Hakashi
Hakashi Finally Opens in Walnut Creek
The wheels of bureaucracy grind slowly at times, and the long-awaited debut of Hakashi Japanese Sushi Bar and Grill has finally taken place. Expect high-end sushi, especially on the $160 omakase menu, as well as appetizers—and of course there’s a full bar.
Long popular in San Francisco, Hakashi’s new East Bay outpost is right in the heart of the North Main Street action across from World Famous Hotboys near Cypress Street. Read more about Hakashi and its head sushi chef Julio Zapata in Diablo’s latest Food Issue.
Fizz Closer to Bubbling Up in Walnut Creek
It’s been a minute—well, a lot longer than that, actually—since we heard Fizz Champagne and Bubbles Bar would be opening an outpost on the ground floor of Lyric (across Bonanza Street from Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse). The buzz began in the fall of 2022, followed with an anticipated opening last fall, but issues with contractors pushed the opening back.
Now it appears corks will start popping by the summer, if not sooner. The champagne specialists, with a popular location in Sacramento, explained in a lengthy Instagram update that a series of construction and permitting related delays have been resolved, and they are now (cautiously) hoping to debut in May. Cheers to that.
Donato and Co.
“Let Them Eat Easter Eggs!” Or Not
After spending all that time with the boiling water and the various dyes, and then trying to hide the Easter eggs where they are somewhat hard to find but won’t go missing until August, who wants to cook?
So rather than throw the hard-boiled eggs on a plate and call it a meal, here are a quartet of options for Sunday that avoid any more time in the kitchen.
Donato and Co.: Berkeley’s Donato and Co. has lots of choices: A three-course prix fixe ($55), a four-course prix fixe ($65) and à la carte. Brunch is served from noon to 2:30 p.m. And note that Neapolitan ricotta cake can be preordered and picked up starting Thursday.
Esin Restaurant and Bar: Esin’s Easter Brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Danville, and the $68 prix fixe includes several options for each of the three courses.
LB Steak: From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., LB Steak will add a bunch of brunch specials to its City Center Bishop Ranch menu.
Left Bank Brasserie: The Jack London Square spot will offer a pair of brunch specials to go along with its regular menu and also will have a special leg of lamb available for dinner.
Daryoush Expanding to Walnut Creek
It didn’t take long for Berkeley-based Daryoush to jump on the prime Locust Street spot just vacated by Kaiwa Sushi—but as mentioned, the wheels of bureaucracy sometimes grind slowly, so an imminent opening is not expected.
When Daryoush does start serving, expect kebabs, Persian stews, and Mediterranean appetizers.
Riva Cucina Says Goodbye to Berkeley
Despite being tucked away a couple blocks off Ashby Avenue in West Berkeley, Riva Cucina developed a devoted following over its 17 years in business, but the doors will soon close for good.
No word yet on who might take over the first-class patio and interior, but it will hard to match the ambience and Italian food of Riva Cucina.
Bad Walter’s To Go Brick-and-Mortar in Rockridge
The longtime ice cream pop-up Bad Walter’s will settle into a new home on College Avenue (a few blocks north of the BART station), and not only will it be a place to get what the website bills as “probably the best ice cream you’ve ever eaten,” it will also serve as the home base for the preparation of its weekly rotating flavor mix. Expect the scoops to start being served in May.