Not to be outdone by the Cheesecake Factory's new spin-off Rock Sugar, the owners of Houston's are planning
R&D Kitchen, a casual Santa Monica spot opening in a space that’s been home to a variety of concepts, including a Wolfgang Puck Cafe and a high-end vegetarian. This one just may connect, especially in a ’hood dominated by soccer moms and celebs in sweats; we'll find out by late summer (1323 Montana Ave., Santa Monica).