Good Girl Dinette opens tomorrow; La Grande Orange to expand to Santa Monica
We've been tracking Good Girl Dinette, the latest effort by former Blue Hen co-owner and chef, Diep Tran. She has tirelessly recorded the difficulties she's encountered opening her new restaurant in Highland Park via her blog. Now, it seems, all of her hard work is about to pay off. Tran sent out a news blast yesterday that Good Girl Dinette will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow night.
Tran is describing the food as "American diner meets Vietnamese comfort food." On the menu you'll find stews, sandwiches, traditional rice dishes and homemade pies. Each dish will be created with local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Tran has plenty of experience; her family opened Pho 79, one of Orange County's first Vietnamese restaurants.
Good Girl Dinette, 110 N. Ave. 56, Highland Park (two blocks from the Gold Line). www.goodgirlfoods.com. Hours: Tues. to Thurs. 6 to 10 p.m.; Fri. 6 to 11 p.m.; Sat. and Sun 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
In other news, La Grande Orange Cafe has announced that it is opening a second location in Santa Monica. The target opening date is in May, and the new outpost will serve LGO's stylish American fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, beginning at 6:30 a.m. each morning. Plans are also in the works to source most of the produce used at the restaurant directly from the Santa Monica Farmers Market. Menu items that have already been announced include huevos rancheros, omelets, "skinny" pancakes, poached eggs with prosciutto, Brussels sprout salad, taco platters, burgers and pizza.
La Grande Orange Santa Monica, 2000 Main St., Santa Monica. www.lagrandeorangesm.com. (Website not yet functional, but soon will be.)
-- Jessica Gelt
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Good Girl storefront rendering, goodgirlfoods.com
I went to the grand opening Friday and it was PACKED. We had the spring rolls and spicy fries to start, then I had the vegetarian Biscuit Pie for entree, and for dessert the bread pudding. SO GOOD! By the end of the Biscuit Pie I was full, but I could not stop eating.
Posted by: Sam | April 12, 2009 at 08:15 PM
Jessica,
I had a chance to interview La Grande Orange founder Bob Lynn in February and he revealed a lot of information about the upcoming Santa Monica location. Since that time, the ETA has moved from April to early May, and the restaurant is no longer considered a "Growcery," but many of the other details are intact:
http://www.foodgps.com/review/lgo-growcery-tracking-toward-april-in-santa-monica
Posted by: Food GPS | April 09, 2009 at 07:00 PM