1529 Locust St, Walnut Creek
We’ve been been anticipating the opening of Oke Poke in downtown Walnut Creek since March and according to their Facebook page they are expecting to open sometime this month. As you can see their signage is now up. Check out their menu here.
1677 North Main St, Walnut Creek
Earlier this week we learned from Diablo Dish that a new restaurant and bar featuring country cuisine called Bourbon Highway will be opening later this month where Library on the Main used to be in downtown Walnut Creek. The 6,000 sf, two-story space will offer plenty of outdoor seating. Stay tuned…
From a press release:
Walking distance from all the downtown nightlife, Bourbon Highway will bring fun country and Americana vibes to a city that aches for it. Nowhere among the many restaurants of Walnut Creek can one find anything like what Bourbon Highway will offer. The owners envision country music, upbeat energy, games, and a top-notch menu. It is a destination not only for eating, but also to enjoy before or after dinner for a good time.
Chef Noah Larson hails from great Bay Area restaurants such as A Cote in Rockridge, Belli Osteria in Berkeley, and is a co-chef at Rooftop in Walnut Creek. His passion for good food comes through thick in his down-to-earth, farm-to-table cuisine.
Chef Larson has created a mouthwatering menu of true Southern cuisine. What you’ll find at Bourbon Highway is comfort food pushed out of its comfort zone – upscale southern grub that will raise the bar and satisfy its guests’ deepest cravings.
To complement the delicious food, Bourbon Highway will serve artisanal signature drinks, wine, and craft
beer. Look for classic Texas teas, and cocktails that feature top shelf Bourbon and Whiskeys.
The venue, designed in-style by Jackson Santos of Sasa and Rooftop, provides a warm atmosphere flanked with reclaimed wood and a rich color palette. Great country music amplifies the warm country ambience. Dotted with games like ping-pong and corn hole, Bourbon Highway promises to be the best place in town for games. Whether it’s watching the Warriors on the big screen, or playing a heated game of corn hole outside over beers, the entertainment in Bourbon Highway will not disappoint in delivering a fun night out.
3287 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
The Park Bistro & Bar, featuring modern American fare with a French twist, is located within the recently renovated Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa in Lafayette and they recently came out with a new fall/winter menu which you can check out here. I had a chance to try the heirloom beet salad, pressed Mary’s chicken and braised short rib which tasted excellent. To top it off, there is free self-service parking in their underground garage as well as a free valet for diners. I don’t know how many times I’ve driven by without realizing they had free parking!
Yesterday we learned that The Lumpia Company replaced 310 Eatery in downtown Walnut Creek but 310 Eatery, like the Terminator, will be back:
The 310 and it’s crew wishes to thank all of it’s fans for the very loyal support over the past twelve months as it returned the Downtown Walnut Creek area. And in this further instance, we would like for our wonderful fan base to know, we have recommenced a search for that special space in Downtown Walnut Creek where it all began for us and in doing so, we will very much look forward to relaunching with the added Progeny component alongside 310’s already “Krazy- Delish” menu – imagine, The Traffic Jam Burger and Bacon Jam Fries on the same table with “Har Gow?” Is your mouth watering already? Legitimate Hong Kong/L.A. Style Dim Sum and with what the Yelp community calls the Best Burgers of the East Bay together on the same table? Wow! Please stay tuned.
In the interim and for those that simply can’t wait for The 310’s anticipated return to Downtown Walnut Creek, you can visit with us at our current “Detour” location inside Spats in Downtown Berkeley at 1974 Shattuck Ave. (nearby University and Shattuck). See you all again soon.
1411 Locust St, Walnut Creek
310 Eatery, which relocated to the former Redux Lounge location in downtown Walnut Creek along with the bar Urban Alley, recently closed and a new restaurant featuring the Filipino cuisine lumpia, The Lumpia Company, has opened in its place. Check out their menu here and look for more items soon. They also deliver via UberEATS. Follow them on Instagram here.
From their website:
Back in the day, Alex Retodo’s mom started the first ever Filipino food booth for their annual church festival. Even though Alex would hook his friends up with free Lumpia, Mama Retodo taught her son how to share the Tender, Loving Care through the power of Lumpia.
Today The Lumpia Company is composed 3 former college roommates Eric Pascual, Jeff Martinez & Alex Retodo who are also known as “The Lumpia Brothers.” The brothers are on a mission to share Filipino Food with the world. Their specialty items are the Filipino style Egg-Rolls better known as lumpia, which are 100% Handcrafted and Hand rolled from their brand new kitchen in Oakland California.
3602 & 3604 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
A new restaurant called Batch & Brine is taking over two spaces next to Pizza Antica on Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette where Swad Indian Cuisine used to be. Stay tuned..
2195 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek
In August we learned about a new coffee and tea shop called Bondadoso Coffee and Tea would be opening where Mi Casa used to be in Walnut Creek and they plan on opening sometime mid-November. I recently dropped by and was able to get a preview so make sure to check out the photos after the jump. One important point to note which I wasn’t aware of is they have a parking lot in back!
In addition to serving coffee and tea with kindness, there will also be a separate retail section featuring “unknown micro-roasters and micro-tea producers from around the world”. The traditional espresso bar will serve drinks made by Italian Simonelli espresso machines with multiple espresso roasts available. A single brew bar will also be available. On top of this, and something I haven’t seen anywhere else, is a “tap wall with 8 types of cold-brew coffee and tea offerings including nitro-coffee and nitro-tea”. Be sure to check out the photo after the jump to see a photo of it, I can’t wait to try that out! Another interesting point to note is that drinks are priced the same no matter how it’s made. Tea is priced by the pot. Although there will also be baked goods and some lunch and breakfast items available, the focus is here is definitely on the coffee and tea.
For more details on the shop check out their website here and Instagram page here. They are still looking for people to hire so email ron@bondadoso.com if interested and have coffee or tea experience.
More photos after the jump…
1251 Arroyo Way, Walnut Creek
Blu 42 Sports Lounge, which opened a few years ago near Civic Park in Walnut Creek is in the process of changing management and will become Chicken Pie Shop according to a recent California ABC notice. According to an employee I spoke with they will be featuring a more varied number of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stay tuned for the menu…
1506 N. Main St, Walnut Creek
Alamo-based Brass Bear Delicatessen, which opened a second location in downtown Walnut Creek several years ago, will be closing at the end of November. A new delicatessen called Main Street Deli will be opening its place. Check out their Craigslist hiring page here. Stay tuned…
4635 Clayton Rd, Concord
Mona’s Burgers is opening a second Concord location on Clayton Rd. where Cal Wok currently is according to the latest state permit information. It’s going to be called Mona’s Bar & Grill and will be their third location after Oak Grove Plaza in Concord and Palos Verdes Mall in Walnut Creek. Check out their menu here.