1388 Locust St, Walnut Creek
Sunol Ridge, a downtown Walnut Creek restaurant and bar, is requesting the Walnut Creek Planning Commission to allow alcohol consumption up to 12:30am from their 11pm current time. The current recommendation from the city is to increase the time until 12 midnight daily so as to not, “coincide with other alcoholic beverage establishments” that allow for consumption until 12:30am. This will be taken up at the Planning Commission meeting tomorrow.
1415 Pine St, Walnut Creek
Great news from near downtown Walnut Creek as a new, family-owned brewery and taproom called Farm Creek Brewing Company is planning to open this summer. They will be focusing on traditional European ales such as English pale ales and IPAs with an American twist. During the week the production brewery will be busy brewing beer for local restaurants such as Sunol Ridge, ØL Beercafe and others and on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays they will shut down their brewery and open as a taproom where the public can sample their brews. It will also be possible to fill up a keg to bring home. I can’t wait to try this! Soft drinks will be available and you may bring your own food. Right now they are waiting for construction documents from the city but the stainless steel fermenters, copper mash tun, boil kettle and bright tank for carbonation are already being used to test brews according to their Facebook page. Find out more about Farm Creek Brewing Company from an article by East Bay Beer here.
From their website:
Farm Creek Brewing Company will be a family owned and operated production brewery located near downtown Walnut Creek, California. In late 2014, the city of Walnut Creek unanimously approved our Conditional Use Permit. This approval marked the beginning of the real work of converting 1415 Pine Street into a beer factory and taproom.
Once completed, the brewery will include a 15 barrel, copper-clad brew system and several 30 barrel fermentors. This system will allow us to produce about 450 gallons of beer in a single brew session and approximately 4000-5000 barrels of beer per year (that’s more than 124,000 gallons of beer!!).
While the facility will be a production factory, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays we will shut it all down, roll up the doors and invite the community into our taproom to enjoy our fresh, locally produced beer.
Photos of the bar area, copper mash tun and malt after the jump…
1851 Sutter St, Concord
Last week we learned that Rockin Crawfish opened in Concord, and now, coincidentally, thanks to a reader we learn that a new seafood restaurant, Tom’s Crab Shack has opened across the street on Willow Pass Rd. Check out their menu here.
More photos of the inside after the jump…
Willows Shopping Center, Concord
In January we learned that Ike’s Sandwich Shop was coming to the Willows Shopping Center in Concord and right next door Palo Alto-based Rick’s Rather Rich Ice Cream will be opening up. Check out their complete flavor list such as caramel praline and black raspberry crunch here.
From their website:
Rick’s Rather Rich Ice Cream has been the home of 48 exceptional, handmade ice cream creations such as Coffee Molasses Chip, Rose andWhite Chocolate Ginger. We live, breathe and dream ice cream and never get tired of brightening a customer’s day with a big ol’ scoop of everyone’s favorite dessert —ice cream.
We also make the most delicious and beautifully decorated ice cream cakes (over 20 varieties) around. Or, try our handmade cupcakes, ice cream whoopies, cookies, brownies and pies.
1847 Willow Pass Rd, Concord
Rockin Crawfish, the Cajun restaurant from Oakland has opened a new location in Concord at the Park ‘N’ Shop in Concord. Check out their food menu here and beverage menu here. The inside has a fun, eclectic feel with records, guitars, license plates and of course artistic drawings of crawfish plastered on the walls. There is plenty of seating and large bar area throughout. Check out the photos of the inside below to get a feel for how it looks.
It’s been a while since I’ve been to New Orleans and this cuisine was so tempting that I ordered the crawfish boil ($13.99/market price). You choose the spiciness when ordering (I chose original which, although is less than mild, still had plenty kick for me), and after a short while a pound of piping hot crawfish in a clear, plastic bag along with a bib and a plate of lemons and a salty pepper dipping powder is ready to devour. The waitress explained that most people squeeze the lemons into the powder so you can dip the crawfish. First, you remove the shell from the head and suck the juice out. Then you remove the meat from the tail, dip into the sauce, and enjoy. Nothing else is edible. Crawfish don’t have much meat but there are plenty of crawfish in the bag. I recommend getting a side of steamed rice. It’s quite a bit of work but it’s delicious and if ever there were a place to enjoy cajun cooking this is it!
More photos of the inside including the crab tank after the jump…
1321 Locust St, Walnut Creek
Coffee Shop, the eagerly anticipated new coffee shop that replaces Lift Lounge in downtown Walnut Creek is opening by the end of April. The inside has been completely remodeled; the huge ceiling, wooden planks throughout, concrete floors and counters look beautiful. It reminded me of coffee shops straight out of Portland. There is going to be some serious coffee brewing going on with two Slayer espresso machines only available in a couple of other Bay Area locations.
In addition to artisinal coffee (initially local and national roasters will be featured) such as Sightglass and Four Barrel, with Stumptown cold brew and nitro cold brew available on draft, there will also be a selection of coffee based cocktails, craft brews and wine. Samovar teas and cold pressed juice will be available for non-coffee drinkers. As for cuisine, baked goods from local bakery 54 Mint as well as their own dishes made with seasonally fresh ingredients such as waffles and more will be featured.
Although I’m more of a tea drinker I think after visiting this place I may end up being turned on to coffee. This is going to be amazing! Check out their Facebook page here and website here and check out plenty of photos of the inside below.
Plenty more photos of the inside including the Slayer machine after the jump…
2151 Salvio St, Concord
Last month we learned that Mi Pi Pizza would be opening soon across from Todos Santos Park in Concord and it looks like they will be opening this Saturday according to their Facebook page. Check out their food menu here and bar menu here.
3406 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Thanks to a reader for sending word that a new restaurant featuring seasonal California cuisine, The Hideout Kitchen & Cafe, has opened in place of the Italian restaurant Giardino on Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Owner JP Balingit is the former directory of culinary operations at Jack’s Restaurant and Bar in Pleasant Hill with longtime restaurant experience. Menus change daily; check out a recent lunch menu here, dinner menu here and brunch menu here. Lunch and dinner are available Tuesday – Friday with brunch and dinner available on weekends beginning at 9am. There is an outdoor dining area as well.
The interior features eclectic collectible pieces such as the display case featuring bread from local bakery The Rising Loafer. The bar is made from reclaimed wood from their neighbor. (See photos of this and more after the jump.)
Check out more photos after the jump…
TheBEND food truck market that opened only last April in Walnut Creek where the French restaurant Virage used to be has closed according to Diablo Dish. Their website says, “Maintenance mode” and in its place will probably be a “mixed-use building”. Too bad it didn’t make it.
1245 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek
It looks like the ice cream bubble has popped in downtown Walnut Creek as Gelateria Naia recently closed. A sign in the window notes that they have been there for 10 years but you can still grab a cone at their North Beach location. Their secret, bambino-sized cone was the perfect size at a great price. In downtown Walnut Creek the other available options are San Francisco Creamery, Lottie’s Creamery and CREAM. Not to mention Kara’s cupcakes, Coco Swirl and Honey Berry.
