Livermore’s Le Nocturne
Courtesy Le Nocturne
Le Nocturne Brings Escargot, Steak Frites, Caviar Bumps, and EDM to Downtown Livermore
A self-modeled French-style supper club debuted in downtown Livermore with Parisian fare and flair for dinner that transitions to late-night house music and dancing. Gianni Schell, who also owns the nearby Rebel Kitchen & Libations, softly opened Le Nocturne last week on First Street next to the Bankhead Theatre. Taking over the former Last Word and briefly rebranding the space as Syndicate, the restaurant delivers a dinner menu of contemporary French classics that includes steak tartare, Salad Lyonnaise, and escargot for starters, and steak frites, coq au vin chicken, trout amandine, and moules à la marinière among the entrees. Fresh Pt. Reyes oysters also make the cut, as do a “les indulgences” section featuring indulgences such as caviar (offered in bump, blini, and full-service form) and, coming soon, A5 Japanese wagyu beef.
The bar program, meanwhile, delivers a wine list balancing French and Livermore Valley labels while mixing up cocktails ranging from French-inspired classics—a Sidecar and Boulevardier—to more mixology-modern drinks such as the Clair de Lune with clarified gin, lime juice, and elderflower liqueur. And at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, the moody vintage Parisian interior transforms into nightclub mode with “deep house” and EDM music until 1 a.m. Get a sneak peek here.
Steak frites at Le Nocturne
Courtesy Le Nocturne
It’s a pretty ambitious concept for Livermore, concedes Schell, but one he thinks the city is ready for given the transformation in the food and bar scene over the last few years. “Livermore has a fantastic food scene, but we wanted to bring something a little different to the community,” says Schell, who has lived and raised his kids in the Livermore area for more than two decades. “To be honest, I was a little hesitant about doing French contemporary, but so far it’s been embraced with open arms.”
And if anyone has the resume to pull it off, it’s Schell. The Cal grad has run nightlife hub Rebel Kitchen for the past 17 years and recently helped launch hip natural wine and cocktail bar The Black Cat (which he’s in the process of selling to a longtime patron). He wasn’t looking for another project, but has always admired The Last Word space and jumped at the chance when the owners “offered me a deal I couldn’t refuse.” He tapped his son, Cameron, a veteran chef of several Michelin-starred restaurants in San Francisco, to help him with the concept and hiring Le Nocturne’s young chef, Raj Desai.
Schell has deliberately opened quietly so far to give his staff time to get their feet and dial in the food and drink concept, but says he’d like to add more live music offerings, such as jazz and blues, moving forward. So far so good. “We’re really excited about the concept,” he says. “There are some fantastic dive bars in Livermore and places for live music and dancing, but as far as food and décor and vibe, there’s nothing like this.”
Food Fair at Tokyo Central
Before launching in Emeryville, Japanese grocer Tokyo Central promised it would be hosting periodic food events at its big new Bay Street mall location. The first will be happening this weekend when the Tokyo Central Food Fair will feature food samples, giveaways, and various special deals and in-store discounts all Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Hosted by Asian food wholesale distributor Wismettac, on-site vendors offering samples include Asahi-Zeitaku (vodka and sparkling soda), COEDO Beer, ITO EN Organic Japanese green tea, Kewpie mayonnaise, Otafuku frozen okonomiyaki, Sapporo ramen, Nissui shumai dumplings, and more.
Meanwhile, the Japanese and Asian grocery wave sweeping the entire Bay Area shows no signs of slowing. Tokyo Central and H Mart in Dublin launched earlier this year and will be joined by Osaka Marketplace in Pleasant Hill this fall, T&T Supermarket, expected to open in Newark’s NewPark mall in 2027, and a massive new 100,000-plus-square-foot H Mart planned for Fremont’s Pacific Commons Shopping Center. And in the interim, the Osaka Marketplace team is launching Sakura Market, a new Japanese retail and dining store inspired by Japan’s konbini convenience stores, in San Jose this Friday.
Milk Cloud Bakery
Japanese Culinary Inspiration Across the East Bay
The fascination with Japanese food culture doesn’t end at the grocery store. In downtown Walnut Creek, Mensho and Morufuku Ramen have drawn crowds for their ramen, while Milky Flakes is making a splash with its combination of batch-made ice cream; shaved frozen milk creations with fresh fruit and syrup, condensed milk, and cold foam; and Japanese-inspired soft serve. The latter seems to have made an impression as the store announced on Instagram that it had completely run out of its soft serve made from premium Japanese Hokkaido milk. The next shipment is in transit…In Berkeley, Liz Khuu just debuted a permanent storefront on Eighth Street for her popular pop-up Milk Cloud Bakery, specializing in pillowy Japanese-style milk bread offered in loaf and sando form. And Maruwu Seicha, a café known for its premium matcha beverages using tea sourced from Japan’s famed Uji region, is expected to debut two new locations in Bay Street Emeryville and Pleasanton’s Stoneridge shopping center later this year.
Gilroy Garlic Festival
East Bay Foodie Events Happening This Weekend
Looking for more good food and wine? There are several events happening throughout the East Bay this week and weekend besides the Tokyo Market Food Fair.
Now through Saturday, San Leandro Restaurant Week delivers prix-fixe meal deals, special discounts and promotions, and one-off dishes at 20-plus restaurants in one of the region’s more diverse food scenes that ranges from Greek and Italian to Mexican and Caribbean to Korean and Asian Cajun. A special promotion also offers diners a chance for up to $1,000 in meal reimbursement.
Alameda’s main drag of Park Street will be blocked off this weekend for the Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire that will feature more than 250 artisans, festival foods, and locally crafted wine and beer offerings, along with live music and kids’ activities.
Food and wine pavilions will be set up downtown this weekend for the annual Benicia Waterfront Weekend, which also offers live music, carnival-style games and rides, and local artisans and makers.
After a six-year hiatus, the Gilroy Garlic Festival returned last summer and is back again this weekend, luring attendees via the pungent aroma of that South Bay city’s bumper crop.
Small Bites from Around the East Bay
Cool or cringe? I’ll let you be the judge of this viral Tri-Valley-inspired rap making the rounds on socials.
A new Costco in Oakland is one step closer, but still likely years away from becoming a reality.
The shuttered Oyama Sushi in downtown Walnut Creek looks like it will be a new restaurant called Salt & Lime (Mexican?), at least according to a recently filed state alcohol license permit.
Does the recent opening of Reem’s California bakery suggest a homegrown resurgence in Oakland’s long-struggling Jack London Square?
Martinez’ Brother-Sister suffered a “devastating fire” Sunday night and will be “closed indefinitely.” The Martinez beer and cocktail garden had been recently rebranded from Vic’s and is owned by JB Balingit, the restaurateur behind contemporary-American Hideout Kitchen and modern Filipino concept Tropa in Lafayette.
A new location of sustainable seafood restaurant chain California Fish Grill just opened in Concord’s Willows shopping center.
Oyster bar Ace Seafood appears to have shuttered after a short-lived revamp in Oakland’s Temescal district.
A local Livermore couple plans to open Traditions Meat Co., specializing in sustainably raised and processed meats, in the former Livermore Cobbler location by next spring.
The team behind Oakland’s acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant Temple Bar and San Francisco’s somewhat controversial French-Vietnamese outpost Le Colonial, are launching Broken Dreams, a fast-casual eatery centered around cơm tấm broken rice, in downtown Oakland.
The a la carte menu is now live at Nudi Blue, the eclectic Berkeley follow-up from the owners of hit Thai brunch-dinner concept Tanzie’s.
Dining and Cooking