Alora Social
Brianna Danner
Alora Social Opens in San Ramon
After a bit of a delay, a pedigreed Cal-Mediterranean restaurant with roots in San Francisco officially opened on Tuesday in San Ramon. Taking over the 7,000-square-foot former Chow space in the City Center Bishop Ranch shopping center, Alora Social offers “a celebration of the rich culinary traditions of Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the Middle East.” The menu is highlighted by elevated dips served with house-baked lavash; meze small plates that include kofte meatballs, fried Burrata, and octopus souvlaki; salads; house-made pastas; and protein-driven mains such as grilled lamb chops, whole fish, and Fiorentina steak. Basque cheesecake, baklava, and soft-serve ice cream make the dessert list, while the lunch menu will offer a selection of wraps. There will also be a full bar program with artisan cocktails and an extensive wine list; live music on the weekends; and an all-day café component serving tea and coffee. This is the second location of Alora, the first of which opened on San Francisco’s Pier 3 waterfront just over a year ago, and was the first non-Indian concept from the restaurant group behind upscale Indian restaurants Rooh, Fitoor, and Pippal.
Alora Social
Brianna Danner
Opa! Authentic Greek Closes in Downtown Walnut Creek
After a 13-year run in Walnut Creek, Opa! Authentic Greek appears to have quietly closed in the last few weeks. Part of a small Bay Area chain of sit-down Greek restaurants that started in the South Bay, the downtown restaurant was known for its upscale take on Greek standards, full bar, weekend brunch, and lively atmosphere that, especially on warm-weather evenings, would spill through large fold-up windows out onto North Main Street. No word yet on why they closed in Walnut Creek or any possible replacement, but the owners also shuttered their San Jose branch—locations in Campbell, Morgan Hill, and Santa Clara remain open.
Courtesy of Boichik Bagels
Boichik Brings Acclaimed Bagels to Concord
Popular Boichik Bagels is bringing its New York Times–blessed bagels to Concord. The Berkeley-based dynamo, which the Gray Lady declared made bagels that rival those in New York, has been in expansion mode after that 2021 shout-out for its then-solo College Avenue store. Since then Boichik opened an advanced robot-automated bagel factory in Berkeley and launched new outposts in Larkspur, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, and several in San Francisco. Its latest will be coming to 2980 Treat Boulevard in the Oak Grove Plaza just north of Walnut Creek. Owner Emily Winston says they’re aiming to open in late April or early May, when they’ll offer a standard menu of New York–style bagels that can be accented by myriad homemade spreads and toppings. Winston also said bagels would be baked on-site on full display to the public. Who Boichik is replacing in Concord is not without some controversy—at least in comic book circles. The bagel shop is taking over for Flying Colors Comics, which had anchored that spot for 37 years until the landlord opted not to renew its lease. Fortunately, the popular comic book shop found a new Concord location at 1170 Concord Avenue, where it’s already up and running. Kapow!
New French Bakery in Lafayette
Lafayette will soon be home to a new French bakery. Alamo’s Brioche de Paris has expanded to 998 Moraga Road, bringing fresh-baked breads, pastries, French cakes, and gelato, along with crepes, Belgian waffles, omelets, baguette sandwiches, and espresso drinks to historic Plaza Park downtown. Expected to open this summer, Brioche replaces Hollie’s Homegrown after the latter was unable to agree to new lease terms. Hollie’s, however, is still offering its organic herbal culinary and bath and body products at its new store in downtown Walnut Creek at 1372 North Main Street.
Flour and Water Opening Casual Offshoot in Uptown Oakland
Even among the wealth of upscale Italian options in the Bay Area, San Francisco’s Flour and Water has a particularly sterling reputation for its painstakingly prepped pizza and pasta. So it’s big news that the restaurant is expanding to the East Bay, where its opening a casual quick-service spin-off at the Lark apartment complex in Uptown Oakland. Alas, pasta will not be on the menu—rather, offerings will consist of pizza (whole pies and by the slice), salads, and starters with a focus on to-go and delivery service—although dine-in is also available. Not expected to open until the end of the year at the earliest, Flour and Water Pizza Shop joins what’s turning into a burgeoning foodie pocket of Uptown. It will be located across the street from contemporary French bakery Tarts de Feybesse (whose co-owner Monique Feybesse was just nominated for a James Beard Award) and soon will be joined by a new branch of artisan coffee roaster Highwire.
Oakland Barbecue Favorite Expanding to SF
Everett and Jones is bringing its talents to San Francisco. A longtime East Bay favorite, the 50-plus-year-old family-owned southern barbecue operation signed a lease to take over the former Lou’s Fish Shack space on the waterfront on Fisherman’s Wharf. Co-owner Dorcia White, granddaughter of founder Dorothy Everett, told the San Francisco Chronicle that she hopes to open this fall at the new location, where she’ll offer a familiar menu of smoked meats and southern sides, along with a few potential seafood-focused specials like gumbo and shrimp po’boys, and regular live music.
Livermore Valley Wine Goes Global
Livermore Valley wine leaders announced the formation of the Global Artisan Vintners Alliance, facilitating collaboration and the exchange of information between winemakers and associations in vino-producing regions around the world. Spurred by the Livermore Valley Wine Community and Alameda County, District 1 Supervisor David Haubert, founding wine regions partnering with Livermore include those in Texas Hill Country Wineries; Chilecito, Argentina; Dalmatia, Croatia; Chinon, France; Alentejo, Portugal; Vale dos Vinhedos, Brazil; Badacsony, Hungary; and Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
Quick Foodie Hits Around the East Bay
Hick’ry Pit officially vacated its longtime spot on Pacific Avenue in Livermore as it prepared to move into its new home in the historic Rock House building.
Burgundy Rose Tearoom brings a full-on afternoon tea experience—think tiered plates of sweets and tiny sandwiches—to 4549 Livermore Outlets Drive in Livermore.
Funny story—unless you lived upstairs—as the owner of Snail Bar in Oakland’s Temescal has opened a café and listening bar called Upstairs in the space above his popular natural wine bar—after the previous tenant vacated due to the constant din downstairs.
The opening of Lafayette’s Local Vines, a tasting room featuring wines from the Lamorinda wine-growing region, has been pushed back to May, according to Prima Materia’s Pietro Buttitta.