There’s a new ramen house that opened in Emeryville over the weekend, YUZU, with 48 seats, both inside and outside on their patio. The partners are Steven Yamaji, Nori Itasaka, and Scott Sada, and they are focusing on different broths (beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and vegetable) made in-house and all from grass-fed and pasture-raised animals, or with organic or local vegetables. They are making their own noodles too. There is also gluten-free and vegan ramen, plus some side dishes—check out the menu. And then there’s what they’re calling broffee—four kinds of bone broth (or stock, ahem), which they’d like to encourage people to drink in the morning like coffee. Open for lunch Mon-Sat 11:30am-3pm (last order at 2:30pm) and dinner 5:30pm-9pm (last order at 8:30pm). 1298 65th St. at Hollis, Emeryville, 510-853-1525.
There’s a new spot coming to Rockridge in late September, DUCHESS, doing triple-duty as a café, pub, and local watering hole. Wine professionals Caroline Conner—who was also a former assistant pastry chef at Nopa—and Chris Strieter (co-founder of Sonoma County’s Senses Wines) brought on chef Candice Caris (previously corporate dining at Google, Apple, and Nvidia). Look for California-inspired pub fare and all-day service: there’s going to be coffee and pastries in the morning (including a “sausage and egg Duch-Muffin” and cinnamon rolls), lunch and dinner service and snacks in between, and weekend brunch (with sourdough waffles with chestnut almond cream, bourbon baked apples, and maple syrup ). And WINE. And craft cocktails (thanks to consultant David Curiel of The Hideout). And craft beer. VerSacrum Design (Trick Dog, Causwells, Huxley) is designing the space, which includes an outdoor patio and two full-service bars. Hours will be Sun-Wed 6am-12am and Thu-Sat 6am-2am. 5422 College Ave. at Manila, Oakland.
Chef-owner James Syhabout has closed THE DOCK in West Oakland, and Scoop reports he will be reopening it next year in partnership with Adam Lamoreaux, who was a founder of next-door neighbor Linden Street Brewery (he left the company a couple of years ago). Since Linden Street is leaving at the end of this year, The Dock will be taking over the space so Lamoreaux can be head brewer and add a brewing component to the project—it will be a taproom, brewery, and restaurant, serving casual pub-style food. Live music is also being discussed. Meanwhile, The Beer Shed will keep its tasting room, beer garden, and bar menu up and running during construction. 95 Linden St. at 3rd St., Oakland.
After the rapid closure and the departure of consultant Dominique Crenn from Antoinette at The Claremont Club & Spa, the space’s latest incarnation has opened, LIMEWOOD BAR & RESTAURANT. You can look at chef Joseph Humphrey’s (The Advocate, Cavallo Point, The Restaurant at Meadowood) dinner menu here, which looks really good. 41 Tunnel Rd., Berkeley, 510-549-8585.
Even though we don’t have the SF Street Food Festival this year, fortunately the Eat Real Festival returns to Jack London Square for its eighth year, September 23rd-25th, and is presented by the Food Craft Institute. There will be local vendors and food stalls, demonstrations, tastings, workshops, food trucks, an urban county fair, and more. The festival is free, and everything is priced at $8 or less. There are also adult beverages, with $10 tasting flights, sommelier demos, and “meet the brewer” panels. Friday 1pm-9pm, Sat 10:30am-9pm, Sun 10:30am-5pm. Jack London Square (65 Webster Street, west of Embarcadero), Oakland.
One more note: Off the Grid is now happening on Sundays at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park in Downtown Berkeley, starting Sunday September 11th. There will be eight food trucks, plus live music, beer, and more. 11am-3pm. 1900 Allston Way, Berkeley.
Gyukotsu ramen at Yuzu Ramen & Broffee. Photo courtesy of Yuzu.
