicks’, NYC-style pizza arriving at the Westside
A popular pizzeria, which promotes authentic and “no tricks” New York style pies, is arriving at the Westside. As reported by And now Los Angeles, Prime Pizza will open its doors this spring at 12219 Santa Monica Boulevard in an old Pizza Hut building. The restaurant will focus heavily on delivery and delivery, keeping pandemic stipulations first. Another three restaurants include Little Tokyo, Burbank and Fairfax. “We make our pasta at home every day and let it rest overnight to develop the flavor and structure it needs. We use Grande Wisconsin cheese and grate ourselves to get that perfect melt. Our sauce is made with local California tomatoes, salt and oregano. No fillers. No tricks. Just pizza, ”says the restaurant’s website.
Popular cafe with new showcase at Westside
A popular chain of artisan cafes known for its catchy slogan “But first, coffee” and celebrity clientele is opening a location in Westwood Village. As confirmed by a company spokesman, Alfred Coffee will open at 1154 Westwood Boulevard (formerly a Peet’s Coffee) in the summer of 2021.
“Owner Josh Zad spent most of his childhood in Westwood Village; from UCLA’s summer camp to play at the local arcade to get ice cream (and CDs) there with his late grandfather. Westwood will always have a very special place in his heart and he has always been looking to bring Alfred to this neighborhood gem when space and time were right. In addition, Josh also had the pleasure of attending the UCLA Anderson business school, deepening his already deep ties with the neighborhood, ”wrote the company by email.
Alfred Coffee has 11 locations in Los Angeles, including Venice, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills and Silver Lake, alongside a store in Austin and four Japanese stores.
Iconic Jewish convenience store suddenly closes permanently
A 46-year-old Jewish delicatessen in the Century City area closed due to a family emergency.
“After 46 years of serving Los Angeles, we closed on December 31, 2020. It has been a pleasure to serve this community for almost 5 decades. We want to thank our customers from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us so sweetly for 46 years! Happy New Year to all our customers and loyal friends. We wish you Health, Happiness and Prosperity in 2021 ”, read on the website of the Mesa da Etiquette, which was located at 9226 W Pico Blvd.
As reported by Eater LA, a note on the restaurant’s door cites a family emergency as the reason for the closure.
“Due to a family emergency, we regret that we must now close forever,” says the note. “We want to thank everyone for their continued support for 46 years. We will miss you. We love you.”