The East Bay has plenty of new projects to look forward to, starting with the news that IPPUDO is coming to downtown Berkeley (it’s known for being one of the tastier tonkotsu ramen bowls in New York, but has locations around the world). Berkeleyside mentions it’s coming to Shattuck (next to Berkeley’s first Blue Bottle café, which will also be arriving); no word on timing. 2011 Shattuck Ave. at University, Berkeley.
Meanwhile, Eater and Inside Scoop both caught Daniel Patterson’s Instagram announcement that he’ll be opening a LOCO’L with Roy Choi next door to Plum Bar in the original Plum (the first location is opening in Watts in LA on January 18th). Sounds like the SF Tenderloin location will come after Uptown Oakland, and there’s a mention of East Oakland too. 2216 Broadway at 22nd St., Oakland.
Opening Wednesday January 13th is the 60-seat CAFÉ EUGENE in the former Little Star Pizza in Albany from the team behind Little Star Pizza and Boss Burger (Jon Guhl and Ryan Murff). They want it to be a neighborhood restaurant, and the menu will highlight influences from California and the Pacific Northwest for brunch (like baked steel oats with honey baked pear and cardamom coconut milk) and dinner (like clam chowder potpie) daily—the chef is Amanda Joost Gehring (Lalime’s, Café Rouge).
Cocktails include some inventive Bloody Marys and warm cocktails like Spanish coffee. Outdoor seating has room for 15. Open Sun-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10pm; brunch runs 9am-3pm, dinner starts at 5:30pm, with an interim menu in between. 175 Solano Ave. at Cornell, Albany, 510-647-9999.
We’ve been following CASA CUBANA’s Facebook page for a while, and they are now open. To recap, it’s from Sam DuVall and Joe Kohn (Izzy’s Steak and Chop House) in the former Vo’s, and the Cuban-inspired menu can be viewed here. Cocktails and art also play a big part. Open for lunch 11:30am-2:30pm, happy hour runs 4pm-7pm, and dinner 5pm-10pm. 59 Grand Ave. at Webster, Oakland.
A bowl of Ippudo Ramen in New York. Yelp photo by Crystal H.
