New LA-Based Social Justice Restaurant Review App Merges Activism and Eating

Something is brewing

It’s not easy being Yelp, the king of the on-the-go restaurant crowdsourcing market. The company has had to fight off lawsuits and grumbles from many sectors of the restaurant industry, while still maintaining a relevant foothold with users. Now there’s even more competition knocking at the door.

Enter The Food Tribe, a new restaurant review platform with a digital gift card component and a plan for doing good. The company is founded by LA native Terence Latimer, and has partnered with the LA Regional Food Bank for a give-back campaign wherein diners can buy gift cards to restaurants directly through the app in $5 increments, and $1 of that will go directly to helping feed the poor. Guests can then leave reviews on their experiences at said restaurants, making for a holistic digital dining experience — if that’s your thing.

Here’s Wally’s

Toddrickallen jumps in with some news on Wally’s, the wine shop and sip space from Beverly Hills that’s expanding into Santa Monica. The new entrant to the far westside wine market will land at 214 Wilshire Blvd. in the heart of downtown Santa Monica.

Maré’s happy hour

Maré in Silver Lake is getting in on the happy hour game, working a new menu from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The deal includes a handful of new bites from chef Eric Greenspan, plus $5 beer and wine options.

Little Fluffy Downtown

There’s a new boba tea and coffee cafe coming to Downtown, it seems, called Little Fluffy Head. The spot at 203 W. 7th St. isn’t online yet, but you can look for a May debut.

Herringbone’s truffles

There’s a pricey new truffle dinner going down at Herringbone in Santa Monica on April 26, where for $90 guests can get a wine-paired six-course meal featuring everything from a truffle yuzu-laced hamachi crudo to a dry-aged bone-in ribeye with truffled fingerling potatoes. Call the restaurant direct if you want in.

Get laughs at Bobby’s

Want some fun with your morning eggs? Get to Bobby’s Coffee Shop in the West Valley, says Ventura Blvd. Magazine, where the kitschy fun is matched only by the quality food.

Ted Montoya’s journey

Want to know what it’s like to live your dreams, rising from dishwasher to chef? Check out this video below by UPROXX on LA chef Ted Montoya.