Just noticed that Lottie’s Creamery has a new sidewalk sign display up in downtown Walnut Creek. I had a scoop of apricot crumble, amazing as always.
Just noticed that Lottie’s Creamery has a new sidewalk sign display up in downtown Walnut Creek. I had a scoop of apricot crumble, amazing as always.
Thanks to a reader for noting there is some activity going on at the old Sakana Sushi restaurant which closed in December in Walnut Creek at Newell Square. Anyone know what’s going in here? Maybe a sushi place called Kana Sushi? 🙂
Pyramid’s Unfiltered Summer Music Series:
Pyramid Alehouse
1410 Locust St, Walnut Creek
Friday, June 21st, 2013
7:00pm – 10:30pmJoin us in our Beer Garden for Pyramid’s Unfiltered Summer Music Series. Enjoy a pint of your favorite Pyramid Brew while listening to the sounds of Mark Schuh.
1372 N. Main St, WC
Back in April I noted that the Berkeley-based ice cream shop CREAM would be opening this summer in Walnut Creek and this weekend I dropped by to check out the inside as work progresses. From what I hear it will be opening late July, early August.
1528 Locust St, Walnut Creek
In April I noted that the restaurant Vitality Bowls was coming to Walnut Creek and as of now they plan on opening late July according to the owner. They also have locations in San Ramon and Pleasanton where I recently tried my first vitality bowl which contains Acai blended with coconut milk, apple juice, bananas, strawberries, flax seed and topped with organic granola, bananas, strawberries, goji berries and honey. Check out their complete menu here. I really enjoyed it, would have this for dessert or breakfast again. They also offer sandwiches, salads and smoothies.
Back in April I noted that the Vietnamese fusion restaurant Vanessa’s Bistro would be moving to Locust St. in downtown Walnut Creek where the Turkish restaurant Bosphorus used to be and today is their opening day. Check out their lunch menu here and dinner menu here. Photos of the inside follow below. The bar is smaller than their previous location on N. Main St. There is also an additional dining area upstairs. Thanks to a reader for sending word that it would be reopening this week.
Note the ‘2’ as in Vanessa’s Bistro 2, the official name of the Walnut Creek location:
Vanessa’s Bistro is located at 1512 Locust St. in downtown Walnut Creek a short walk from the Lesher Center for the Arts.
The anticipation is great for The Cooperage American Grill opening at the old Petar’s location in downtown Lafayette and according to Diablo Dish it is set to open on November 6th. Word on the street is that the parking lot is going to be expanded and converted into valet parking spots although I wonder whether the entire lot will be valet or just a percentage.
From the Cooperage website:
The Cooperage American Grille will feature American favorites like slow roasted chicken prepared in a glass-encased rotisserie oven, New York steak, beef tenderloin, and signature burger (made with our own meat grinder at the grill). The Cooperage will also offer healthier options, including a selection of salad entreés made with local and organically grown ingredients.
The Cooperage will be comfortable for families dining with children, featuring sports memorabilia from local teams and athletes, kids menu, and younger diners can watch their food being prepared in the rotisserie oven and open kitchen.
The Cooperage will have a large bar area for adults with flat screen TV’s, 12 beers on tap, eight wine selections on tap, and vintage cocktail list
Last month I noted that Bonfire Pizzeria closed in the Orinda Theatre Square with a new pizzeria to replace it and it turns out that Piccolo Napoli will be opening here in Orinda on June 29th. According to Diablo Dish they will be “emphasizing family-friendly fare with a focus on thin-crust, Italian-style pizza”.
From their website:
Peter & Maria Eberle, long-time Lamorinda residents, have lived in New York, Chicago and Europe where they have sampled countless variations of pizza and created many of their own. Together with their four teenagers; Alex & Hailey Eberle and Aja & Ariel Adair they bring to Orinda their love of pizza, pasta and gelato. Come join us this summer for Orinda’s newest family friendly restaurant in Theatre Square!
As a pizza lover I can’t wait to try this place out!
A year and a half ago I posted about the Italian restaurant Ottavio in downtown Walnut Creek. Recently I noticed what seems to me as new signage although it may have been up for a while.
Corners Tavern kids burger
I consider the Corners Tavern burger (Walnut Creek) one of my favorite burgers in the East Bay (through the tunnel). So when I found that recently opened Rustic Tavern (Lafayette) was offering a burger I knew I had to try one out to see if it can hold its own against a Corners burger.
The Corners burger comes with fries, pickled onions, lettuce, tomato and aged cheddar while a Rustic burger comes with fries, bacon, grilled onions, pickles, and cheese. The Rustic bun was more brioche-like, fries thicker cut and herb-coated. A Corners burger costs $15 while a Rustic burger goes for $14.
There’s a saying that everything tastes better with bacon so I’m not sure if it’s the bacon but the Rustic burger tasted amazing. Everything worked really well together. I thought I’d miss the lettuce and tomato but the pickles, bacon and onion combined with the high quality ground beef was delicious. I’m so glad there are multiple burger options around here. And pretty soon Lafayette will have yet another burger option as Roam Artisan Burgers plans on opening in October. Yum!
Rustic Tavern half-burger
Rustic Tavern is located at 3576 Mt Diablo Blvd in downtown Lafayette and Corners Tavern is located at 1342 Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek next to Macy’s.