Dojo Ramen Bar is “coming soon” to Sunvalley shopping center in Concord, right next to the Round 1 Bowling & Amusement center on the lower level.
Dojo Ramen Bar is “coming soon” to Sunvalley shopping center in Concord, right next to the Round 1 Bowling & Amusement center on the lower level.
370 Hartz Ave, Danville
A new ice cream / frozen yogurt shop that we learned would be opening on Hartz Ave. in Danville called Bloogrape Organic Sworls has now opened. In addition to ice cream and frozen yogurt they have an additional base option call “vegan coconut base”, available in plain or chocolate that sounds intriguing. Check out their menu here and here. Their website is here.
Ygnacio Plaza, Walnut Creek
In October we learned that the Taiwanese-based T4 boba tea cafe would be opening in Ygnacio Plaza in Walnut Creek and the signage is now up so the opening shouldn’t far off. I wonder if they’ll have any popping boba? Check for updates on their Facebook page here.
1550 Olympic Blvd, Walnut Creek
Thanks to @brandishstudio for pointing out that Citra Grill is closing in downtown Walnut Creek. They opened in 2012 and featured fresh Mediterranean-style California cuisine such as skewers, salads and soups. Check out their menu here.
According to a letter in the window, they lost their lease unexpectedly and are looking for an alternate location where they plan on converting to a “more traditional full-service restaurant”.
1320 Locust St, Walnut Creek
When Veggie Grill opened about a year ago in downtown Walnut Creek I didn’t expect to be eating a burger there a year later but when I received an email asking me to try their new plant-based Beyond Burger I figured it was time to try another veggie burger. You see, about every decade or so I try one and then go back to a hamburger with real fat that can’t be beat. I still shudder thinking about my first veggie burger in the 1980’s.
This time around was different though. Unbelievably it tasted very close to a real hamburger. I couldn’t believe it. Not only did it taste like a hamburger, it looked like one, too. It was seared on both sides and, made with beet juice, it apparently caused a bit of a surprise for some who cooked it as it looked like it was bleeding! 🙂 At $12.95 it’s not exactly cheap but it does come with fries which tasted nice as well. As I get older I’m glad there are healthy options that don’t sacrifice taste. Check out the burger and sandwich menu here.
From a press release:
This is the first fast-casual concept to serve the revolutionary Beyond Burger by Beyond Meat, the world’s first plant-based burger that looks, cooks and tastes like fresh ground beef, on a large scale. Veggie Grill has created the VG Beyond Burger, an incredible classic-style burger built with grilled onions, special sauce & American “cheese.”
VG Beyond Burger:
Photo from Veggie Grill
3555 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
I walked by the Chinese restaurant The Tasteful Noodle the other day in Lafayette and noticed a “Placard Pending” sign in the window from the county health division calling the restaurant “Poke Go”. That combined with the curtains in the window may point to a new poke restaurant coming to Lafayette? With Hawaiian-style poke restaurants popping up left and right around here I wouldn’t be surprised.
Orinda Theatre Square
Last month Table 24 closed in Orinda Theatre Square and the replacement Wild Magnolia, featuring seasonal, sustainable, small plates is now open. Check out their menu here and special New Year’s Eve menu here.
I’ve had my fair share of boba tea drinks around town, with the little tapioca balls sitting at the bottom waiting to be sucked up so when it came to try a boba drink at the new Chalogy cafe in downtown Walnut Creek I was ready. This time I tried a popping boba drink where the little tapioca balls contain strawberry, lychee or mango flavoring that pops in your mouth. What a great idea! Since I’m not a fan of overly sweet drinks the next time I order I’m planning on ordering a drink with no sweetener other than the popping boba. That should provide just the right amount of sweetness. Have you ever tried a popping boba drink? Where else can you get them?
Orchards Shopping Center, Walnut Creek
Burger Lounge, the Southern California-based restaurant that we learned would be coming to the Orchards Shoppng Center in Walnut Creek over the summer now has signage posted with a mid-February opening date. Check out their menu here. Thanks to a reader for sending word and photo.
Pleasant Hill Shopping Center
In September we learned that Starbucks opened in the Pleasant Hill Shopping Center across from HomeGoods and next door Chipotle is now open as well. Check out their menu here.
