It may be hard to believe it, but January is just about over. And it’s been, well, quite a month.
In food news, we’ve got lots share — many restaurants across the East Bay have opened since the holidays and a few, sadly, have closed. Here’s our latest tally of restaurant openings and closings. Let us know if we’ve missed anything in the comments.
Berkeley
Open
1951 COFFEE It was a timely month to open the refugee-staffed coffee shop on Channing. The aim of the non-profit is to not only provide the community with quality coffee and excellent service, but also with greater awareness of refugees’ stories and a practical means of participating in them. 2410 Channing Way (at Dana), Berkeley Website / Facebook / InstagramGILMAN BREWING The newest Berkeley brewery focuses on small batches of “funky, interesting” beers, including both Belgian and American styles. It is currently in soft-opening, with plans to open seven days a week in March. 912 Gilman St. (between Seventh and Eighth), BerkeleyWebsite / Facebook / Twitter / InstagramJOTMAHAL A new Indian restaurant has now opened in the former location of Cha-Am on Shattuck. All of the dishes are made fresh to order. 1543 Shattuck Ave. (at Cedar), Berkeley Website
MAISON BLEUE The bistro and crêperie has opened in the former Café Clem space on Kittredge. Early food reports are highly positive. 2020 Kittredge St. (near Milvia), BerkeleyWebsite PLENTEA The San Francisco-based boba shop opened on Durant Jan. 19, serving made-to-order milk teas with high-quality ingredients in glass bottles (instead of plastic cups). Plentea also serves a few snack-y food items. 2430 Durant Ave. (at Telegraph), Berkeley Website / Facebook / TwitterTACO BELL CANTINA Both beer and wine are available to drink with an expanded menu of Taco Bell fare, which includes “shareable” dishes like beef taquitos and chicken tenders with buffalo and avocado-ranch sauces. 2528-B Durant Ave. (between Telegraph and Bowditch)Website / Facebook / Twitter / InstagramURBAN REMEDY The Berkeley location for the juice and health food chain opened earlier this month on College Avenue. Other East Bay shops have opened in Lafayette and Walnut Creek, and an Oakland location is on the way. 2946 College Ave. (at Ashby), Berkeley Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Closed
REMY’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT The Southside Mexican restaurant at 2506 Haste St. has closed. No word on the reason for the closure; the phone line no longer works, and Yelp reports the restaurant is permanently closed.
Oakland
Open
ALAMAR Newly re-jiggered alaMar has reopened in Oakland with a fast-casual set-up. It now focuses on poke and Dominican rice bowls. 100 Grand Ave. (at Valdez), OaklandWebsite / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram BARE KNUCKLE PIZZA Downtown Oakland’s first Neapolitan-style pizzeria opened Jan. 17. Each of Bare Knuckle’s pizzas is made with mainly local and organic ingredients, as well as a naturally leavened dough. 351 12th St. (at Webster), Oakland Website / Facebook / Twitter.CURRY UP NOW The fifth location for the San Mateo-based Indian-Mexican fusion restaurant is now open and serving chicken tikka masala burritos and more, according to Inside Scoop. 1745 San Pablo Ave. (between 17th and 19th), Oakland Website / Facebook / Twitter / InstagramTHE GASTROPIG The bacon and breakfast sandwich-focused fast-casual restaurant opened Jan. 3 in Uptown with dishes like the “#Baconslut” (bacon, egg and cheese with Aleppo chile aioli) and “Not Your Mama’s PBJ (chunky peanut butter and housemade jam on a pretzel croissant). 2123 Franklin St. (between 21st and 22nd), Oakland Website / Facebook / Instagram
THE ORGANIC COUP Hot on the heels of its Berkeley opening, the downtown Oakland location for the organic fried chicken restaurant opened Jan. 23, serving sandwiches, wraps and salads. 1300 Clay St. (at 13th), Oakland Website / Facebook / Twitter / InstagramTHE VEG HUB A brick-and-mortar location for the vegan sandwich and soul food restaurant has now opened in the Dimond District with plans to add a cooking school and after school program, according to the Post News Group. 2214 MacArthur Blvd. (at Fruitvale), OaklandFacebookTHREE AMIGOS MARKET The East Oakland corner store has reopened with a new focus on healthy market items and a deli counter new with the help of HOPE Collaborative. Deli dishes include build-your-own sandwiches, salads, soups and bagel breakfast sandwiches. (H/T East Bay Dish) 1554 13th Ave. (at Foothill), OaklandWebsite / Facebook
Closed
BAKESHOP It appears that the East Oakland bakery has closed for good. Last June, Bakeshop announced that it would be closed for repairs, but Hoodline reports that the phone is disconnected and Yelp has the business listed as closed.
CROSSBURGERS The downtown Oakland burger restaurant officially closed Dec. 30, according to Hoodline. It had been open for about two and a half years.
PASTA POMODORO The Bay Area chain abruptly closed all of its 15 locations right after Christmas. Employees told the East Bay Times that they were informed of the closure via text message.
Beyond
Open
BLACK BULL TACOS Y CERVEZA, Alameda The new taqueria comes to Alameda courtesy of the Scolari’s team, and it serves an eclectic menu of street-style tacos and burritos. 1635 Park St. (at Buena Vista), Alameda FacebookHAL’S OFFICE, Albany Bonnee and Abraham Elterman, owners of the As You Wish frozen yogurt shop, opened their first coffee shop Jan. 20. Hal’s Office serves Counter Culture coffee and Firebrand pastries. 1207 Solano Ave. (at Cornell), Albany Facebook
Closed
CROGAN’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL, Walnut Creek After 39 years, the sports bar closed Jan. 23. Inside Scoop reported that the closure was at least partially due to a strenuous relationship with the city.
Update 5:30 p.m.: This article originally reported that B & B Kitchen and Wine Bar had closed. It has not. It was closed temporarily because of a gas leak, which has been fixed. The restaurant has now reopened. The restaurant is for sale, however, according to Tom Walton, a publicist.
