Brentwood’s Culinary Glow-Up: La La Land, Community Foods, and Terroni Bring New Flavors

Brentwood is buzzing with news of three exciting new openings coming our way. From a feel-good coffee shop moving into an old favorite’s spot, to a trendy café taking over a long-vacant buffet space, and an upscale Italian eatery joining our village, there’s plenty for locals to look forward to.

Interior of a La La Land Kind Cafe, known for its bright, cheerful décor and signature yellow to-go cups (Santa Monica location shown)

When the beloved Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 11698 San Vicente Blvd closed this March, many of us wondered what would fill its shoes. The answer is La La Land Kind Cafe, a coffee shop with a heart. This Dallas-born cafe isn’t just about lattes and avocado toast – it’s on a self-described mission to “normalize kindness” by hiring and mentoring foster youth. Founder Francois Reihani opened the first La La Land in 2019 as a way to provide jobs and life skills to kids aging out of foster care​. Every barista here goes through an 8-week internship program where they get training, mentorship, and lots of love – all aimed at giving them a solid start. Don’t be surprised if you’re greeted with genuine compliments when you walk in; as Reihani himself says, “part of what we do is very blatantly trying to normalize kindness through things like genuine compliments right in our stores when people walk in.”​ This positive vibe has made La La Land Kind Cafe a social media darling.

The cafe already has a devoted following in LA – their Santa Monica location on Montana Ave is “packed virtually all day long,” proving it’s not just the mission but also the quality coffee that keeps folks coming. (Yes, the matcha lattes are legit and the whimsical toasts and cookies are highly “Instagrammable.”) La La Land’s decor is bright and whimsical, with white walls, pops of sunny yellow, and often a neon sign reminding you “I love you.” The overall feel is less corporate coffee chain, more happy community hub.

Young locals line up outside Community Goods’ original Melrose location, known for its photogenic drinks and always-busy scene (West Hollywood).

For years, the large space at 11911 San Vicente sat empty after Souplantation’s buffet went dark in 2020 (a casualty of the pandemic). Now, something totally different is moving in: Community Goods, the ultra-trendy café that has taken LA’s social media scene by storm. If you haven’t heard of Community Goods, ask anyone under 30 – this petite coffee shop became a sensation in Beverly Grove in 2023 for its hour-long lines of Gen Z’ers, celebrity drop-ins, and “must-try” matcha lattes. Justin and Hailey Bieber famously frequented the original location, turning it into an influencer hotspot practically overnight. (In fact, many fans admit “I found out about Community Goods through my queen Hailey [Bieber]”.)

So what’s the big deal? First, the coffee and bites are actually great. Their iced matcha and vanilla lattes are crowd favorites, and their breakfast sandwich sliders on sweet King’s Hawaiian rolls have a cult following. On weekends, the line outside their West Hollywood shop wraps around the block and waiting becomes a social event in itself​. Community Goods was co-founded by Pedro Cavaliere, a 30-year-old Brazilian immigrant with a background in the music industry. Pedro literally built the first cafe with his own hands during the lockdown and rallied support from his many creative friends once it opened. “I worked my entire life for very influential people…and never asked for anything in return. They saw me building the cafe... and were ready to support. … I never expected it to become what it is,” 

The Italian restaurant group is known for rustic interiors and an open kitchen with pizza oven

If you love Italian food, you’re probably already familiar with Terroni. This upscale trattoria-style restaurant from Toronto has been a fixture in LA’s dining scene. Now, Terroni is coming west to Brentwood, moving into a spot at 155 S. Barrington Place in Brentwood Village. The space is currently under construction, but public records show Terroni’s owners applied for a liquor license under the name “Terroni Brentwood” – so it’s officially happening!

What to Expect: Terroni is all about authentic Southern Italian fare served with style. They’re famous for their fresh handmade pastas, their extensive Italian wine list, and their insistence on serving pizza the traditional way – which means unsliced, straight out of the oven. (Yes, you’ll be cutting your own pizza with knife and fork, as is Italian custom – it’s part of the fun!) Regulars rave about dishes like the Cacio e Pepe pasta and the creamy burrata with eggplant appetizer. The restaurant’s philosophy is to never cut corners with ingredients. “A lot of time was spent sourcing the building blocks for all our dishes from small artisanal producers either in Italy or locally,” the Terroni team notes on their website, highlighting olive oil from Puglia, San Marzano tomatoes from Campania, and flour from Le Marche for their pizza dough. That dedication to quality shines through in the flavor. In short, expect a truly high-end Italian food experience – the kind where even a simple spaghetti al pomodoro can wow you because of the purity of the ingredients.

Terroni’s roots go back to 1992, when founders Cosimo Mammoliti and Paolo Scoppio opened a humble Italian café in Toronto with just four barstools and a second-hand pizza oven. Their goal was to share a “slice of the real Italy” with their hometown. Brentwood loves Italian food – from old-school institutions like Peppone and Divino to newer spots like Pizzana, we’re spoiled for choice. Even so, Terroni will bring something special to the mix. It’s a bit more upscale and wine-centric, making it a great spot for a date night or celebratory dinner close to home. Given Terroni’s reputation, we might see diners coming from across the Westside to check it out.

Opening Timeline: As of now, no opening date has been announced for Terroni Brentwood. They only recently secured permits and licenses, so construction is likely ongoing. Don’t be surprised if the front is still covered in plywood and “Coming Soon” signs for a while.

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