East Bay Express caught the news that BARKADA is now offering brunch on weekends from 8:30am-3pm. The menu highlights housemade bread and pastries, including burgers and sandwiches on house bread, an eggs Benedict, and granola. There are lots of gluten-free options as well. 4316 Telegraph Ave. at 43rd, Oakland, 510-601-7314.
Food truckers KOJA KITCHEN have softly opened their brick-and-mortar location in Berkeley. The new Korean-Japanese place is fast-casual and designed for takeout, with their signature burgers available. For now, hours are Mon-Fri 5pm-10:30pm and Sat-Sun 11:30am-10:30pm, if you want to check them out. 2395 Telegraph Ave. at Channing, Berkeley, 415-992-7394.
Oh dear. This is so sad: according to The E’ville Eye, CAFÉ AQUARIUS has been forced to close. It appears the issue is with the landlord and a lease renewal (the annual increase in rent is 25 percent). Reportedly, the owners put a great deal of money into improvements to the building, and now the landlord won’t renew their lease in hopes of getting a higher-rent tenant. There is also a petition on Change.org protesting the rent increase. 1298 65th St. at Hollis, Emeryville, 510-655-2782.
The Benedict at Barkada. Photo from Facebook.
