WILSHIRE BLVD — With Callahan's scheduled to close on New Year's Eve, building owners are moving forward with their plans for a farm-to-table diner and a restoration of the 58-year-old building.
Ingo's Tasty Diner got its alcohol permits earlier this year — though it won't have a bar — and its design proposal easily passed the Architectural Review Board (ARB) last week.
Building owner and restaurateur Bob Lynn told the ARB that he believes it will be the first farm-to-table diner in the area. Lynn plans to add the building to the historic register and restore the classic blade sign, which reads "RESTAURANT."
Lynn got approval to add a neon sign, which will state the restaurant's name.
The same restaurant group owns an Ingo's Tasty Food in Phoenix, Ariz. that has 132 reviews and 4.5 out of five stars on the crowd-sourced review site Yelp.
The Texas burger and shattered chips are the most-mentioned menu items.
The restaurant group, LGO Hospitality, also owns The Misfit on Santa Monica Boulevard at Second Street and three establishments in Pasadena.
Vienna Pastry, which rents the other half of the building, has an eight-year lease and will be staying put, Lynn said.
JiRaffe closing after nearly two decades
JiRaffe, the French bistro that opened on Santa Monica Boulevard in 1996, will close on Valentine's Day of next year.
Raphael Lunetta opened the place with Josiah Citrin, who now runs Melisse.
Lunetta announced the closing in an e-mail.
"But do not despair!" he said. "While JiRaffe is set free, my involvement with the space will continue on. Very soon, a new vision of light-hearted cuisine will come to take JiRaffe's place — savory food with the same integrity and commitment to excellence, intended to keep me excited and light on my feet for years to come. Details to follow, re-opening beginning of March 2015."
Rustic Canyon restaurateurs expecting new restaurant in April
After a nine month delay for seismic retrofitting, the restaurateurs behind Rustic Canyon, Milo and Olive, and Huckleberry are hoping to open an Asian bistro on Seventh Street in April, according to Philip Orosco whose secretive Pacshore Partners owns the building.
Pacshore is restoring the Seventh and Arizona Boulevard building, which used to house Verizon's switchboard operations.
The bistro, as of the most recent plans presented to the Planning Commission last year, will seat 242 and include a raw bar, grill area, and charcuterie.
Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan, the couple behind the Rustic Canyon restaurants, are also planning new 86-seat wine bar for the building.
Tar + Roses chef working on new restaurant
The chef behind Tar + Roses, on Santa Monica Boulevard at Sixth Street, is opening up a new place next door.
Santa Monica Yacht Club will replace La Botte, which closed in February.
The restaurant got alcohol permits from the Planning Commission earlier this year.
It will seat 90 and include a small, enclosed outdoor patio, according to a report from city officials.
dave@www.smdp.com
