Already looking to the horizon for new places to nosh? Here are five more in the pipeline:
Increasingly ubiquitous chef Andre Guerrero ( BoHo, Oinkster, Marché) plans to take over longtime favorite Butter Tart Bakery by the end of October/early November, when he'll begin offering a menu of baked goods and casual dishes in the vein of Santa Monica's Huckleberry Café and Pasadena's Europane (4126 Verdugo Rd., Glassell Park).
Raphael is due in Studio City perhaps by the end of the month, and according to its extremely colorful (though not very specific) website, diners can expect: "A fine, dining experience...exceptional wine selections...eclectic, elegant, exquisite...exceptional quality...irreproachable style...internationally inspired dishes" (11616 Ventura Blvd., Studio City).
In the second-story mini-mall space last occupied by Gaucho Grill, rising super-chef Jimmy Shaw is building his third Lotería! Grill (joining locations in Fairfax and Hollywood); it's due by the end of the year (12050 Ventura Blvd., Studio City).
A few doors east of Cole's and The Varnish, on the Spring Street side of the Pacific Electric Building, Mignon, a stylish wine and cheese bar has just begun construction with an opening possible by the end of the year (128 E. Sixth St.).
Nearby Market Bar is slowly coming together as well. The ambitious project to turn a large art-gallery space into a combination gourmet market, wine shop, bar and Mediterranean grill should be a major destination for the legions of Gen Zers heading for the downtown lofts; if all goes well, expect a summer 2010 opening (610 S. Main St.).