Restaurants
by Around Dublin Team on June 17, 2011 | 
No Comments | Topics: Opinions · Restaurants · Things To Do
This Sunday is Father’s Day. Have you made brunch or dinner plans for Dad? If not, the Around Dublin Team has a few suggestions to accommodate different taste preferences and price points.
Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Walnut Creek offers a magnificent champagne brunch that usually includes a carving station, dessert bar, omelet station, and array of dishes showcasing Scott’s famous fresh seafood. Rebecca G. from Walnut Creek offers this bit of advice, “The outdoor terrace is magical! There’s lush greenery and a waterfall; it’s really beautiful! If you come here, try to eat outside.” Scott’s Seafood Restaurant is located at 1333 North California Boulevard in Walnut Creek.
Cellar 9 Restaurant & Bar in East Dublin is taking dinner reservations for Father’s Day. This family-run restaurant serves upscale American comfort food without the attitude. The wonderfully tender prime rib, large stack of babyback ribs, succulent meatloaf, and flavorful short ribs from Executive Chef Charri Feuille’s kitchen are all great ways to treat dad on his special day. Cellar 9 also offers a dinner menu just for kids at $7.00, so families will not break the bank over Father’s Day dinner. Cellar 9 is located at 4112 Grafton Street in the heart of Grafton Station.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 13, 2011 | 3 Comments | Topics: Development · Restaurants
Vito’s Express, soon to be the newest restaurant at Grafton Station, recently announced that the opening has been tentatively set for August. Vito’s Express had initially hoped to open in early June. “We’ve had a slight delay similar to most restaurants that are getting their facility ready,” said co-owner Scott Bolin. Once open, Vito’s Express will occupy the highly visible 1,500-square-foot pad that is closest to westbound I-580. The Grafton Station location will be the flagship restaurant of Vito’s Express chain.
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by Jimmy Huang on June 6, 2011 | 10 Comments | Topics: Restaurants
Liang’s Kitchen (梁媽媽家臺灣眷村美食) is coming to Dublin, CA at the Ulferts Center. The highly popular restaurant chain from Southern California has signed the lease for the restaurant space formerly occupied by AA Tofu House, which is on the other side of the walkway from Thai Basil Express. Liang’s Kitchen is keeping most of AA Tofu House’s tenant improvements intact, since everything AA Tofu House has done to the restaurant space fits beautifully with the theme of Liang’s Kitchen. Liang’s Kitchen has locations in Arcadia, El Monte, Irvine, Monterey Park, Rowland Height, and San Gabriel. The chain has also been expanding aggressively in the South Bay with new restaurants in San Jose, Milpitas, Fremont, and Cupertino. Liang’s Kitchen at the Ulferts Center will be the chain’s first venture into the East Bay.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 6, 2011 | 32 Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Restaurants
Food Network celebrity and Santa Rosa resident Guy Fieri recently signed a lease to take over the former Fuzio location at Hacienda Crossings in Dublin, CA for his fourth Johnny Garlic’s restaurant. The restaurant is now open. The newest Johnny Garlic’s restaurant was first expected to open in March. The opening date then slipped to June, mid-July, and finally mid-August. No explanation was provided for the delay. Santa Rosa Johnny Garlic’s General Manager Neil McDowell said that Guy and the entire Johnny Garlic’s family is “excited about opening in Dublin.”
Along with the three John Garlic’s restaurants in Santa Rosa, Windsor, and Roseville, Guy Fieri also owns a pair of BBQ-and-sushi fusion restaurants called Tex Wasabi’s Rock-N-Roll Sushi-BBQ. Fieri and co-owner Steve Gruber plan to use the Hacienda Crossing location in Dublin as the opening salvo in their expansion throughout the Western and Southern States. Coupled with the hiring of many key industry talents and the growing number of aborted restaurant projects and available restaurant spaces, Fieri and Gruber are well-positioned to succeed.
A recent visit by the Around Dublin Team to Johnny Garlic’s restaurant in Santa Rosa provided some insight into what Tri-Valley residents can look forward to in July 2011. From the moment of arrival, guests can immediately feel the energy and enthusiasm from Johnny Garlic’s associates. Everyone who works there seem to share Fieri’s energy, positivity, and dynamic personality.
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by John M. Zukoski on May 28, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Restaurants · Things To Do
Around Dublin favorites Bunjo’s Comedy Lounge in Dublin, CA and La Pupusa House in Livermore, CA were recently featured in daily deal offerings by Groupon and the Amazon-backed LivingSocial. Bunjo’s Comedy Lounge, located inside The Willow Tree restaurant and next to Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl, sold 157 two-ticket packages at a discount of 55%. Bunjo’s Comedy Lounge spotlights both veteran and up-and-coming comedians whose credits include HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, and more. Some of the folks who purchased their Bunjo’s Comedy Lounge Groupon deals will get to use their discounted tickets at Bunjo’s Comedy Lounge’s 4th Annual Killer Laughs Competition.
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by John M. Zukoski on May 20, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Restaurants · Things To Do
Fresh off the success of its successful Cuda Ridge wine tasting event in March, Mama Rosa’s Pizza and Pasta will be featuring the wine of Nottingham Cellars from Livermore, CA in an upcoming wine tasting event. Nottingham Cellars will be providing a FULL FLIGHT of complimentary tastings at Mama Rosa’s on Saturday, May 21st from 1PM to 5PM. As with the tasting in March, Mama Rosa’s will also be offering complimentary appetizers for guests during this special event.
In addition to the complimentary Nottingham Cellars wine tasting and appetizers, Mama Rosa’s is also extending a 2-for-1 special dinner offer to customers who purchase either two glasses or a bottle of Nottingham Cellars wine on Saturday. Guests only need to remember to use the code word “Ralphie” to receive the discount. As with March’s event, Mama Rosa’s will waive the corkage fee for all Livermore Valley wines.
Nottingham Cellars will have its wine maker and staff on hand to pour and answer questions. Nottingham Cellars is run by the father-and-son team of Jeff and Collin Cranor. “Our philosophy of wine making is to work with only the finest wine grape growers in the Valley. Our dedication to careful production and attention to detail in every phase of wine making comes through with every sip,” wrote the Cranors on their website.
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by Around Dublin Team on May 13, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Restaurants
The highly anticipated Cellar 9 Restaurant & Bar has finally opened its doors to eager customers in Dublin, CA. The “American comfort food with a flare” promised by co-owners Doug Garcia and Rose Thome is definitely worth the wait. Located at the beautifully constructed Grafton Station in East Dublin, Cellar 9 offers an upscale dining experience at a reasonable price.
As the first restaurant at Grafton Station to make itself accessible to pedestrian foot traffic on the Grafton Street side of the shopping plaza, Cellar 9 greets customers with an impressive entrance that features a cathedral ceiling. Behind the reception area is Cellar 9′s custom-rehabilitated bar, which is fully stocked with the finest wine selection in Dublin. As customers take a right turn toward the main dining area, they are treated to a clear view of Grafton Station’s other side and its unique water fountain.
On the side of the restaurant closest to Dublin Boulevard is the ancillary dining area that will one day become Cellar 9′s wine lounge. Every piece of furniture and every finishing detail in this room exudes an understated elegance that reminds patrons of the downstairs lounge section at the Ruby Hill Country Club in Pleasanton. Folks who frequent Coco Cabana at The Shops at Waterford during happy hour or Hap’s in Downtown Pleasanton for dinner should feel right at home.
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by Around Dublin Team on May 8, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Restaurants
SnowFlake at the Ulferts Center in Dublin, CA has expanded its menu. Located at the space formerly occupied by Zoie Cafe, SnowFlake now serves lunch from 11:30AM to 3:00PM and Hong-Kong-styled Ramen Noodles (車仔麵) from 2:00PM to 7:00PM everyday. SnowFlake’s lunch specials all come with a bowl of soup and salad. Customers can choose up to three items with each order of the Hong-Kong-styled Ramen Noodles. Additional items are $1.00 each.
Customers can also pay $1.00 more and get a refreshing beverage to go with their meals. SnowFlake’s beverage selection includes coffee, Hong-Kong-styled milk tea, and the lightly sweetened coffee with tea (鴛鴦). All three beverages can be served iced or hot.
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by John M. Zukoski on April 15, 2011 | 7 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Businesses · Restaurants
Grafton Station in East Dublin is on a roll. Buffalo Wild Wings has been a runaway success, Karma Fusion Lounge has provided a nighttime attraction, Cellar 9 Restaurant is close to a soft opening later this month, and now Vito’s Express is on track to start serving customers by early June. Vito’s Express will occupy the highly visible 1,500-square-foot pad that is closest to westbound I-580. The restaurant will have table seating for 26 guests with six to seven bar stools next to the bar area. “We’re really the only pizza restaurant in Dublin with an actual bar,” said co-owner Scott Bolin. Vito’s Express will be locked in a head-to-head battle with other New York-style pizzerias in the Tri-Valley.
While Vito’s Express will offer the traditional fare of slices, whole pizzas, salad, wings, beer, and wine, its menu will also include inventive items such as a breakfast pizza, salad pizza, and dessert pizza. The focal point of the restaurant’s theme is a classic 1955 VBB Vespa scooter that guests will be able to sit on in the restaurant. The Vespa motif comes from the archetype of fast-paced delivery drivers who ride the Vespa to navigate slender roads and congested city traffic throughout western Europe. Like the beloved restaurant chain Pizza My Heart, Vito’s Express plans to give away free branded t-shirts featuring the signature Vespa delivery driver logo with purchases of a minimum value.
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