End-of-year restaurant closure roundup

Last year at this time, the countdown was on for the final days of the late, missed
Angeli Caffe on Melrose. Today at 5 p.m. marks the end for the Westside deli Junior's. We covered its sudden demise last week, but haven't yet said anything about some other restaurants that won't be around for 2013. Fraiche has already closed in Santa Monica, terminating a local brand that when it opened in Culver City six years ago made some best-restaurant lists. In the Valley, fans have made their final visit to Sierra's, which had been in Canoga Park for 43 years after moving from San Fernando, and the Woodland Hills iteration of La Frite. (The other Ventura Boulevard location, in Sherman Oaks, remains a La Frite.)

Also gone or going: Red Rock Bar and Eatery on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, and Montrose is losing its Rocky Cola Cafe. Note that the Dolores' Coffee Shop in West Los Angeles is closed due to a fire and presumably will reopen. Also plenty of restaurants are opening all over town, but too many to list here.

Meanwhile, the Saul family at Junior's posts on the website that "we are currently looking for another location and hope to re-open in the future."

Also in restaurant news:
LA Weekly to add star ratings
Los Angeles magazine's ten top newcomers

Previously on LA Observed:
Campanile loses lease, will close
All food stories