A Popular Pasadena Cafe Expands With a Vibey New Location and French Dip Burger

Neighbors & Friends, a popular cafe in Old Town Pasadena for pastries, coffee, sandwiches, curated cheese boxes, retail, and home grocery goods, expanded to South Pasadena in May with a new location called Neighbors & Friends Kitchen. Founder and South Pasadena resident Kaiy Smith-Biesman opened the new outpost in the former Communal Food and Drink space with full service, a cocktail menu, and spacious dining area. 

In South Pasadena, Neighbors & Friends shifts away from the daytime fare of the original location with new dishes that include citrus-pepper wings, a brisket meatball, hushpuppies, roasted chicken, and a French dip burger. Smith-Biesman brought on Inglewood’s Crowns & Hops’ co-founder Teo Hunter to curate a selection of beer, seltzer, and cider, with agave wine and sake cocktails like the Ginger Mule that combines sake, ginger, lemon, and prosecco. At the new location, pop-up South Pas Smash will set up on the tented patio to serve burgers, while the interior offers a bar that seats 10, live music, and sit-down table service.

The South Pasadena opening is a full-circle moment for Smith-Biesman. Neighbors & Friends Kitchen is located in the former home of Firefly Bistro, a restaurant she frequented as a child, before it became Communal Food and Drink. “Though I forgot all about it, my grandmother said to me, ‘When you were seven years old, do you remember having dinner at Firefly Bistro and told me that one day this would be your restaurant?’” Smith-Biesman says.

Neighbors & Friends is open Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 1009 El Centro Street, South Pasadena, CA, 91030. 

Eastside takeover of Super Peach in Century City

On June 25 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Taqueria Frontera and Moo’s Craft Barbecue will take over Super Peach in Westfield Century City. The trio will prepare collaborative dishes for a sit-down meal, only available to Chase Sapphire members. Tickets are available through the Super Peach site for $95 per person. Ahead of the June 25 dinner, Westfield Century City has another food-centric event happening: From now through June 14, diners can find special prix fixe menus (most ranging from $60 to $65) and experiences all week long at restaurants like Super Peach, Terra at Eataly, Zinque, Very Thai, Casa Dani, and more. 

Farewell dinner for Connie & Ted’s

Chef Michael Cimarusti will close West Hollywood’s seafood destination Connie and Ted’s on July 1, but not before hosting an event called One Last Call on June 18. Reservations are available for  $175 per-person seat through OpenTable. In a Los Angeles Times story by Stephanie Breijo, Cimarusti calls the wave of closures hitting Los Angeles a “reckoning.” 

Fat + Flour expands hours

Fat + Flour owner Nicole Rucker announced expanded hours in Culver City, which will stay open until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. In May, Rucker closed her Grand Central Market location; the stall now hosts cinnamon roll pop-up Cinnies.

A boozy collaboration by Bar Benjamin and Mr Lyan

During a month of fun collaborations through Los Angeles, Bar Benjamin will welcome Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr. Lyan, on June 11 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Over the years, Chetiyawardana was named World’s Best Bartender by World’s 50 Best and International Bartender of the Year for his acclaimed London bars iLyaness and Dandelyan. Tickets will go quickly for this event, so grab a seat on Resy.