Tiki Tom’s, located at 1535 Olympic Blvd. across from Urban Outfitters in Walnut Creek looks like an interesting restaurant bar judging from the surfboard. Any fans? It gets mixed reviews on Yelp.
It’s getting murkier and murkier. Previously I reported that Erawan Thai Restaurant was closing in Walnut Creek. So imagine my surprise when I was strolling downtown in the evening recently when I saw Erawan open for business. The source I had for this info was solid so I decided to go to Erawan itself for more details. Turns out the landlord and Erawan owner are having a bit of a conflict and the landlord may or may not be responsible for attempting to get them closed. The person at Erawan wasn’t exactly sure either so I guess time will tell with what happens to this place.
Judging from this view it looks like they make the beer on the premises. When I go I usually have the Hefeweizen beer and sausages. Anyone been? What’s the best thing to get?
Flipper’s Burger’s in Lafayette has been replaced by TAO Restaurant which opened this month at 960 Moraga Rd. They specialize in Ramen noodles and also have a breakfast menu of omelets, pancakes, waffles and French toast. Amazingly they still offer Flipper’s hamburgers. Turns out the chef at Flipper’s stayed on at Tao so you can enjoy your burgers AND Japanese noodles.
Has anyone tried the Ramen here? Any fans?
Although it seems intact now, apparently not for long, as Erawan Thai Restaurant, located on N. Main St. in Walnut Creek, across the street from Wells Fargo, is closing according to word on the street. The rumor going around is that this is where the elusive Farm to Table Cafe will be located that was mentioned in the Contra Costa Times article yesterday.
I had quite a few dinners at Erawan and thought the food there was quite good. But the photos they had on display on their windows were fading and really did not do justice to their food. Are there other Erawan fans out there, or am I the only one?
The Contra Costa Times reported yesterday that Nothing Bundt Cakes would be opening up in January, so I stopped by to see how it was going.
Nothing Bundt Cake, with dozens of stores around the country is opening another bakery in Walnut Creek. It will be located at 1551 Botelho Drive in the shopping mall where Ross, Sunrise Bistro and Right Start are located. It replaces a motherhood and maternity store that had been empty for a while.
Looks like they are also looking for some help as well:
“Please send resume to: walnutcreek35@gmail.com or call 925-979-9131 for an application.”
Updated exterior for upcoming Citra Grill restaurant
The Contra Costa Times reported today on how retail vacancy rates have fallen over the past year indicating increased vibrancy in the local downtown Walnut Creek area. They noted that a restaurant Opa will be located next to Prima which I reported on previously and later in the article wrote that
Such examples include the former Delle Stelle building on Main Street currently under renovation for a restaurant
This is the Opa restaurant they mentioned previously. Having casually observed the downtown Walnut Creek retail environment for many years, the one thing that can be said is that it’s always changing, with some stores closing, and new ones taking their place.
At the end of the article they note recently opened stores including La Boulange and the Giants Dugout Store. The small popcorn store in Broadway Plaza store Cornology can also be added to this list. They also note stores that will be opening next year, including a few I need to look into, “Farm to Table Cafe”, and “Nothing Bundt cake”.
Located at the old Entenmann’s Bakery at 2034 N. Main St. in Walnut Creek at the end of Pringle Ave, the Vietnamese restaurant Kevin’s Noodle House had their grand opening on Saturday. Although the photo above, taken around noontime on Saturday shows some open tables, shortly thereafter it became absolutely jam-packed with quite a few people waiting for an open spot.
Commenters have mentioned previously that Walnut Creek already has plenty of Vietnamese restaurants, but I don’t consider Kevin’s Noodle House to be really comparable to the French-influenced Vietnamese restaurants like Le Cheval and Vanessa’s Bistro 2. If you’re after fine dining, look elsewhere, but if you’re looking for a quick and cheap bowl of Pho and spring rolls in a clean setting, look no further.
Amazingly, they offer a child size bowl of noodles and chicken, steak or beef balls for only $3.25, and they didn’t skimp on the chicken either. To celebrate their grand opening in Walnut Creek, they are offering a free soda or coffee until December 24. So anyone else been here yet? Any fans?
Thanks to a commenter on the La Boulange post pointing out that the place next door will be called The Corners Tavern, which is rather appropriate considering Walnut Creek used to be known as “The Corners”. According to a press release it’s supposed to open this month (opening in March, see update below) but I find that hard to believe with all the construction going on the other day. It goes on to note:
The Corners Tavern is a partnership between Moana Restaurant Group (a successful restaurant management company that operates 18 restaurants throughout the West Coast and Mexico including Piatti in Danville and Paragon in Berkeley and San Francisco) and The Stock & Bones Company (Mitchell & Steven Rosenthal and Doug Washington, owners and operators of the critically acclaimed Town Hall, Salt House and Anchor and Hope in San Francisco as well as Irving Street Kitchen in Portland).
The Corners Tavern will be a contemporary gastropub featuring approachable and soulful American fare with a menu developed by the Rosenthal’s. The menu will be complemented by a thoughtful beverage program designed by Nicole Burke (Wine Director for Stock & Bones Company and named one of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Bay Area’s “Up and Coming Sommeliers”) that will boast 30 craft beers on tap, hand‐crafted artisan cocktails and a selective list of 20 small producer wines on tap. Heading up daily operations will be David O’Malley (former proprietor of Bacar restaurant in San Francisco and Operations Director of Kimpton and W Hotels).
This will be another great culinary addition for this end of Broadway Plaza. I look forward to seeing what it’s like.
Update: The Corners Tavern will open in March according to one commenter involved with the restaurant:
Corners Tavern will open at the beginning of March. Our opening got pushed back because the changes we’re making to the space became much more extensive than originally thought. We’re looking forward to getting open and joining the neighborhood…
La Boulange Bakery Cafe AKA La Boulange de Walnut Creek is finally open in Walnut Creek at 1348 Broadway Plaza next to the old Bing Crosby’s, which itself is currently being remodeled and will become a bar gastropub called The Corners Tavern.
Here’s a glimpse of the inside:
Plenty of baked desserts, breads, salads and open-faced sandwiches among other things. Compared to the Lafayette location this seems likely to get more traffic, hence the Formica tables that are easier to clean. The immense amount of natural sunlight beaming in really opens everything up, and the food was quite good when I tried it for lunch today.
This is a great addition to Broadway Plaza as that area lacks the quality eateries available downtown. Any fans?
Update: Thanks to the commenter for pointing out that it will be called The Corners Tavern with a gastropub concept.