Two New Restaurant Spaces Proposed in the Funk Zone

••• The Architectural Board of Review’s December 11 consent agenda includes an expansion of the capacity at the multi-tenant Waterline complex (home to Lama Dog, Topa Topa, the Nook, et al) in the Funk Zone: “Change the use of two existing industrial tenant spaces within the two existing nonresidential buildings to be occupied by future restaurant tenants and convert the existing parking lot [below] to outdoor patio seating for customers. […] The project would eliminate all onsite parking with the conversion of the parking lot to outdoor dining. Onsite automobile parking is no longer required for commercial uses on the property pursuant to State Assembly Bill 2097.” (That law, explains L.A. City Planning, “prohibits public agencies or cities from imposing a minimum automobile parking requirement on most development projects located within a half-mile radius of a major transit stop.”) The floor plan submitted to the ABR shows an additional 336 seats. Good thing most of those customers will be taking the bus or train….

••• Stella Mare’s announced that its lease has been extended for at least another year.

••• Uptown Lounge on upper State Street, which closed without warning or explanation in September, says it will reopen later this month. The space underwent some remodeling and the name will be the same.

••• Finney’s Crafthouse is taking over the former Hollister Brewing Company space at the Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta. It’s aiming for the end of 2024.

••• “Best BBQ is coming to 716 State Street [Ortega/De La Guerra], the former home of Mokutan and Choppa Poke. The eatery’s flagship location is at 915 E. Harvard Boulevard in Santa Paula.” —Restaurant Guy

••• And a Restaurant Guy reader says he heard that something called Buddy’s, possibly serving barbecue, is opening in the W. Victoria space next to the Public Market. That runs counter to what was announced—that it would be an event space—when the building sold.

••• Speaking of the Public Market, Sunstone Winery opened a “winter pop-up bar” there.

••• “Do you know of any local bakeries that make Jewish baked goods for Hanukkah?” asked S. Well, through December 14, Hook & Press is making raspberry cardamom jam–filled sufganiyot, and Bettina is serving terrific latkes with either beet “pastrami” and horseradish cream (below) or caviar and crème fraîche. (Not a baked good, but whatever.) Too late for Hanukkah, but surely worth remembering, Merci has chocolate babka with orange blossom syrup on its special-order Christmas menu. Anyone aware of anything else? UPDATE 12/13: Julie says that Bossie’s Kitchen and Eller’s Donut House also have sufganiyot. UPDATE 12/13: “It’s a little late but you might want to add the Jewish Federation as a source of baked goods,” says D. “They can be ordered online and are available every Friday. They are made at a bakery in L.A. on Fairfax by a man who also lives in Santa Barbara.”

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