After years of construction zones and traffic delays, the Metro Expo Line will reach Santa Monica in early 2016. Along with that expansion comes the scheduled opening of the Runyon Group’s high-end shopping and dining complex Platform at the Culver City station. Built on the ruins of bygone car dealerships, the four-acre project has already attracted some high-profile culinary and retail names from Brooklyn, San Francisco and beyond. Here are a few of the eateries that are already creating a buzz behind the new development.
Thoroughbred
The news of Chef Evan Funke’s departure from Bucato was abrupt. Not only were his handmade pastas the stuff of legend, but the opening of Thoroughbred in Platform was also in limbo. The modern American diner was to be housed in one of the former auto showrooms on site, and there was already talk of his famous burger from Rustic Canyon appearing on the menu. Stay tuned for more details, since eight months can be a lifetime in the world of LA restaurants.
The Cannibal
If you want to talk about a concept that captures the zeitgeist of 2015, a restaurant that focuses on whole-animal butchery and craft beer is a good place to start. The Cannibal is a Manhattan eatery from Christian Pappanicholas of NYC’s Resto and Cory Lane of Momofuku, and they will be opening their second location in Platform. You can expect roughly 450 bottled craft beers as well as gourmet charcuterie, sausages and aged steaks in a large, light-filled floor plan.
Craftsman and Wolves
San Francisco patisserie Craftsman and Wolves currently calls Valencia Street home, but they will be opening a second location in Culver City that will feature both their chocolate croissant stacks and their renowned “Rebel Within” pastries. With a Blue Bottle location also opening in Platform, expect many shoppers fitting in a quick bite here to go with their coffee.
New Yorkers know their ice cream, and they have been making their way out west in 2015. Big Gay Ice Cream took up residence Downtown earlier this year, and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is cruising the streets of LA in a cheery yellow truck. A brick & mortar location will open in Platform, and will feature many of the vegan options and classic flavors that have made them a hit.
Chef Michael White
Details are still a bit vague, but New York chef Michael White along with the Altamarea Group will be occupying a large space on the top deck of Platform. He has already helmed two Michelin star restaurants (New York's Marea and Al Fiori), and his brand continues to grow worldwide. We’ll soon know which iteration of his previous work that we can expect for his first West Coast location.