AMAZING CRAB Just opened at 2370 Shattuck Ave. (at Channing) — former home of fro-yo spot Frozen Creations — is Amazing Crab, a restaurant that offers dishes like boiled crab, shrimp with Cajun sauce, crawfish, spinach and cheese soufflé and Cajun fries. It’s early days and reviews are few, and mixed, so far, though the service is universally praised.
PURETERGENT Former fashion designer Julia Fry (Nicole Miller, Esprit) has just launched Berkeley-based business Puretergent, an eco-friendly and fashion/textile-driven specialty laundry soap. Puretergent says its light transparent formula “cleans without stripping and weakening fabrics.” The products are phosphate-free and biodegradable too. Last but not least, their soap comes in pouches that reduce packaging by 75% compared to the average plastic jug. Puretergent’s HQ is on 5th St. in West Berkeley. Buy its products locally ($13 for 50-load pouches in three options — Whites and Dirty Stuff, Colors, or Extra-Sensitive) at Andronico’s on Shattuck or Solano, at Piedmont Grocery, or at El Cerrito Natural Grocery.
ZAKI’S As reported on Bites last week, Zaki Kabob House is set to shut its doors at 1101 San Pablo Ave. on June 1. The restaurant was opened there by the Ayyad family in 2008, just north of the Berkeley border, “after years of enjoying delicious Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods on our family table.” Berkeleyside profiled the restaurant in 2013. We reported at that time that the business’ original landlord, “who supported them in making many improvements to the modest green building, recently passed away. His heirs plan to sell the building and are offering the family first option to buy — with a price tag of $700,000.” Zaki owners were unable to purchase the property, and have now lost their lease. The local favorite will be looking for a new location, and has announced new hours for its final days: Dinner will be served nightly from 5-9 p.m., but lunch will only be available Friday through Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.
Shop Talk is our regular column in which we post updates on Berkeley businesses. 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, and check out Bites for the latest East Bay restaurant news.
