Jessica Koslow

First Hal’s Bar & Grill called the Runway space home, and then Neighbors, Misael Villa’s popular brunch spot, replaced it in 2022. Longtime restaurateur Chris Sessa and his nephew Frank Agnone, executive producer of “South Park,” both live in Playa Vista and have watched these eateries come and go. In February 2024, the two began to hatch their own plan for a sports bar concept on the Westside. 

The prospective building had to be the right height because they had plans to install 30 TVs, some as big as 85 inches. When Suite 140 on the Runway became available, Sessa and Agnone knew they had found their spot. Tony P’s Dockside Grill in Marina del Rey would soon be closing, and there were no sports bars within a 7 to 8-mile radius of Playa Vista.  

On May 1, 2025, they received the keys to the suite and went to work creating a welcoming lounge space. There was no architect involved and no plans or blueprints, just a vision etched in their minds. They changed the booth seats from brown to red to brighten it up. Sports memorabilia covers the walls, from Kobe Bryant’s No. 8 jersey — which is valued at $15,000 — to a photograph of Magic Johnson in flight and a portrait of Hank Aaron. The bar replicates stadium seating with TV screens viewable from every angle. . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

Hospitality veteran Abdi Manavi has opened and closed restaurants across Los Angeles, but when it came to grabbing a drink with his friends in his own neighborhood, he couldn’t find a comfortable hangout for his age group. That’s when the 10-year Venice veteran decided to open his own spot, Venice Beach Club, where Rose Avenue meets the Boardwalk.

He said it’s the perfect place for tourists, who number about 30,000 daily on the Boardwalk, and locals, who know they can still order favorites like wings and nachos, holdovers from the menu at Venice Ale House, which previously occupied the space for 15 years.

“Wings and nachos were the two most popular items, and they are very good,” said Manavi. “As a sign of respect to the regulars, I decided to keep them on a secret menu, so they can still order them.” . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

It might be hard to imagine, but Veggie Grill by Next Level’s new All American Vegan menu features Beyond Steak filet, Oshi salmon filet and Cosmic Bliss Organic Summer Strawberry ice cream — and they are all plant based, and they are available at all Veggie Grill by Next Level locations.

“Oshi is revolutionizing the experience of fish without the fish,” Next Level Burger founder Matt de Gruyter said. “We’re looking at 90-95% reduction in species that we assumed would last forever. They have come up with the process that uses real food and ingredients to create that salmon experience without the mercury, the microplastics and the overfishing.”

It is not just Veggie Grill’s menu that has expanded; in January 2024, Next Level Burger acquired Veggie Grill, adding 17 Veggie Grill restaurants to its 10 plant-based Next Level Burger locations. . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

In 2024, Carissa Wright and her fiancé, Dan Norville, became the proud owners of four locations of Paradise Bowls — with the Marina del Rey location launching in July and a fifth location in Westlake Village coming soon.

The bowls and smoothies are nearly 100% vegan and use organic ingredients as much as possible. The colorful menu is bursting with fruits and superfoods, and customers can choose from açaí and pitaya bowls, smoothies or the “mindful” section, which is the newest addition to the menu.

“This was something that I felt we were lacking because a lot of the bowls are geared more toward the younger crowd, and I was feeling that as a mother when I go in there, I want something a little less sweet and a little bit healthier,” said Wright. “I was always blending kale and spinach and protein into my bowls, so we added this menu for people like me that want the açai but want it to be a little less sweet.” . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.