DIVINE FOOD — Fellini Restaurant, at 1404 University at Acton, officially closed on Sunday October 30, but Italian food lovers will be happy to learn that Marco Polo Garbarino will be reopening the space in December. His new restaurant will be called Divino and will serve Italian cuisine with an emphasis on food from the Liguria region of the Italian Riviera. The menu will include local and organic ingredients, as well as vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. [Hat-tip: “Berkeley resident”]
ART INTERNATIONAL Cecilia Fikaris, a Swedish artist who splits her time between Sweden and Berkeley, has opened a new gallery space at 1527 Shattuck Avenue, right in the heart of the Gourmet Ghetto. It is called Ett Litet Galleri, Swedish for a little gallery, and its inaugural show, Pretty is Taking a Nap, is a collection of Fikaris’s work, including oil and acrylic paintings. Fikaris will be exhibiting other artists’ work as well in the gallery, which is open Sunday and Tuesday from 1 to 4 pm, and Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 3 pm, and then again from 6 pm to 8 pm. The space is also available to rent for poetry reading, book parties, and other events.
SPORTS NOSHING The space on Telegraph that was the home of Larry Blake’s for 71 years has been snapped up by Alex Popov, the restauranteur who owns Smart Alec’s next door, according to the Berkeley Voice. The new restaurant will be named Pappy’s Grill after the legendary Cal football coach Pappy Waldorf (he coached at UC from 1947-1956). It will be decorated throughout with a blue and gold theme, football memorabilia, and will have a 200-inch diagonal television, making it the go-to place to watch Cal sports.
TACOS NO MORE “Oh no! I love Little Pablo!” wrote Berkeleyside reader “resident” on hearing the news that Little Pablo Taqueria at 2056 San Pablo Avenue had closed. The Mexican restaurant, which was located between University and Addison, shuttered at the end of October, despite having mostly good reviews on Yelp — and the service was certainly appreciated. “The lady that works in the front at Little Pablo has got to be one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” wrote Jimmy I. in May, and several posters agreed with him. [Hat-tip: “berkeleyhigh1999”]
Shop Talk is our regular column in which we post updates on Berkeley businesses — openings, closings, new directions, relaunches, relocations. If you’re a Berkeley business with news, or a Berkeleysider who has spotted a change in your neighborhood or on your travels, shoot us an email with the details. Read previous Shop Talk columns here.
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