Citra Grill Opening Today, July 30th in Walnut Creek

July 30, 2012 11:30 am

After several delays, the long awaited Citra Grill is finally opening today in downtown Walnut Creek across the street from the Century movie theater at the corner of Olympic Blvd. and Locust St. I had a chance to stop by during the soft opening on the weekend and tried some of the dishes which were excellent. You can check out their menu here.

When I checked them out I tried the grilled shrimp with cabbage and cucumbers and tomatoes. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and tasted great, as did the cabbage.

I also had the baby arugula salad with a vegetable skewer side. The salad came with dried cherries and lime roasted almonds which tasted amazing. You may have noticed 2 truffles at the upper left of the photo. They are from Barlovento Chocolates and are out of this world delicious. I consider the food here to be quite refreshing, light and healthy.

More photos including the bread oven after the jump…

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Friday Question of the Day – Will you Boycott Chick-fil-A in Walnut Creek?

July 27, 2012 8:30 am

Photo by Flickr user Link576

Earlier this week I noted that Chick-fil-A is opening up a new restaurant in Walnut Creek at the old concrete plant on N. Main St, and there was a lot of discussion about refusing to eat there due to the comments made by the president of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy, who does not support gay marriage and has supported anti-gay groups. The New York Times published an article last year about the dilemma some people have eating there or not, and just a few days ago published another article noting that The Jim Henson Company will no longer supply toys for the chain, and some cities are stopping approval for new restaurants, while other, such as the former governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, are lining up in support of Chick-fil-A.

When Chick-fil-A opens in Walnut Creek, will you boycott and refuse to eat there? Or will it be business as usual and you’ll check it out?

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Hamachi Opening July 28th in Downtown Walnut Creek

July 26, 2012 11:30 am

Shiro, the site of a massive fight in January where a Walnut Creek police officer was punched in the face has closed, and in its place, a new restaurant called Hamachi will be opening this Saturday, July 28th beginning 6pm until 1:30am.

From a poster:

Featuring asian tapas, an extended sushi menu and a full martini bar.

Live entertainment from 6:30pm to 1:00am featuring dualing pianos starting at 10:30pm.

I believe this may be the only restaurant with dueling pianos in Walnut Creek. Sounds interesting. According to the owner, they will be playing every Friday and Saturday night with a focus on Jazz. The original chef from Sushi Groove (the restaurant before Shiro) will be working there.

Check out part of the restaurant below:

Hamachi is located at 1523 Giammona Drive in downtown Walnut Creek.

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Coco Swirl Now Offering Bubble Tea in Walnut Creek

July 25, 2012 11:30 am

The frozen yogurt shop Coco Swirl is now offering bubble tea in tea, milk tea and yogurt freeze concoctions. Some of their flavors include taro, lychee, passion fruit, jasmine and more. They offer the tea and milk tea with a “regular or less sweet” option. Check out the lychee tea “less sweet” option below (which I still thought was very sweet, but good, especially on a hot summer day!).

Coco Swirl is located next to the Century Movie Theater in downtown Walnut Creek.

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Judging New Restaurants – Opa!

July 24, 2012 11:30 am

After months of anticipation, the Greek restaurant Opa! has finally opened. You can check out their menus here. Anyone have a chance to check this place out yet? How is it? How does it compare to nearby Silk Road or Pomegranate?

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Chick-fil-A Coming to Walnut Creek

July 23, 2012 11:30 am

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A chicken restaurant is spreading out far and wide these days, and construction of a new restaurant is well under way in Walnut Creek as can be seen by the photo above at the old concrete plant on N. Main St. Here’s what president Dan Cathy said about its support of traditional marriage:

“Well, guilty as charged.”

“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit,” Cathy said. “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.

I’ve heard good things about the chicken at Chick-fil-A, but have never eaten there myself. This reminds me of the Palestinian Chicken episode on Curb Your Enthusiasm:

If you’re pro-gay marriage, would you ever check out Chick-fil-A? Has anyone ever eaten there? How’s the chicken?

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Judging Restaurants – Shanghai Gourmet in Walnut Creek

July 19, 2012 11:30 am

Shanghai Gourmet is a Chinese restaurant featuring Shanghai style cuisine but other styles are available as well. Their appetizers and soups menu is here, meats menu is here, seafood here, and claypot/vegetables menu here. Has anyone tried this place? What dishes do you recommend?

In case you were wondering about their Chinese store name, “Jia Jia Le”, apparently it means:

We Hope To Convey Our Best Wishes Towards The Happyness of Every Family Through Our Hospitality & The Authentic Shanghai Style Cuisine Many of Us Had Favored Since Childhood.

Check out the Chinese newspaper selection right outside the restaurant:

Shanghai Gourmet is located at 1291 Parkside Drive in Walnut Creek, near the soon-to-be-opened Kinder’s deli.

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Kinder’s Meats & Deli Coming to Parkside Dr. Walnut Creek in August

July 16, 2012 11:30 am

Kinder’s Meats & Deli, the popular meat and deli located on Ygnacio Valley Rd. in Walnut Creek and elsewhere in the East Bay, is opening a new location at 1293 Parkside Dr. in Walnut Creek next month. It will be located near the Shanghai Gourmet restaurant.

From their website:

Three generations of hard work and family pride began in 1946 when John Kinder opened his first meat market in the Bay Area town of San Pablo, California. In 1985 Kinder’s was relocated to Concord, California, and the business became a popular neighborhood meat market, deli and catering company – not to mention, the only place in town to get a marinated ball tip steak sandwich. After 65 years of growth, Kinder’s now boasts 15 locations throughout Northern California and Nevada with both family and franchise locations. Kinder’s is also gearing up for explosive growth in expanding their proprietary line of bbq sauces, marinades and more in retail market across the country.

How does Kinder’s compare to Morucci’s?

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New Ice Creamery Coming to Downtown Walnut Creek

July 11, 2012 11:30 am

Back in February I noted that the Thai restaurant Erawan on N. Main St. in downtown Walnut Creek closed, and now I have learned that it’s being turned into an ice creamery. According to one of the workers there it will be called Latto. That will make for a trifecta of ice cream stores in downtown Walnut Creek, the others being Gelateria Naia and San Francisco Creamery.

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New Delhi Bistro Opening in Moraga

July 10, 2012 11:30 am

A new Indian restaurant, New Delhi Bistro, is coming to the Rheem Valley Shopping Center in Moraga. According to Lamorinda Weekly, the owner is none other than Roos Pal, who owns Terzetto Cuisine, also in Moraga.

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