Irene Virbila breaks her recent nostalgic jag this week after reviewing Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, Providence and Amarone, to visit The Yard in Santa Monica. The casual beach area bar-restaurant run by former Top Chef contestant Chris 'CJ' Jacobson, only receives one and a half stars. While her initial critique was a bit grim, she succumbed to the neighborhood appeal, “And yet the Yard is something of a find. The food is good, the place is low-key and comfortable, and waiters fuss over customers in a nice way."
Sad news across town in Echo Park for vegan newbie Mooi who is struggling to stay open after only a few months. Grub Street reported via the L.A. Times, that while searching for new investors, they have cut back to only serving a six-course prix-fixe dinner on Wednesday.
Over in Beverly Hills, after only a few short weeks, Scott Conant’s New York-Italian import Scarpetta started lunch service yesterday, including two or three-course daily specials.
Stay tuned: Later on, a new coffee house in Atwater Village and what to find on the Temaki truck.
