Westside Food Scene January 14, 2021
By Kerry Slater
65-year-old Santa Monica bakery about to close
A beloved 65-year-old Santa Monica bakery is about to close.
Vienna Pastry (1215 Wilshire Blvd) has been making pastries, pies and sweets enjoyed by generations of Santa Monica residents for 65 years. In 1988, the Khadavi family took control of the bakery after fleeing the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The family has since run the business with three sisters baking and family members taking care of other activities. Now, with the bakery being 40 percent less, the refunded rent and a landlord wanting to increase the rent, the bakery is about to close.
To attract new meals, Vienna Pastry is expanding its menu to vegan and healthier offerings, along with a social media outreach campaign. In addition, customers and friends of the bakery have set up a GoFundMe to cover the back of the lease.
‘The three sisters who have been running the business for the past 35 years have done their best to continue to bake and serve our neighborhood families during this difficult time. We have had several generations celebrate their happiest occasions with Vienna’s cakes and delicacies. Their family story is a true American dream of success. They left Iran to escape tyranny and discrimination in the hope of providing a better life for their children and future generations. If we look at how they struggle to keep the store open, it has affected us all so deeply, ”says the GoFundMe, which is trying to raise $ 50,000. As of Thursday, more than $ 4,000 has been raised.
Popular Westside Donut Shop expands
A popular Westside donut store is expanding its presence in Los Angeles. As reported by What now Los Angeles, Sidecar Donuts & Coffee will open in Manhattan Beach and Fairfax Avenue. Since launching in Costa Mesa in 2013, the chain has become popular on the Westside by opening stores in Santa Monica and Del Mar. Sidecar makes a world’s freshest donut, making their donuts from scratch every day and frying them in small quantities all day long. The donuts received praise, also from the Food Network what they on his Best things I’ve ever eaten. The Fairfax venue is set to open this month. An opening date for Manhattan Beach has yet to be set.
‘No Gimmicks’, NYC-style pizza, comes to Westside
A popular pizza restaurant offering authentic ‘no gimmicks’ NYC-style pies is coming to the Westside. As reported by What now Los Angeles, Prime Pizza opens its doors this spring at Santa Monica Boulevard in 12219 in a former Pizza Hut building. The restaurant focuses strongly on takeaway and delivery, keeping pandemic prescriptions in the foreground. Other three restaurants are Little Tokyo, Burbank and Fairfax. ‘We make our dough in the house every day and let it rest overnight to develop the taste and structure it needs. We use Grande cheese from Wisconsin and cut it ourselves to get the perfect melt. Our sauce is made with local tomatoes, salt and oregano in California. No fillers. No gimmicks. Just pizza, ”reads the restaurant’s website.
Popular Coffee Shop Adding New Westside Storefront
A popular craft coffee chain known for its catchy slogan “But first, coffee” and a well-known customer staff are opening a branch in Westwood Village. As confirmed by a company spokesman, Alfred Coffee will open at Westwood Boulevard 1154 (formerly a Peet’s Coffee) in the summer of 2021.
‘Mr Josh Zad spent most of his childhood in Westwood Village; from UCLA summer camp to playing at the local arcade to get ice cream (and CDs) there from his late grandfather. Westwood will always occupy a very special place in his heart and he always brought Alfred to this gem of an environment when the time and place were there. “In addition, Josh also had the pleasure of attending the UCLA Anderson Business School, thus promoting his already deep ties with the environment,” the company wrote in an email.
Alfred Coffee has 11 locations in Los Angeles, including Venice, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills and Silver Lake, next to an Austin store and four Japanese stores.
Iconic Jewish Deli suddenly closes permanently
A 46-year-old Jewish deli in the Century City area has been shut down due to an emergency in the family.
After 46 years in Los Angeles, we closed on December 31, 2020. It has been a pleasure to serve this community for almost five decades. We would like to thank our customers from the bottom of their hearts for loving us for 46 years! Happy New Year to all our loyal customers and friends. I wish you health, happiness and prosperity in 2021, ”reads the website of Label’s Table, which is located at 9226 W Pico Blvd.
As reported by Eeter LAa note on the door of the restaurant mentions an emergency in the family as the reason for the closure.
“Due to an emergency in the family, we regret that we now have to close forever,” reads the note. “We want to thank you all for your continued support for 46 years. We will miss you. We love you.”