Open today is a new fast-casual breakfast and lunch spot in Uptown Oakland from Ann Thai and Loren Goodwin, THE GASTROPIG. As you may gather from the name, the menu of breakfast sandwiches and more is rather pig-centric, with a trademark sandwich called #Baconslut (an applewood-smoked bacon sandwich with an over-easy egg, cheddar cheese, and Aleppo chile aioli, served on a brioche roll, $9.50). The Gastropig is conveniently two blocks from the 19th Street BART station, so that breakfast sandwich can be yours (plus three others, and avocado toast with cilantro crema) the next time you’re hungover and heading to work.
There are also pastries, grab-and-go deli sandwiches (including the Ode to Genova, $8, a classic Italian deli sandwich that pays homage to Oakland’s Genova Delicatessen), and hot lunchtime options. You can also find a waffle iron hash brown with cheddar and scallions ($4), plus coffee service (including nitro-charged cold brew and Vietnamese iced coffee). There are 49 seats if you want to hang out. Open Mon-Fri 7am-3pm, Sun 9am-2pm. 2123 Franklin St. at 22nd St., Oakland, 510-817-4663.
Now open near Grand Lake in the former Aztecali space is CHICA, a Norcal-Mexican-American restaurant that started as a takeout window in San Francisco. Owner Maria Esquivel serves a menu that includes tacos, soup, Mexi-bowls with rice or salad as a base, Tex-Mex mac and cheese, and more, including espresso service. Eater’s original post mentions there is seating for 25. Open Tue-Sat espresso 7:30am-8pm, with food 11am-8pm; and Sun food and espresso 10am-5pm. 303A Oakland Ave. at Pearl, 510-735-9748.
The high cost of doing business precipitated a change at ALAMAR KITCHEN & BAR in Oakland, with chef-owner Nelson German moving to a quick-service format. You can still enjoy their peel ‘n’ eat shrimp, but you’ll be ordering at the counter now.
Now open in Berkeley is LUCIA’S PIZZERIA in the former Belli Osteria, from Steve Dumain and Alessandro Uccelli, serving Neapolitan-style pizza but with modern toppings from a Stefano Ferrara wood-fired oven (take a look at the extensive menu here). There are also small plates, like charcuterie and calamari fritti, salads, and Italian wines. Open Sun-Thu 5pm-9:15pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10:30pm. [Via Nosh.] 2016 Shattuck Ave. at University, Berkeley, 510-225-9467.
A sad closure in Berkeley: owner Marsha McBride closed CAFÉ ROUGE after 20 years in business. The butcher shop-restaurant was a seminal business for the butchery community, with numerous people who learned the craft there. Sadly staffing issues precipitated the closure, and executive chef Rick DeBeaord was departing to pursue other projects. [Via Scoop.] 1782 4th St. at Delaware, Berkeley.
Need a drink after that news? Head over to Richmond at the old Kaiser Shipyard and you’ll find EAST BROTHER BEER COMPANY, with a taproom in a 12,000-square foot warehouse from Chris Coomber and Rob Lightner. They serve five classic styles (pale wheat, red lager, Bo pils, red IPA, and oatmeal stout) at a wood 14-seat bar and there are open picnic tables, plus a ping-pong table, corn hole, and a regulation-size bocce court. Food trucks will be on hand during the weekend. Open Wed-Thu 4pm-8pm, Fri 4pm-9pm, Sat 12pm-9pm, and Sun 12pm-8pm. 1001 Canal Blvd. at Wharf, Richmond.
The #BaconSlut at The Gastropig. Photo: Aubrie Pick.