In a restaurant owner's world, an empty table can mean more than just that. In recent weeks, the once hot night-clubby spot Michael Mina's XIV mysteriously closed without notice, and rumors are circulating about why and how this happened. SBE restaurant group reps are tight-lipped about the full story behind its evident demise. Is there a “menu revision” underway? Or did the chef leave? No information has been publicly verified.

After months of anticipation, SmithHouse finally opened on Santa Monica Boulevard. Farid Zadi, Susan Park and David Haskell, who recently formed the restaurant management company FOH/BOH³, have announced the launch of their new restaurant Eat. Good. Clean. Food., set to open in mid-September.

After completing routine inspections, Vanilla Bake Shop opens tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the Century City Westfield mall. The 561 square-foot shop is giving away 200 cupcake babies to the first 200 customers. Owner Amy Berman will also introduce three new cupcake flavors and a line of customizable tiered cakes. “We plan to expand in the future, but like to take our time,” says Berman. “This is our second location in 4 years. Hopefully the next one will be a little sooner, but all in good time.”

Turn the page for a full August list of openings and closures:

Beer flights at the new SmithHouse; Credit: C. Soudry

Beer flights at the new SmithHouse; Credit: C. Soudry

Opened

A Ri Rang Tofu House: 529 E. Valley Blvd., Suite 128, San Gabriel; (626) 288-6069.

Chipotle: 11690 San Vicente Blvd., L.A.; (424) 652-4336.

Currywurst: 109 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A.

85°C Bakery-Café: 17170 Colima Road #A, Hacienda Heights; (626) 839-7885.

Fonuts: 8104 West 3rd St., L.A.

ink.sack: 8360 Melrose Ave., #107, West Hollywood.

Larry's: 24 Windward Ave., Venice; (310) 399-2700.

MexiKosher: 8832 W Pico Blvd., LA.; (310) 271-0900.

Rascal Gastropub: 801 S. La Brea Ave., LA. (323) 933-3229.

Rosa Mexicano: 8570 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood.

Seed Bistro: 11917 Wilshire Blvd., Brentwood.

Seventy 7 Lounge: 3843 Main St., Culver City.

SmithHouse: 10351 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A.

Taste of Chong Qing: 172 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel; (626) 288-1357.

Tasty Village: 140 W. Valley Blvd., Suite 209, San Gabriel, (626) 571-1178.

Closed

Happy Eating Restaurants: 140 W. Valley Blvd. # 211, San Gabriel.

Memory Tea House: 301 W Valley Blvd. #102, San Gabriel.

Moko: 9540 Culver Blvd., Culver City.

Papoo's Hot Dog Show: 4300 W Riverside Drive, Burbank.

XIV: 8117 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A.; (323) 656-1414.

Have any openings or closure tips? Email them to csoudry@laweekly.com.

Celia Soudry can be found on Twitter @Glutton_In_LA.

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